How to Get a Sim Card in Antalya

Getting a sim card in Antalya is relatively easy to do and cheap if you do it right.  You can be setup with a local plan and plenty of minutes in about a half hour. 

What you will need.

• An unlocked phone (you can check here with your IMEI).
• Your passport.

Here are the three main providers of cel phone plans in Antalya:

• Vodafone
• Turkcell
• Turk Telekom

There are smaller providers that are slightly cheaper, but if you want a reliable service that just works then I would recommend picking one of those three.  Turkcell has the best reputation in my circle of friends. Their prices are reasonable and in case you need support, their stores are everywhere.

The nice thing about Antalya is that it is a revolving door of tourists.  The more popular cel service providers in Antalya are used to this and it's not unusual for tourists to walk in speaking only a foreign language. 

I recommend following these steps:

1. Walk in to any Turkcell store.  But be sure it is a genuine Turkcell store.  Their are many other stores that sell sim cards, but will charge a premium.  See the picture below.  It must have the logo above the store shown in the picture below.

This is one of the larger Turkcell stores that always has someone who speaks English.

2. As for a prepaid plan.  You must provide your passport and an unlocked phone.  The sim card costs the equivalent of about 15 USD.

TIP: Purchasing your sim card at the airport will cost you about 25% more.  But is that really a surprise? Pay the local price Turks pay in the city.

3. Verify your internet works before leaving.  The reason is that sometimes foreign phones need their APN settings tweaked. The representative at the store will know.  Here they are in case you need them.

TIP: Your phone will only work for 120 days in this way.  You can return and monthly top up your plan, but beyond this, there is no guarantee that your phone will work.  Turkey will block your phone after this.  The reason is that they charge high tariffs on imported phones and they can ensure private people do not import them for resale.  But this can be overcome in another article I will publish.

How to Find an An Apartment Rental in Turkey

There are some things you should know about renting an apartment in Turkey.  I will use Antalya as an example, but the rules are the same through Turkey.

First of all, there are a couple of Turkish words you should know...

Emlak
This is a good Turkish word to know if you are looking to rent a property. An Emlak is simply the Turkish word that translates as "real estate agent".  While in many countries a real estate agent would only sell homes, here in Turkey they also rent homes.  They require 1 months commission (sometimes more) as a finders fee when you sign a contract.

Sahibinden
This is another good Turkish word to know.  It means "by owner".  If you want to avoid the hefty finders fee, this is the word you look for when renting.  There is the cost advantage of course, but you now lose the protection of having an agent make sure the contract is on the up and up.  For example, an Emlak will step in an mediate any problems with the contract.

What you will need:

1. A valid passport that has a valid visa (if required for your nationality)
2. Money to pay 1 months rent, plus 1 or 2 months damage deposit, plus about 1 months rental fee to the agent.

Finding an Apartment/Home to Rent

Method #1 - Walk Around the City

The best way to find a rental is to walk around the city and look for signs. Below are a couple of examples of signs you might see on a balcony or window.

Notice each of the signs have the word "KIRALiK"?  That is the Turkish word meaning "for rent". Another good word to know.  Another word you see might be "Satilik".  Unless you plan on buying the apartment, this place is not for you.

Call the number on the sign.  These are most often real estate agents.  If you are fortunate, they will speak some English and can show you the place.  They will also tell you how much it is and if it includes furniture etc.  Yes, apartment rentals can include furniture.

Method #2 - Hire the Service of an Emlak (Real estate agent)

An easier way to find a rental is to use the services of an Emlak (real estate agent).  Yes, they require a commission.  But they will do the legwork for you. They may even drive you around.  Here is an example of what you will see on the front of their store.  Notice the words "KiRALIK"

Every neighborhood, on almost every block, you will see these storefronts.  Ask about the for rent signs and ask to see them.

Method #3 - Online Search

There are a couple main sites with picture that locals as well as agents use to find rentals.  Each link below will take you to the city of Antalya, but you can navigate out of these.

https://www.emlakjet.com

https://www.sahibinden.com


Making a Contract

If you are applying for residency, there are some things you should know.  First of all you will need two things from the apartment owner:

1. A copy of the TAPU.  This is the title deed of the apartment.  It proves to immigration that you are renting a bonafide property.
2. A copy of their residency card.  Immigration requires this.

