The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely changed the way we travel… if we travel at all. Most yabangees live far away from their families and for many of us planning to visit our families is more stressful than before. Ironically, these days as many finally work remotely, we might actually be more location-dependent than before. Not only are there fewer flights to and from Turkey, but the rules to enter countries regularly change. Most countries, including Turkey, now require a negative PCR test upon arrival. The aim of this article is to inform you of experiences some of my friends and I have had in doing PCR tests in different laboratories in Istanbul, their prices, and the test result waiting times.
Please be aware that rules are changing often, therefore I advise you to check current regulations before travelling. In most of the cases, this would mean checking regulations in the country of arrival. In addition to that, check also the regulations of the airline, as airlines tend to follow rules valid in arrival countries.
Where is PCR Testing in Istanbul?
An up-to-date list of all the hospitals and laboratories where you can test yourself for travel purposes in Istanbul is available on via the Health Ministry. The list of the authorized labs all over Turkey is also frequently updated and is available on here via the Health Ministry. I would advise you to check the list and then call the hospital or laboratory in advance. From time to time certain hospital or labs do not do PCR tests for various reasons. Never forget to ask the approximate time to get the results.
Waiting Times & Prices
The waiting time on PCR test results really differs. Prices, on the other hand, are more or less the same at 250 TL. If you are not a resident in Turkey, prices might be much higher, i. e. 500 TL or even more.
(At the New Istanbul Airport at the end of December the price was advertised as 300 TL, nonetheless, they charged me 250 TL.)
At the Airport – But Only If You Travel
According to my friends’ and my personal experiences, the airport testing centers are the fastest and cheapest. In most of the cases, you only need a negative PCR test at the time of arrival to the destination country.
The testing center at the New Istanbul Airport is located one floor below the check-in floor. Currently, there are three private companies doing tests. Prices and waiting times are the same at all of them. You wait a maximum of six hours to get the results. Results are accessible online via E-Nabiz. No appointment is required, however, if you do not have a booked flight from the airport, unfortunately, you won’t be able to enter the airport and therefore get tested. You can get more info and current regulations via the airport webpage.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport also has a testing center, located on the ground floor. According to their web page, results are provided in less than three hours.
Testing in the City Center
Since both airports are located quite far from the center of Istanbul, many prefer to get tested in one of the hospitals in the city center. One of the popular options is the American Hospital in Nişantaşı. No appointment is needed, however, you are asked the purpose for the PCR test. You can obtain results via the previously mentioned E-Nabiz web page, the hospital’s app, or have it directly sent to you via WhatsApp or email. To get the results, it may take from 6 hours to up to one day.
Florence Nightingale Hospital in Şişli used to offer a free testing option back in June. Now the fee is 250 TL for residents, and 550 TL for foreigners. You get results in approximately 24 hours.
Cihangir Laboratory offers testing as well, located on the ground floor of a residential building on Sıraselviler Caddesi. For foreigners, they seem to indicate that proof of flight is necessary to get tested, but seemingly won’t decline you if you’re already there. Testing is set at 250 TL for both locals and foreigners and results are usually published the same evening.
Have you done a PCR test in Turkey? Share with us your experience.
