Frequently Asked Questions About Tourism in Turkey and Istanbul

Seen Travel is a registered trademark of "Booking in Group," a travel and tourism agency specializing in tourism across Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand, with our base in Istanbul. We help travelers from around the world arrange their trips, from booking hotels and tours to airport pickup, with a multilingual team and flexible payment methods that include pay on arrival.

Our services are aimed at visitors and tourists, and we operate in three main destinations: Turkey (with our base in Istanbul and nearby cities such as Sapanca, Bursa, and Yalova), Egypt, and Thailand. The service is for visitors and tourists, not for residents within these countries.

We offer several payment methods for you to choose what suits you: pay on arrival (cash in US dollars or Turkish lira), bank transfer to our accounts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, or an electronic payment link service. Pay on arrival is available for many of our services, so you pay on the day of the trip or upon your arrival.

Yes, our team is multilingual and stays with you around the clock via WhatsApp before and during your trip. We also provide multilingual drivers for transfer services and private tours, so communicating is easy throughout your stay.

Booking is easy via WhatsApp at ‎+90 506 530 68 81. Tell us the date of your visit and the number of people, and to confirm the booking we need the names in English and the hotel name or location. For airport pickup trips, we add your flight's arrival time and number.

We provide everything your trip needs: hotel booking, group and private tours, arrival and departure transfers to and from the airport, private cars with a driver, and complete hotel packages with tours. We offer these services across our three destinations: Turkey, Egypt, and Thailand.

No, we do not issue or process visas, and we have no visa department. The visa is the traveler's responsibility, through the official Turkish e-visa portal (evisa.gov.tr) or the Turkish consulate, while we handle everything related to your trip: hotels, tours, and transfers to and from the airport.

No. According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citizens of the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries — Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman — with ordinary passports are exempt from a visa to enter Turkey for tourism, and may stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period (no prior visa and no visa on arrival needed — a valid passport is enough, preferably with 6 months' validity remaining). Rules can change from time to time, so it is advisable to verify before travel through the official portal evisa.gov.tr.

Jordan: visa-free entry for up to 90 days. Egypt: a visa is required, except for those holding a valid visa or residence permit from Schengen countries, the US, the UK, or Ireland, or for Egyptians under 20 or over 45 — they can obtain an e-visa (30 days, single entry) provided they travel on Turkish Airlines or EgyptAir. For other nationalities, rules vary between an e-visa and a consulate visa; always verify through the official portal evisa.gov.tr or the nearest Turkish consulate.

It is an electronic travel authorization that eligible nationalities (those who require a visa) obtain through the official portal evisa.gov.tr without visiting the consulate, usually issued within minutes to a few days. Eligibility conditions, validity period, and number of entries are set by the Turkish authorities and vary by nationality, so select your nationality on the portal to see whether you are eligible. (Gulf and Jordanian citizens do not need it, as they are already visa-exempt.)

The trusted source is the official Turkish e-visa portal (evisa.gov.tr) or the Turkish embassy and consulate in your country, since conditions and fees may be updated from time to time. At Seen Travel we do not provide visa services, but we are happy to arrange your hotel, tours, and transfers once you have finalized your travel.

No, visa fees (if any) are not part of our packages, and we do not charge anything for them because we do not handle visas. Our packages include hotels, tours, and transfers to and from the airport within the destination. Most of our clients are from the Gulf and do not need a visa for Turkey in the first place.

Turkey is one of the closest destinations for families both culturally and geographically, combining sea, nature, snow, markets, and historic landmarks in a single country. Cities like Istanbul offer upscale, quiet neighborhoods suitable for families, such as Şişli, close to malls, restaurants, and transport, making tourism in Turkey a comfortable and varied experience for young and old alike.

Turkey is worth visiting year-round, and the best time depends on your trip's purpose: spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are mild and suit Istanbul and nature tours, summer is ideal for the southern coasts like Antalya, while winter is the snow season on Mount Uludağ in Bursa. We recommend deciding your travel month early, as prices and availability change with the season.

The official language is Turkish, but English is widely spoken across Istanbul's tourist areas, hotels, restaurants and shops. And our multilingual team and drivers stay with you throughout the trip, so you'll never face a language barrier.

