What to pack for Turkey

Universal essentials (any trip, any season)

• Light pashmina or scarf — covers shoulders for mosque visits, packs small, doubles as a blanket on overnight buses
• Comfortable walking shoes broken in — Istanbul cobblestones eat new shoes in a day
• Power adapter — Type C and F (European two-prong)
• Reusable water bottle — tap water is technically safe but most travelers prefer bottled; refill from cafes
• Anti-pickpocket front-pocket wallet (in busy bazaars) or money belt
• Daypack (small) — for half-day excursions when your hotel holds your luggage
• Travel adapter with USB ports
• Photocopies of passport + visa kept separate from originals

Mosque visit kit

You'll visit at least one mosque. Pack:

• Long pants or long skirt (knee-cover minimum)
• Sleeved top (no tanks for either gender at major mosques)
• Headscarf for women (Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye all provide loaners but bringing one is faster)
• Easy-off shoes — slip-ons are 10 seconds in/out, laces are 60

Summer (June–September) — coastal trips

• Two swimsuits — they don't dry overnight in humid air
• Light cotton shirts (not synthetic — Aegean heat is unforgiving)
• Sunglasses (the salt-and-sun glare on Turkish beaches is brutal)
• SPF 50, water-resistant — Turkish drugstores sell good options if you forget
• Sandals for beaches + closed shoes for evening cobblestone walks
• Light cardigan for over-air-conditioned restaurants
• Mosquito repellent (Aegean evenings)

Shoulder seasons (April–May, October)

Best Turkey weather. Pack as if it's spring in Italy: layers, light jacket for evenings, breathable trousers, walking shoes. Cappadocia gets cold at night even in May — pack a fleece.

Winter (November–March) — Cappadocia + Istanbul

• Down jacket or warm parka — Cappadocia balloon flights at sunrise are -8°C in the basket
• Thermal base layer top + bottom
• Fleece or wool sweater
• Hat that fits under a balloon harness
• Gloves (touchscreen-compatible if you want to take balloon photos)
• Two pairs of warm socks per Cappadocia day
• Waterproof boots with grip — Cappadocia trails get icy
• Sunglasses — winter snow glare on Cappadocia rocks is intense

Electronics

• Phone with eSIM support (see our eSIM guide)
• Portable battery pack (10,000 mAh+) — long sightseeing days drain phones fast
• Real camera if you care about balloon photos — phone cameras lose detail at sunrise
• Lightning / USB-C cable + 20W charging brick
• Small power strip — hotels often have 1-2 outlets, not enough

Documents

• Passport with at least 6 months validity from your entry date and 3 blank pages
• e-Visa printout (most nationalities — check our visa page)
• Travel insurance policy number printed (see insurance guide)
• Hotel reservations printed (immigration sometimes asks)
• Credit cards in two locations (one in your wallet, one in your suitcase)

What you DON'T need

• Travel iron / steamer — every hotel has one
• Heavy guidebooks — Google Maps + this site cover what you'd use them for
• Plug adapters with multiple country options — just pack a Europe-specific Type F
• Turkish phrasebook — English coverage in tourist areas is good; learn "merhaba" (hello) and "teşekkür ederim" (thank you) and you're fine

Buy in Turkey

Cheaper to buy in Turkey than to pack: cosmetics (Turkish brands are good), pashmina/scarves (Grand Bazaar), Turkish bath products, fresh-roasted coffee, baklava. Don't buy: anything from the airport duty-free that you can get in a city for half the price.