Day 1: Antalya in autumn – what my clients tell me
Vanessa is a fictional character created by Reiseblase. Her stories are made up – we check facts, rules and advice against official sources.
Hello, I’m Vanessa, 28, and I work in a travel agency. Every day I book beaches, old towns and sunsets – just not for myself. So I do the next best thing: I listen. When my clients come back, they tell me everything. And that’s exactly what I write down here.
Today it’s Antalya in autumn. Last week, a young couple stood at my desk, tanned and a little tired. “In October, the sea was still warm,” she said, “and in the evening the old town was so busy that we got lost – in the best possible way.”
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He had a different story: on the first evening he wanted to send his friends a video – and the next morning he found a text from his provider about roaming charges on his phone. Turkey isn’t part of the EU, and ‘Roam like at home’ doesn’t apply there (2). I showed him our eSIM guide. All he said was: “I should have read that beforehand.”
Another client told me about her ID card. She wasn’t sure whether it would be enough. The good news: German nationals can enter Turkey with their identity card (1). Her advice to everyone: check the expiry date before you travel.
What you should know before travelling to Turkey
- German nationals may enter with a passport, a provisional passport, an identity card or a children’s passport. The German Federal Foreign Office advises against the provisional identity card because of past problems (1).
- You may stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa (1).
- Documents that expired no more than a year ago are generally accepted on entry – but this can cause problems when leaving or travelling on (1). It’s best to travel with valid documents.
- There are no compulsory vaccinations for direct travel from Germany; standard vaccinations are recommended (1).
- Mobile internet: the EU roaming rules don’t apply in Turkey (2). Check your tariff or a travel eSIM beforehand.
My takeaway for today: Antalya in autumn sounds like exactly the holiday I’m hoping for next year. If you’re planning your own trip, you’ll find our guide to package holidays with a comparison tool (advertisement).
See you tomorrow,
Vanessa
Please note: This article provides general information only and is not a substitute for advice. Entry requirements can change – check the latest advice from the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) before you travel.
Sources
- Auswärtiges Amt: Türkei: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (as at 11 October 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)
- European Union – Your Europe: Roaming charges (last reviewed by the EU on 7 January 2026; accessed on 12 October 2026)
