Do you need a greeting or postcards, a letter or a parcel to send locally or abroad in Istanbul, Turkey? Than you can easily use the Turkey’s national postal system, even banking one, named “PTT”, which is the Turkish abbreviation for “Posta ve Telgraf Teskilati”, and a trusted Turkish institution with hundred thousands of branches nationwide. You can also exchange foreign currency in many of the PTT branches. The Turkish Post Offices can easily be recognized by the yellow background and dark blue PTT letters on them.
What services can I find at the Istanbul’s Post Offices?
- Post letters, greeting or postcards and parcels within Turkey and abroad
- Domestic or international telegraph
- Exchange foreign currency
- Exchange International post orders and travelers’ cheques
- Transfer money abroad
- Registered electronic mail
- Stamps, telephone tokens and cards
For more detailed information, visit official PTT website
Post codes in Turkey consist of a 5 digit number in general. 2 digits for the city code and 3 digits to show which area you are in.
The staff at the post offices in Istanbul are mostly helpful, but as they mostly will speak little English, we recommend you to go with a few phrases prepared.
Helpful Vocabulary for the Istanbul’s Post Offices
I want to send this to **** = Bunu ***** adresine göndermek istiyorum
How long will it get there? = Kaç günde gider?
How much will it be? = Kaç para tutar?
Is there a faster option? = Daha hızlı bir yol var mı?
How much is the fastest option? = En hızlı gönderim kaç para?
Is there a tracking number? = Takip numarası var mı?
I need a telephone card = Bana telefon kartı lazım
I need an envelope and stamp = Bana bir zarf ve pul lazım
I need a parcel = Bana bir paket lazım
Post Offices’ Service Hours in Istanbul
Most of the post offices in Istanbul are open from 8:30 am to 17:30 pm (mid-day break between 12:30 to 13:30), Monday to Friday. And these hours are common for whole Turkey. Only central post office in Sirkeci is open in Saturdays until 16:00.
Istanbul’s Central Post Office
The Central Post Office of Istanbul (Buyuk Postane) is located in Sirkeci neighborhood of the historic center, in an impressive historical building between the Egyptian Spice Bazaar and Yeni Mosque. There is also a Postal Museum (PTT Muzesi) inside.
* If you don’t have a set postal address in Istanbul, you can always receive your mail by poste restante, at the Istanbul’s Central Post Office.
Address: Hobyar Mahallesi, Büyük Postane Cd. No:25, 34112 Fatih, Istanbul
Tel: +90 212 526 12 00
Opening Hours: 08:30-18:30 (Monday to Friday), 10:00-16:00 (Saturdays), closed on Sundays.
Where can I find the major Post Office branches in Istanbul’s tourist districts?
There are wide range of Post Office branches in Istanbul, all of which offer the same services. Major branches in the tourist districts such as in Sultanahmet, Taksim and Galata locations:
All below branches are open between 08:30-17:00 (Monday to Friday), closed on weekends
- Sultanahmet – between Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace
- Kapalicarsi – near Grand Bazaar
- Beyazit – near the many hotels located in Beyazit
- Suleymaniye – near Suleymaniye Mosque
- Karakoy – near Taksim funicular
- Beyoglu – near the Galatasaray University on the middle of Istiklal Street
- Taksim – on Siraselviler Street, down from Taksim Sqaure
Find more Post Office branches in Istanbul from PTT’s portal.
How can I send a Letter, Greeting or Post Card abroad in the Post Offices in Istanbul?
You can easily send greeting or postcards in any of the Post Offices in Istanbul or by simply posting in one of the yellow post boxes spread through the city, as well as outside the post offices. You’ll also see specific boxes for local, national and international posts. Greeting cards can be posted as registered or unregistered. You can also buy stamps from many of the tobacco shops mostly located at the tourist zones.
