Planning an inspection trip to İstanbul or Bodrum

An inspection trip is where a shortlist on a screen becomes a real decision. A few well-planned days in İstanbul or Bodrum let you walk the buildings, test the journeys and ask the questions that photographs cannot answer. This guide explains how to prepare before you fly, how to get from the airport into the city, how a visit with our team usually runs, and what to check at every viewing.

Before you travel

The most productive inspection trips are decided before the flight is booked. Three days spent seeing twenty unsuitable homes is tiring and rarely leads to a good decision; three days spent on eight well-matched options, with the paperwork questions already answered, usually does. The preparation below takes a week or two of calls and messages, and it is time well spent.

• Write a clear brief Purpose (home, holiday home, rental, citizenship), number of bedrooms, must-haves such as a sea view or a school nearby, and deal-breakers such as a steep walk or a busy road.
• Fix a budget range Decide the maximum including purchase costs, furnishing and a reserve. Our buying costs guide explains the main items.
• Agree a shortlist Our consultants listen to your expectations by phone, in the language you speak, and suggest suitable projects for the budget you have decided.
• Use remote viewings Ask for a live video walk-through or recent video of shortlisted homes, so you can remove the weaker options before you travel.
• Choose your dates early Tell us your travel dates as early as possible. Office hours are Monday–Saturday 09:00–19:00.

A realistic brief

A useful brief is short and specific. "A two-bedroom flat for family use, within walking distance of a metro station, in a completed building, up to a fixed total budget" is far easier to work with than "something good for investment". If you are considering Turkish citizenship by investment, say so at the start, because it affects which properties and payment structures make sense, and our legal team handles the whole citizenship process on your behalf.

Be honest about trade-offs. In İstanbul, the choice is often between space and location: a larger new-build flat further out, or a smaller home closer to the centre and the Bosphorus. In Bodrum, it is often between a sea view and walking distance to a village centre or a beach. Knowing which way you lean saves a great deal of time on the ground. Our area guides are a good starting point for comparing districts.

Remote and video viewings

Before you travel, ask for video viewings of the shortlisted homes. A live call lets you ask the consultant to open windows, look at the view from the balcony, show the building entrance and walk the corridor to the lift. Recorded videos are useful too, but ask when they were filmed and whether the home shown is exactly the one on offer or a similar unit in the same project. Remote viewings do not replace a visit, but they help you arrive with a shortlist of homes that genuinely fit.

Entry and visas

Visa rules depend on your nationality and passport type, so the only reliable answer is the one for your own passport. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye publishes a country-by-country list of visa requirements, and it states that visitors can obtain an electronic visa online through www.evisa.gov.tr, the official system launched on 17 April 2013. The Ministry also notes that the e-Visa is valid only when the purpose of travel is tourism or commerce; for other purposes, such as work or study, visas are issued by Turkish embassies or consulates.

Passport validity matters as much as the visa. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa information page (accessed 30 September 2026), foreigners must carry a passport valid for at least 60 days beyond the duration of their permitted stay; for a 90-day visa, the Ministry's own example is a passport valid for at least 150 days in total. Citizens of some countries are exempt from this rule, and the Ministry lists them separately. Check the expiry date on your passport well before the trip, especially if you might return later for the title deed appointment.

Airports and getting into the city

Where you land affects your first day. İstanbul has two international airports on opposite sides of the city, and Bodrum has its own airport outside the town. The table summarises the official information we checked.

• 37 km Milas-Bodrum Airport to Bodrum town centre (DHMİ, accessed 30 September 2026)
• 15 stops on the M11 metro between Gayrettepe and Halkalı (İstanbul Airport website, accessed 30 September 2026)
• 50 km Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Taksim (airport website, accessed 30 September 2026)
• 60 days minimum passport validity beyond your permitted stay (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accessed 30 September 2026)

İstanbul Airport

According to the airport operator, the M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Airport metro started operating between Kağıthane and İstanbul Airport on 22 January 2023, and the line now continues to Halkalı with 15 stops, including Gayrettepe, Kağıthane, İstanbul Airport, Kayaşehir and Halkalı. The operator also lists Havaist buses with 11 routes between the airport and the city, and İETT buses with 5 routes, all boarding from Transportation floor -2. Timetables and fares change, so check them on the day you travel.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Sabiha Gökçen, on the Asian side, is served by the M4 metro line, which the airport lists alongside Havabus and Havaist shuttles and İETT public buses. The M4 extension to the airport opened on 2 October 2022, as reported by Railway Gazette. The airport's own website puts it about 40 km from Kadıköy and 50 km from Taksim, so allow for traffic if you are heading to the European side by road.

