FAQ — Tourism in Turkey

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 the season for Trabzon and the mild green north (Uzungöl and Ayder), 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.)

Trabzon sits on the Black Sea in northern Turkey and is known for its green nature and mild summer weather compared with the Gulf heat. Its best-known places are Uzungöl lake, the Ayder highlands, Sümela Monastery and the tea plantations of Rize. Our summer Trabzon programs come with a private car and driver, at published prices with payment on arrival.

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. A farther destination such as 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.