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Hair transplant: Istanbul or Antalya for your recovery?
The recovery rules for hair transplant 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 9 things that fit the rules and our Antalya list has 6. On day 10, it is 18 in Istanbul and 9 in Antalya.
Typical stay: 3 to 5 days in the city is typical; many patients stay 7 to 10 to see the crusts through
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 | 9 safe things | 6 safe things |
| Day 2 | 9 safe things | 6 safe things |
| Day 3 | 9 safe things | 6 safe things |
| Day 4 | 11 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 5 | 11 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 6 | 11 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 7 | 18 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 8 | 18 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 9 | 18 safe things | 9 safe things |
| Day 10 | 18 safe things | 9 safe things |
What fits, and what to skip
Istanbul
- Day 3: Bosphorus sightseeing cruise, Istanbul Modern and the Karaköy waterfront, Whirling dervish ceremony.
- Day 10: Bosphorus dinner cruise with show, Topkapı Palace, Grand Bazaar.
- Skip on day 3: Turkish hammam, Grand Bazaar.
Antalya
- Day 3: Old harbour sightseeing cruise, Tünektepe cable car, Antalya Museum.
- Day 10: Old harbour sightseeing cruise, Kaleiçi walking tour with tea and baklava, Old town, waterfalls and boat day.
- Skip on day 3: Kaleiçi walking tour with tea and baklava, Konyaaltı beach.
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.