Travelers heading to Istanbul may need to rethink what they pack—and how they stay connected. The city’s metro system has quietly introduced new baggage restrictions, limiting the size and weight of luggage allowed on board. For visitors, it’s a one-two punch that could complicate even the simplest journey from the airport to the city center.
The new rules, announced by Metro İstanbul, cap the weight of any suitcase or package at 30 kilograms, while banning those exceeding 120×60×50 centimeters. Oversized luggage, boxes, sacks, and even large travel backpacks now fall under the same restriction. Each passenger is permitted just one large suitcase and one small bag or backpack. Those carrying more must pay an extra fee equal to one standard metro fare—a small price, perhaps, but a big statement about crowd control in a system straining under surging ridership.
According to the city’s transport operator, the move is about “ensuring fair use of space and maintaining comfort for all passengers,” particularly on routes serving Istanbul’s busy airports and tourist-heavy districts. But for travelers arriving with multiple bags or large gear, the message is clear: less is more.
At the same time, visitors may find their digital connections equally constrained. Turkey’s Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has blocked access to several major travel eSIM providers, including Airalo, Holafly, Nomad, and Saily—platforms widely used by international tourists for affordable mobile data abroad.
The decision, which caught many travelers off guard, means that anyone attempting to activate an eSIM after arriving in Turkey may find it simply doesn’t work. Those who download and activate their eSIM before departure appear unaffected, but for many digital nomads and short-term visitors, the sudden block has been a rude surprise.
The move follows a broader regulatory push to bring foreign tech and telecom services under Turkish jurisdiction. But for travelers, it effectively restores the old frustrations of queuing at airport kiosks for a local SIM card—time-consuming, often overpriced, and sometimes requiring passport registration.
Together, the new baggage and connectivity rules add up to a revealing snapshot of modern travel: more rules, more friction, and more reminders that the logistics of movement are rarely as simple as they seem. Istanbul remains one of the world’s most magnetic cities, but travelers may want to arrive prepared—with smaller suitcases, preloaded maps, and an eSIM already activated before their plane touches down.