Milas-Bodrum Airport

The State Airports Authority (DHMİ) states that Milas-Bodrum Airport is 17 km from Milas town centre and 37 km from Bodrum town centre, and that it can be reached by HAVAŞ and MUTTAŞ passenger shuttles, the municipal minibus, taxis, car rental and private vehicles. Our Bodrum listings are spread across several peninsula villages, including Yalıkavak, Gündoğan, Türkbükü and Gölköy, so a car or a planned transfer is usually the practical choice for a day of viewings.

How a visit with our team runs

Our services for visiting buyers are described on our About page. A typical visit follows the sequence below; the exact programme is agreed with you in advance.

1. Phone consultation Our investment consultancy team listens to your expectations by phone, in the language you speak, and suggests suitable projects for your budget.
2. Airport pick-up and transfer Once you decide on your investment and plan your visit to Turkey, our team welcomes you at the airport and takes you to your hotel.
3. Presentation at our head office Our investment consultants give you a presentation about investing in Turkey and the opportunities available, at our office in Levent, İstanbul.
4. Project tours on site Our field consultants then show you the shortlisted projects and homes in person. Our real estate consultancy and project tour are free.
5. Legal support after you choose If you decide to buy, our legal department supervises the procedures, including payment, the title deed process and, where relevant, the application for your investment certificate.

Our head office is at Esentepe Mah. Büyükdere Cad. Ferko Signature No: 175/7 Kat: B4, 34394 Levent, Şişli, İstanbul, and is open Monday to Saturday from 09:00 to 19:00. For Bodrum viewings, tell us early which villages interest you so that the days can be planned around realistic driving distances.

A sample plan for three to five days

Every trip is different, but the outline below shows how the days can be used well. It assumes a shortlist agreed in advance and leaves time to rest and think, which matters more than it seems.

As of 30 September 2026, our published İstanbul listings are most numerous in Sarıyer, Beşiktaş and Beylikdüzü, and our Bodrum listings are concentrated in Yalıkavak. These are a practical way to group viewings by area, but your brief, not our inventory, should decide where you look. You can browse everything on our listings page.

What to check at each viewing

A viewing is an inspection, not a tour. Use the same checklist in every building so that you compare like with like.

• The building Entrance, lifts, corridors, car park, visible cracks or damp, the condition of shared areas and how well the building has aged.
• Title and permits Ask what type of title the home has and whether the building has its building use permit (yapı kullanma izni, often called iskan).
• Site management Who manages the building, what the monthly charges cover, and how they are calculated and increased.
• Sun and noise Which way the rooms face, what the view will be if a neighbouring plot is built on, and the noise from roads, bars or construction.
• Commute times Test the journeys that matter, from the actual entrance, at the times you would really travel.
• Insurance Ask whether the home has a compulsory earthquake insurance policy; DASK administers this cover for residential buildings.

Title and occupancy permit

Under Article 30 of the Zoning Law No. 3194 (published in the Official Gazette on 9 May 1985), a completed building, or its completed usable parts, needs a building use permit from the authority that issued the construction permit, granted after it is established that the building conforms to its licence and annexes. For a completed building, ask whether the permit has been issued; for an off-plan project, ask at what stage it is expected and what happens to your title in the meantime. Our buying process guide explains how the title deed transfer works.

Holiday homes and rentals

For a holiday home, ask how the property is secured, maintained and inspected while it is empty. In a managed development, ask which services continue outside the main season and how charges are calculated. If a property is presented as a rental investment, ask for the evidence behind any income or occupancy figure: actual bookings, actual rents and actual costs, not projections.

Questions to ask

Keep a written list and ask the same questions everywhere. Answers you receive in writing are easier to compare and to check later with your lawyer.

• Is this exact unit available, and is the price quoted final or a starting point?
• Who is the seller: the developer, a private owner or a company?
• What type of title does the property have, and is it free of mortgages and other annotations?
• Has the building use permit (iskan) been issued, or when is it expected?
• What are the monthly management charges, and what do they include?
• For off-plan homes: what is the delivery date, what is the payment schedule, and what happens if delivery is late?
• Is the home sold furnished, and what exactly is included?
• Is a compulsory earthquake insurance (DASK) policy in place?
• For citizenship buyers: is the property suitable for the purpose, and which documents will be needed?

• Do not pay a deposit or sign a reservation form on the spot without reading it and understanding the refund terms.
• Do not rely on verbal promises about rental income, resale value or future prices.
• Do not accept "the permit is coming soon" without asking for a date and a written explanation.

