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Blog

Guides, comparisons and honest answers about treatment in Istanbul — written by the clinicians who do the work.

Istanbul & travel

Istanbul's two airports: which one to fly into

IST is bigger and better connected; SAW is often cheaper and closer for some hotels. Transfer time is the real difference.

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Istanbul & travel

The best time of year to come for treatment

April–June and September–November: mild weather, comfortable recovery and easier flights. July is the one to avoid.

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Istanbul & travel

What to pack for a medical trip to Istanbul

Front-buttoning clothes, your medication list, and one thing most people forget: a copy of your medical history in English.

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Istanbul & travel

Visas, documents and entry rules for medical visitors

Most European citizens enter visa-free for 90 days. The document that actually matters is a passport with six months of validity.

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Istanbul & travel

Hagia Sophia: what to know before you go

Fifteen centuries of history, an active mosque, and a visit that takes an hour if you time it right.

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Istanbul & travel

The Bosphorus: the best value hour in Istanbul

A public ferry costs less than a coffee and shows you more of the city than any tour bus.

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Istanbul & travel

What to eat in Istanbul when you have just had surgery

Turkish cuisine is unusually well suited to post-operative eating — soft, warm, protein-rich and rarely spicy.

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Istanbul & travel

Where to stay: choosing a hotel near the clinic

Şişli, Nişantaşı and Levent all work. Sultanahmet looks romantic and adds an hour of traffic to every appointment.

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Istanbul & travel

Will language be a problem? How translation actually works

A translator in the room is not a luxury — consent, symptoms and aftercare all depend on being understood precisely.

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Istanbul & travel

Your first consultation: what happens and what to ask

Bring photographs, medication lists and questions written down — the ones you forget are always the ones that mattered.

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Istanbul & travel

Paying for treatment abroad safely

Card payments to a company account, an itemised invoice, and never a large cash deposit to a personal account.

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Istanbul & travel

Aftercare once you are home: who to call and when

The moment you land is not the end of treatment. Here is the schedule and the list of symptoms that should never wait.

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