Best Cities in Turkey for Digital Nomads or Freelancers 2023

Turkey is a highly appealing country in many aspects. Without a doubt, it is like investment heaven for many foreigners. However, only a few digital nomads or freelancers know the importance of this beautiful country. First of all, Turkey is one of the few countries where you can live four seasons.

In addition to this, due to the recent Turkish Lira devaluation, the country is highly affordable for almost every foreigner! Besides enjoying a luxurious lifestyle, you can save money while traveling in Turkey. Therefore, we wanted to compile this guide for digital nomads and freelancers.

Below, you will learn more about whether Turkey is a good country for you or not! In addition to this, we have shared 5 amazing cities that you might want to consider visiting. So, let’s start!

Is Turkey Good for a Digital Nomad or Freelancer?

There is no doubt that Turkey is one of the best countries in the world for digital nomads and freelancers. The country has 81 cities. Although not most of them are suitable for foreigners due to cultural differences, most of them are still an amazing choice!

The cost of life in Turkey is highly affordable for those who are making money in different currencies. In addition to this, Turkey has plenty of modern cities, where you can enjoy all kinds of tastes! Needless to say, Turkish cuisine is one of the best cuisines in the world as well.

So, in our opinion as well as by thousands of digital nomads and freelancers, Turkey is one of the best destinations you might want to visit. Moreover, the country does not require most foreigners!

5 Best Cities in Turkey for Digital Nomads or Freelancers

In the following, we have compiled the 5 best cities that you might want to consider visiting as a digital nomad or freelancer. We have compiled the list from best to good. However, depending on your taste, the ranking of these cities may differ.

Thus, we have provided detailed information for each city. In this way, you can check out each of these cities and make your own decision according to your taste, preferences, and needs.

Istanbul

Istanbul is not only the most crowded city in Turkey but also in Europe as well. The city has land both on European and Asian continents. In addition to this, Istanbul is the home to the most crowded expat population in the country.

Depending on which district you are going to live in, you will enjoy a different historical texture. You will not be able to visit every attraction in the city although you will live here for a year. Moreover, you can find some of the world-standard restaurants that offer world cuisine.

We highly recommend tasting Turkish and Ottoman cuisine as well. The only downside of Istanbul is it is the most expensive city in Turkey but if you are making money in a different currency, it will still be affordable for you.

Izmir

Izmir is one of the most crowded cities in Turkey and it is famous for being the pearl of the Aegean region. You can enjoy a sunny day almost every month, and you can find plenty of tourist destinations to visit in your free time.

Moreover, Izmir is also quite satisfactory in terms of cultural and historical trips. You can visit the ruins of many ancient civilizations. It was one of the most important cities for Ancient Greece and Rome as well. Thus, Izmir should be on your list too.

Ankara

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey and is a better choice for those who love a formal lifestyle. All the ministries are located here. However, since it is located in the middle of the country, it is a bit colder compared to other cities on the list.

Thus, if you enjoy the cold, Ankara may seem quite appealing for you too. In addition to this, it is one of the cheapest cities in Turkey. Those who are looking for great networking opportunities can also prefer Ankara or at least they may want to spend a few weeks in the city.

You can find plenty of luxury villas and residences in Ankara too! Without a doubt, you may want to consider visiting the capital of Turkey at least once during your stay.

Antalya

Antalya is another famous Turkish city that attracts millions of foreigners every year! The city is known as the tourism capital of Turkey, and you can find foreigners or expats from different nationalities. In general, it is full of British, German, and Russian visitors.

Needless to say, Antalya is the second city that has the most expats living in it. The city is sunny almost every month of the year and you can swim in the warm sea whenever you want. Once you get bored of the sea, sand, and sun, you can visit its mountains to enjoy skiing.

In short, your possibilities and activities to engage in Antalya are limitless. You will enjoy every moment in Antalya, and you can visit many other popular tourist destinations from here.

Mugla

Mugla is the third city that attracts the most tourists every year! What makes Mugla so special is its districts. All of the districts of Mugla are popular tourist destinations for both local and foreign tourists. You can travel between these districts in two hours.

Without a doubt, if you love sunny destinations, Mugla should be on top of your list. Besides city life, you can enjoy the natural beauties in Turkey in Mugla. Visitors can find numerous outdoor activities from surfing to parasailing, hiking to mountain climbing.

So, if you are interested in extreme sports, you can prefer Mugla or Antalya, but Mugla is our favorite. You can also engage in diving events to enjoy the underwater world of the Aegean coast. The sea is always warm in every season.

It is worth noting that Mugla receives a lot of precipitation, especially during winter. So, it may be a good idea to get prepared for the weather in case you are going to visit Mugla between December and February.