Documents to bring

You do not need a large file for an inspection trip, but a few documents make the next steps much easier if you find the right home.

How to obtain a tax number

A Turkish tax number is needed for many formal steps, including opening a bank account. Foreigners can request a "potential tax identification number" online through the Revenue Administration's digital tax office (GİB). The online form asks for your name and surname, gender, passport number, place of birth, mother's and father's names, country, mobile phone number and address. Alternatively, a tax office can issue the number in person: İstanbul Technical University's guidance for foreign staff lists the original passport, a photocopy of the passport identification page and a signed tax number request petition, and notes that the process is free.

Opening a bank account

Many buyers look into opening a Turkish bank account during their inspection trip, both for the purchase and for paying bills later. There is no single public checklist that applies to every bank. According to a Turkish law firm's guidance, account opening for foreigners is not set out in a dedicated law, each bank applies its own criteria, and requirements differ between institutions. The same guidance lists a valid passport, a tax number, an address in Türkiye and a phone number among the usual requirements, and notes that some banks apply stricter checks to certain nationalities. Ask the bank you plan to use what it requires before you visit a branch.

After the trip

The days after you return home are when the good decisions are made. Compare your notes, photos and written answers side by side. If one home stands out, ask for the documents to be sent so that you, or an independent lawyer, can review them calmly. If nothing was quite right, tell us why; a clear "no" helps us refine the next shortlist.

1. Review your notes Rank your favourites against the brief you wrote before the trip, not against the most recent viewing.
2. Ask for documents Title information, permit status, management charges and the draft contract or reservation terms.
3. Check the costs Use our buying costs guide to estimate the total, not just the price.
4. Decide the next step Reserve, arrange a second visit, or keep searching. If you buy, our legal department supervises payment and title deed procedures.

Frequently asked questions

How many days do I need for an inspection trip?

Three to five days works for most buyers with an agreed shortlist. Three days can be enough for one city; five days is more comfortable if you want to see both İstanbul and Bodrum or to revisit favourites at a different time of day.

Do I need a visa to visit Türkiye?

It depends on your nationality and passport type. Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs country list, and if you need an e-Visa, apply only through the official site, www.evisa.gov.tr. The e-Visa is for tourism or commerce only.

Will someone meet me at the airport?

Yes. Once you decide on your investment and plan your visit, our team welcomes you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. Share your flight details with us in advance.

Which İstanbul airport should I fly into?

İstanbul Airport is on the European side and is linked to Gayrettepe by the M11 metro; Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side and served by the M4 metro. Choose based on where most of your viewings are, as well as flight times and prices.

Can I get a tax number before I travel?

Foreigners can apply online for a potential tax identification number through the Revenue Administration's digital tax office, using passport details. A tax office can also issue one in person.

Can I open a bank account on the trip?

Often it is possible, but each bank sets its own requirements. A passport, a tax number, an address and a phone number are commonly requested. Check with the chosen bank before your visit.

Is the project tour free?

Yes. Our real estate consultancy and project tour are free. For services after you decide to buy, we confirm our fee in writing before any engagement.

Can I view homes by video before travelling?

Yes, ask us for video viewings of shortlisted homes. They are a good way to narrow the list, but most buyers still prefer to see the building, the area and the journeys in person before committing.

Ready to plan your visit? Contact us with your travel dates and your brief, and we will prepare a shortlist and a programme with you before you fly.

Sources

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye — visa information for foreigners, e-Visa, passport validity (accessed 30 September 2026)
• Official e-Visa application system of the Republic of Türkiye (accessed 30 September 2026)
• İstanbul Airport — airport transportation (M11 metro, Havaist, İETT) (accessed 30 September 2026)
• İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport — transportation and distances (accessed 30 September 2026)
• Railway Gazette — opening of the M4 metro extension to Sabiha Gökçen (secondary source) (accessed 30 September 2026)
• DHMİ — Milas-Bodrum Airport transportation and distances (accessed 30 September 2026)
• Revenue Administration (GİB) — potential tax number application for foreigners (accessed 30 September 2026)
• İstanbul Technical University — tax ID guidance for foreigners, in-person route (secondary source) (accessed 30 September 2026)
• Zoning Law No. 3194, Article 30 — building use permit (accessed 30 September 2026)
• DASK — compulsory earthquake insurance (accessed 30 September 2026)
• Mıhcı Law Office — foreigners opening bank accounts in Türkiye (secondary source; no official checklist found) (accessed 30 September 2026)