Istanbul is one of the most family-friendly cities, offering activities for all ages: an evening on a boat in the Bosphorus strait, nearby nature trips such as Sapanca and Bursa, the Princes' Islands, and amusement parks and aquariums for children. We recommend staying in quiet neighborhoods close to amenities, such as Şişli, and you can review trip details and prices on the packages and prices page on our website.

The official currency in Turkey is the Turkish lira, and the US dollar is accepted in many tourist markets and shops, with exchange offices available everywhere. Most of our prices are in dollars, with the option to state them in lira, and pay on arrival is available for many services, in cash or via a payment link.

Trip and package prices vary by date, season, and service type (group or private), and you'll find their details updated on the prices and packages page on the website. For any inquiry or to prepare an offer that suits your family for tourism in Turkey, contact us directly via WhatsApp at +90 506 530 68 81.

Istanbul is Turkey's most famous and most visited destination, and tourism in Istanbul combines history, sea, and shopping. You can visit historic landmarks such as Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapı Palace, cruise the Bosphorus strait during a dinner evening or aboard a private yacht, and shop at the Grand Bazaar and major malls.

Cappadocia is one of the most famous tourism destinations in Turkey, known for its unique terrain and fairy chimneys. Its top activity is riding a hot air balloon at sunrise to view the valleys from above, along with exploring the underground cities and staying in hotels carved into the rock. (Balloon flights depend on the weather on the day of the trip.)

Antalya is a coastal destination on the Mediterranean in southern Turkey, known for its beaches and resorts with the All Inclusive meals-and-drinks system suited to families. Visitors spend their time swimming, relaxing on the beach, and at water and entertainment parks. (Some beaches are sandy and others rocky, and the beach type is specified at booking.)

Pamukkale is a famous natural destination in Turkey; its name means "Cotton Castle," and it is formed of white limestone terraces over which warm mineral water flows. Visitors can walk barefoot on the terraces, relax in the thermal pools, and visit the nearby ancient city of Hierapolis.

Bursa is a green city south of Istanbul, reached by ferry, and is one of the best snow destinations in winter. Its top activities are ascending Mount Uludağ by cable car to see the snow, and visiting the Green Mosque and the historic silk market (Koza Han). The Bursa trip is available as a group tour or by private car.

Most tourism programs in Turkey rely on Istanbul as a starting point, with nearby day trips to Bursa, Sapanca, the Princes' Islands, and Yalova. Farther destinations such as Antalya or Trabzon can be added within a pre-arranged package, and the choice depends on the length of your stay and your interest in nature, sea, or history.

To book or inquire about any destination, contact us via WhatsApp at +90 506 530 68 81, and we'll arrange your hotel, tours, and airport pickup. Pay on arrival is available for many services (with payment of the first night to confirm the hotel booking), and we accept payment in cash or via a payment link.

Trabzon and the North are the gateway to nature in Turkey tourism, featuring Uzungöl with its lake and cabin-like hotels, the Ayder highlands with their cabins, the Haydarnabi plateau, the green areas of Rize, plus a tour within the city of Trabzon. The top activities are strolling among the lakes and forests, visiting the plateaus and highlands, and enjoying the mist and the beautiful cool weather.

In Trabzon we offer 6-night packages in 5-star hotels: a near-the-sea package at the Novotel Trabzon from $370, and a city-center package at the Zorlu Grand from $565, with breakfast and group tours to Uzungöl, the city of Trabzon, and the Haydarnabi plateau. For pricing according to your date, contact us via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81.

A daily group trip that starts at nine in the morning and returns at eight in the evening, including Lake Sapanca and the Maşukiye forests with a safari, the Tuzla Marina aquarium, and the waterfalls with a lunch meal, plus the option to ascend Mount Kartepe. The price is $10 per person in the group and $30 in a private VIP car, and it includes hotel pickup, return, and a tour guide.

A daily group trip that starts at nine in the morning and returns at nine in the evening, reached by ferry, including the summit of Mount Uludağ (snow in winter), the cable car, the Green Mosque, and the historic silk market, with a lunch meal. The price is $13 per person without the cable car and $29 with it, and additional activities such as snowmobiles are paid locally in lira.

