Here is our selection of the 25 most interesting, helpful, and reliable apps you will need (or be thankful to have) when living in Turkey.

Food & Shopping

  • Yemeksepeti

If you need one app when it comes to food delivery, this is it. As Turkey's most powerful online restaurant platform, Yemeksepeti gives you dozens of restaurants and foods to choose from. You can read reviews, get offers and see estimated delivery times for your orders.

You can download the app, for which membership is free, on Android and iOS devices.

  • Akakçe

This app could be described as a price search engine or online shopping directory that allows users to compare prices of goods online from various retailers, sellers, and shops. The mobile app also lets you turn on notifications for the items on your radar and alerts you when they are discounted.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Government & Daily Life

  • E-Devlet

The mobile app of the Turkish government's public services and records platform, e-Devlet, can help you solve many administrative tasks without having to visit government departments and offices. You can pay your taxes, bills, check social security records as well as download official e-signed documents to submit to government offices.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Hayat Eve Sığar (Life Fits Into Home) App

Like the U.K.'s Track and Trace App, the Turkish Health Ministry's app monitors all positive and suspicious COVID-19 cases. The app lets you see the risk category of the area you live in and alerts you when you have been in contact with a coronavirus-positive case within the last 10 days. You can also receive or change your HES code via the app, which is mandatory for in-country flights, public transport, and most shopping.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Google Translate

You will quickly learn that not many Turkish sites offer an English edition or are poorly translated; that is where Google translate comes to the rescue. The mobile app not only lets you translate texts from 100 different languages into Turkish, but it can also decode signs via its photo translation feature.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Sesli Sözlük (Talking Dictionary)

If you want to work on your Turkish pronunciation or do not know how to ask for something in Turkish, this dictionary app will help you get there. The app operates in 17 different languages with different accents, including Turkish, English, German, French, Dutch, Spanish, Russian, and Greek.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Real Estate & Housing

  • Sahibinden (From the owner)

The website and its app provide users with information about rent and property prices within a selected area. The platform also allows you to connect with real estate agents and book viewings. In contrast to emlakjet, which is only for properties, you can also buy and sell secondhand cars, furniture, and other items on this site.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Emlakjet

Functioning similarly to sahibinden, this is also a real estate listing app that can help give you an idea of housing prices for an area. What makes this app a must-have is that you can filter results by its closeness to public transport, schools, or hospitals. The app also shares the latest news on housing and real estate and issues monthly real estate analyses.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • TKGM Parcel

This app allows you to inquire about a particular plot of land, including learning its coordinates, province, district, neighborhood, island, and parcel information via the Directorate General of Land Registry and Cadastre.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Web Tapu

This is the electronic system that allows foreigners with a foreign ID to manage their real estate, sell their property, transfer deeds, or mortgage their homes without going to the Land Registry offices. The system will soon be available in 6 languages: English, Russian, German, Arabic, French, and Spanish.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Finance & Money

  • Hesapkurdu

This site and its app allow you to research and compare bank and insurance products such as credit and interest rates, credit card limits and benefits, traffic insurance, etc., all free of charge.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Wise

All your transfers at your fingertips. Keep track of your transfers on the go with the Wise app. Make new transfers - wherever you are - at the touch of a button.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Papara

Born as an alternative to traditional banking, Papara is a digital wallet that enables online shoppers to receive and make payments securely. Not only does Papara not charge its users commission for daily transactions and cash withdrawals, but it also allows you to deposit money into your account or send it to others 24/7.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Transport & Travel

  • Rome2rio

When you type in your location and the place you want to go and search, this app provides you with all the information you will need regarding your travel: flights, trains, buses, ferries. It also gives you estimates of the distance between your selected locations, the duration of your planned journey, and the prices of all the tickets you will buy along the way, allowing you to compare and find the best option. The app is integrated with Skyscanner and saves you from booking separate tickets for flights, buses, or trains.

You can download the app on Android and iOS devices.

  • Moovit

Like any major city, public transportation in Istanbul is vast and varied, but with that comes a lot of confusion. Even though you will spot English writing and have English announcements on the metro and Metrobus, not all buses do, and staff may not speak English. Moovit acts as the perfect guide by offering you step-by-step directions between different locations.

It also provides you with an estimated travel time and arrival for the bus, funicular, train, tram, ferry, or metro and notifies you when you are near your stop. Besides Istanbul, the app offers information about the public transport network and schedules of 21 cities in Turkey, such as Izmir, Ankara, Muğla, Antalya, Bursa, Adana, and Konya.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Trafi

Like many travel apps, Trafi also allows its users to see and select the best routes for their location and provide insight into public transport vehicles' schedules. The app, which can also be used offline, also has a "favorites" feature that stores your regular routes. It currently only works in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and Bursa.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • BiTaksi

This app allows you to find and call a taxi when you need it. You will be able to see the distance you travel, track your taxi, and get an estimate of payment, taking out the guessing work. You can book yellow and turquoise taxis, the latter of which can be considered the luxury counterpart of regular taxis.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Bikemap

With over 7 million biking routes laid out, this app helps you plan cycling trips and navigate cycling paths worldwide with voice instructions and a digital map that allows you to record every step. To save on data, the app also lets you use it offline.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • AllTrails

Like Bikemap, the AllTrails app offers its users a database of trail maps worldwide, complete with reviews and user photos. Categorized as a fitness and travel mobile app, it is used mainly by hikers, mountain bikers, and snow sports enthusiasts.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Martı (Seagull)

This app allows you to locate the closest electric scooter next to you and pay as you go. The scooters can usually be found tied to lamp posts or biking stations and can be unlocked via scanning the QR code on the app. At the end of your trip, you can make a payment through your credit card.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

For Istanbul

  • Grand Bazaar

With 61 streets to wander through and 4,000 shops to visit, shopping at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul should be on everyone's list. However, being this popular means sometimes it can get too crowded. The bazaar's app allows shoppers to browse products from their own homes and get these goods delivered to your door.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • IBB CepTrafik

To make the most of your time in Istanbul and get somewhere on time, you will need to navigate traffic and know when to avoid specific routes masterfully. This public transport app gives you an overview of the traffic of Istanbul in real-time, alerting you of possible delays.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • Istanbulkart

The Istanbul travel card (Istanbulkart) is your way of payment for public transport in the megacity. To upload money onto your pre-paid card to travel, you either need to go to unique booths or find a top-up credit machine. This mobile app eliminates the need to physically go to a shop to add money, as it allows you to use your credit card to pay. The app also allows you to check the balance of your card if your phone has an NFC feature.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • İsbike

As a convenient service offered by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, this innovative app allows you to rent bicycles around the city with your Istanbulkart. From checking how many bikes are available in your area and giving directions to the station to checking your balance and paying for a bike, the app makes bike renting super easy.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

  • iTaksi

Created by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, this is another app that helps you find a taxi. You can see the closest taxi near you, get information about when and from which direction it will arrive, and even contact the driver. The app also shows you the route the taxi will take.

The app is available on both Android and iOS devices.

Expat Life

  • Ikamet

Our very own mobile app will be coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled. If you would like to be alerted when it becomes available, sign up for our waiting list.