Planning to travel to Türkiye from Ireland? It is an increasingly popular choice for Irish travellers and, with non-stop flights from Dublin, only about four and a half hours away. Here is everything you need to know: entry requirements, flights, budget, the time difference and the practical tips I give my own travellers.
Do Irish citizens need a visa for Türkiye?
No. At the time of writing (2026), Irish citizens can visit Türkiye without a visa for tourism, for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. There is no form to fill in and nothing to pay. You need:
- An Irish passport valid for at least 150 days from the day you arrive (in practice, many travellers aim for six months to be safe). The Irish passport card is not accepted in Türkiye.
- A return or onward ticket.
- Proof of accommodation (a hotel booking, although it is rarely requested).
Entry rules can change at short notice, so before you travel check the official e-Visa website, evisa.gov.tr, and the Department of Foreign Affairs' travel advice for Türkiye on ireland.ie. More in my guide to Türkiye visa and entry requirements.
Flights from Ireland to Türkiye
At the time of writing (2026), you can fly non-stop from Dublin:
- Turkish Airlines: daily flights to Istanbul Airport (IST). Istanbul is the airline's hub, so it is also the easiest way to connect on to Cappadocia, Izmir or Antalya on a single ticket.
- Pegasus Airlines: several flights a week to Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), often with lower fares. The airport is on the Asian side of Istanbul, so if you are staying in Sultanahmet or around Taksim, allow extra time for the transfer.
- Seasonal flights to the coast: in summer, carriers such as Ryanair and SunExpress fly from Dublin to Dalaman and Antalya, and there are also flights to Bodrum and Izmir.
Flight time: about 4 hours 30 minutes from Dublin to Istanbul. From Cork or Shannon, you can either travel up to Dublin Airport by coach (or by train to Dublin and a bus on to the airport) or fly via London, Amsterdam or another European hub, and some summers bring direct holiday flights to the coast. Fares are usually lowest in winter (outside Christmas) and highest in July and August, so book well ahead for the summer.
Daily budget in Türkiye
Türkiye is affordable compared with Ireland and the rest of Western Europe. A rough guide per person per day, at the time of writing (2026): €40–60 on a budget, €80–130 mid-range and €150–300 for a premium trip, excluding international flights. For a full breakdown, see my detailed Türkiye budget.
Money: the currency is the Turkish lira (TRY), but coming from the eurozone helps: many hotels, tours and the big monuments quote their prices to foreign visitors in euros, and euros are among the easiest currencies to change at exchange offices. Visa and Mastercard work almost everywhere, and ATMs are easy to find (check your bank's fees for withdrawals outside the eurozone). If a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in euros, choose lira: the rate is almost always better. More in my guide to money in Türkiye.
Time difference
Türkiye is on GMT+3 all year round and does not change its clocks, so it is 3 hours ahead of Ireland in winter and 2 hours ahead in summer. When it is 12:00 in Dublin, it is 15:00 in Istanbul in winter and 14:00 in summer. Jet lag is not an issue.
Travel insurance and health
Travel insurance is not compulsory, but I strongly recommend it. Your EHIC is not valid in Türkiye, which is outside the EU, and as a tourist you will normally use private hospitals and pay up front. Choose a policy that covers medical treatment and any activities you plan, such as a balloon flight; if you have an annual multi-trip policy, check that its area of cover includes Türkiye. No vaccinations are compulsory: routine vaccines and hepatitis A are the usual recommendations, so check with your GP.
Practical tips
- Language: English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants and at the main sights, but a few words of Turkish, such as teşekkürler (thank you), go a long way.
- Plugs: Türkiye uses European two-pin sockets (types C and F) at 230 V, so pack an adapter for your Irish three-pin plugs. The voltage is the same as at home.
- Mobile data: Türkiye is not covered by the EU's "roam like at home" rules, so check your operator's charges, or set up an eSIM before you fly.
- Best time to go: spring (April–June) and autumn (September–October) for sightseeing, July and August for the coast. More in my guide to the best time to visit Türkiye.
Would you like me to organise your trip?
As a licensed English-speaking guide, I can design a tailor-made trip around your budget and interests, from a long weekend in Istanbul to a private tour taking in Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus and Pamukkale. For ideas, have a look at my 10-day itinerary, or message me on WhatsApp.