A daily group sea trip from Istanbul; the boat departs around ten thirty in the morning and returns in the afternoon, including a sea cruise with a DJ, passing the Maiden's Tower, and a tour within the island. Activities on the island such as horse-carriage and bicycle rides are usually at the visitor's expense, and the price ranges from about $15 to $25 per person depending on the season and program, including transfers.

Day trips such as Sapanca, Bursa, and the Princes' Islands are an essential part of Istanbul tourism, all in groups with a tour guide and combining lakes, cable cars, and sea cruises. They start around nine in the morning by picking you up from the hotel (the driver calls a quarter of an hour before arriving) and return in the evening, and you can pay on arrival in cash on the bus on the day of the trip in dollars or lira; to confirm the booking, send the names in English and the hotel location via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81.

Yes, Egypt is one of our main destinations alongside Turkey and Thailand. Egypt is known for cultural and leisure tourism: the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, Nile river cruises, and Red Sea resorts. We arrange your trip to Egypt, from hotels and tours to transfers, according to your interests; for updated programs and prices, contact us directly via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81.

Yes, and in Thailand we focus on the island of Phuket — the most famous beach and relaxation destination in Thailand, with its turquoise waters, boat trips to nearby islands, and tropical atmosphere suited to families and honeymoons. We arrange your stay in Phuket, from hotels and tours to transfers, to suit you; for programs and prices, contact us via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81.

As easily as booking in Turkey: contact us via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81 and tell us the destination (Egypt or Phuket), the travel date, and the number of people, and we'll prepare a program and a price offer that suits you. The same payment methods are available for all our destinations: pay on arrival, bank transfer to our accounts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, or the electronic payment link.

Yes, we pick you up from Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Airport (SAW) and take you to your hotel in a modern VIP car (a Mercedes Vito that seats 6 passengers and 6 bags) with a professional driver, and for those who need more space we provide a larger van (Sprinter). The one-way price starts at about $45 (Istanbul Airport) and $55 (Sabiha Airport), and varies by area and number of bags; you'll find updated prices on the prices page /prices. To confirm the booking we need the names in English, the hotel location, arrival time, and flight number, and booking a day in advance is preferable.

Our packages combine a stay at a 4- or 5-star hotel with the internal tours and arrival and departure transfers from the airport, and are ideal for anyone who wants tourism in Turkey ready-arranged without organizing everything themselves. The price is calculated per person in a double room and varies by hotel and date. Browse the packages and their current prices on the /prices page, or contact us to tailor a package to your size.

We offer daily group bus trips to Bursa and Mount Uludağ, Sapanca and Maşukiye, the Princes' Islands, Şile and Ağva, and Yalova, usually departing at 9 a.m. from your accommodation and returning in the evening. The price includes hotel pickup, return, a tour guide, and a lunch meal on most trips, while additional activities such as the cable car are paid separately. See the list of trips and their prices on the /prices page.

Yes, we offer private tours with a car and driver for a full day (about 10 hours) on the European or Asian side of Istanbul, with the driver accompanying you as a guide who suggests places and restaurants. The private tour gives you complete privacy and flexibility in route and timing, and we have a variety of ready-made routes covering the Ottoman palaces, shopping, nature, and family tours. Prices start at about $120 for the European side and vary by route, with details laid out on the /prices page.

The private yacht tour is the rental of a luxury yacht just for you in the Bosphorus strait, in which you set your route, with the option to add the Bosphorus bridge lettering service. The Bosphorus evening is one of the most famous Istanbul tourism experiences: an evening trip aboard a boat of about 3 hours departing from Kabataş port, including dinner (open buffet) and entertainment segments of Turkish folklore, dabke, and Arabic singing, available on an enclosed deck or an open upper deck. Infants under 3 are free, and you'll find the yacht and evening prices on the /prices page.

All group trips are accompanied by a tour guide throughout the day, and we provide a multilingual driver subject to availability so your communication is easy throughout your trip. On private tours, the same driver acts as your guide, suggesting the places and restaurants most suitable for you.

We offer several payment methods: pay on arrival (cash in dollars or Turkish lira), bank transfer to our accounts in Turkey and Saudi Arabia, or the electronic payment link. You confirm your booking by sending the names in English and the hotel location, and our team arranges the details. For any inquiry or to confirm your booking, contact us via WhatsApp ‎+90 506 530 68 81.