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Dental implants: Istanbul or Antalya for your recovery?
The recovery rules for dental implant surgery are the same in both cities, because they come from the same published guidance. What changes is the city around you: the weather, the hills, the crowds and how much there is to do on each day of your stay.
Short answer
On day 3, our Istanbul list has 13 things that fit the rules and our Antalya list has 7. On day 7, it is 20 in Istanbul and 14 in Antalya.
Typical stay: 5 to 10 days for implant placement or All-on-4; a second trip months later for the final teeth is common
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
At a glance
| Istanbul | Antalya | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | Hot, sunny summers (often above 28°C in July and August) and cool, wet winters. Spring and autumn are the easiest months for recovery sightseeing. | Long, hot summers (often above 33°C from June to September) and mild winters. Spring and autumn suit a dental trip best. |
| Getting around | Use taxis or a ride app door to door in the first days. Trams and the metro are fast but packed at rush hour. Public ferries between Europe and Asia are cheap, seated and calm. | Taxis and the tram connect the old town, Konyaaltı and Lara. Many dental clinics include airport and hotel transfers. |
| Clinic districts | Şişli and Mecidiyeköy, Beşiktaş and Levent, Ataşehir, Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu | Muratpaşa, Konyaaltı, Lara |
| Emergency number | 112 for ambulance, police and fire. | 112 for ambulance, police and fire. |
Safe things to do, day by day
Activities from our city lists that fit the published limits on each day. Tap a day for the rules and the full plan.
| Day | Istanbul | Antalya |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 13 safe things | 7 safe things |
| Day 2 | 13 safe things | 7 safe things |
| Day 3 | 13 safe things | 7 safe things |
| Day 4 | 18 safe things | 11 safe things |
| Day 5 | 18 safe things | 11 safe things |
| Day 6 | 20 safe things | 14 safe things |
| Day 7 | 20 safe things | 14 safe things |
What fits, and what to skip
Istanbul
- Day 3: Basilica Cistern, Istanbul Modern and the Karaköy waterfront, Bosphorus sightseeing cruise.
- Day 7: Topkapı Palace, Bosphorus dinner cruise with show, Basilica Cistern.
- Skip on day 3: Guided food tour with ferry ride, Bosphorus dinner cruise with show.
Antalya
- Day 3: Konyaaltı beach, Old harbour sightseeing cruise, Tünektepe cable car.
- Day 7: Konyaaltı beach, Kaleiçi walking tour with tea and baklava, Old town, waterfalls and boat day.
- Skip on day 3: Kaleiçi walking tour with tea and baklava, Suluada island boat trip.
Checks before you book
Istanbul
- Ask for the clinic's Ministry of Health licence and, for foreign patients, its international health tourism authorisation certificate.
- Ask who will do each step of the procedure and for that doctor's full name, so you can look them up.
- Get the price, what it includes (hotel, transfers, medicines, follow-up) and the aftercare plan in writing before you travel.
Antalya
- Ask for the clinic's Ministry of Health licence and its health tourism authorisation certificate.
- Ask for the treating dentist's full name and specialty, and the implant brand and its guarantee.
- Get the treatment plan, the number of visits and the price in writing, including what happens if an implant fails.