Questions to ask when you look at an apartment.
1. Am I required to have electricity and water connected?  Important question because you cannot do this until you get your residency.  Your landlord must do it.
2. Will you provide me with a copy of the title deed (Tapu) and residency card (ikamet)?
3. Will you make contract for one full year? (Required by immigration).

Questions to ask yourself while looking at the apartment:
1. Does it have air conditioners and appliances? These can be expensive.

As soon as you have a rental agreement signed, this is your ticket to start the immigration process.

How to Get Your Tax Number in Antalya, Turkey

Here are the steps to getting your Turkish tax number (or vergi numerasi) in Antalya turkey.  It costs you nothing and it is very simple to do. This tax number will be necessary for the following things:

• Applying for residency in Turkey
• Opening a bank account
• Obtaining a Turkish drivers license
• Purchasing a vehicle
• Purchasing property

Follow these steps and you will do everything required:

1. Go to the Antalya tax office.
Below is a picture of it.  The building says "Antalya Defterdarligi" on the front.  

And below is where it is located on google maps. Zoom out if necessary to get an idea of where it is.

And lastly, here is a link to it on google maps.

https://goo.gl/maps/3RwRbnxqtLD2

TIP:

Before going in, be sure to have a copy of your passport.  It is required to get your Turkish tax number.  Here is a place right across the street that is the cheapest.  Only 1/2 lira per copy. 

Here is a link to it's location:https://goo.gl/maps/axiCBdzS4Fr

2. Go in the front entrance and go through security.  

It's nothing to be concerned about.  Just your typical walk-through security.  It is a government building after all...

3. As you enter, stay to the right and go up the stairs.

Go up the stairs to the right and stay to the right.   You will see the following entrance:

Enter and go to the following spot below:

And here's a video of what you will see after security. Just follow the video.

4. Provide your information.  

You will need the following:
1. Your original passport
2. A copy of your passport
3. An address where you live

When you get to the place with the read square, just hand over your passport and the photocopy of your passport.  You will also be asked for the address where you live.  Most have an rental contract at this point, but if you don't, there's no need to fret.  Just provide an address of where you currently reside.

After the tax number is processed, you will be given a piece of paper with a tax number (it costs nothing)

5. Get the final stamp.

This document means nothing unless it is stamped.   You will be asked to go to another desk to get it stamped which is located almost beside the one who processed your tax number.

That's it!

Göynük Canyon - Getting There Cheap and What to Expect

How to get there cheap

Coming from Antalya and Kemer is quite cheap if you don't mind a bit of walking.

1. a) FROM KEMER: Take any Dolmus (or mini-bus) going to Antalya.  But be sure to tell the driver you only want to go to Göynük Canyon.

1. b) FROM ANTALYA: The cheapest route from Antalya is to take a Dolmus (or mini-bus).  You can start at the Otogar (or main bus station) and can go for about 10 lira (2 USD).  Go to any information desk and tell them you want to go on a bus to Kemer.  They usually leave about every 15 minutes.


2.) Then tell the driver you want Göynük Canyon.  Saying it in Turkish is a little tricky so just show him the writing.

3.) Just before arriving in Kemer, he will drop you off at a road.  Here is what it looks like.

This is the road leading to Göynük Canyon.

4.) The road leading to the canyon is called Çomaklar Kanyon Yolu.  When you get dropped off at Antalya Kemer Yolu and Çomaklar Kanyon Yolu, you walk west on Çomaklar Kanyon Yolu for about 2.5 miles (4km) to reach Göynük Canyon Park entrance.  There is good signage along the way.

Tips:

• Bring good walking shoes.  The canyon is at least 3 kilometers long.  
• You will see orange and pomegranate groves along the way.  The cost is about twice as much inside the park.  Along this route is a good way to enjoy it without the tourist prices.

5.) You will reach the park entrance and pay 8 Lira.

Tips:

• There are large pools along the canyon route teaming with fish.  Bring some fish food for them.  They're pretty hungry in these pools and will swarm around you and gobble it up.

What you will see

At the entrance:

Entrance ticket.

Entrance.

In the park:

Signage in the park: