How to rent an apartment in Istanbul for 2 months (short-term)?

Some users report Airbnb blocking bookings for Russian and Belarusian citizens in Istanbul. The issue may be linked to VPN — switching VPN location or booking from abroad can resolve it. If not, ask a friend located outside Russia to book through their own account.

There's a dedicated Telegram chat for renting property in Turkey: post a request in the 'СНИМУ' (Looking to rent) section and landlords/agents will DM you offers; there's also a 'СДАМ' (For rent) section where you can search listings by city, including Istanbul.

One participant warns that searching for housing through such Telegram rental chats is risky — it's an easy setup for scammers. Instead, they recommend using booking aggregators like Booking.com, Yandex Travel, or Ozon Travel for short-term apartments, where terms and payment are more secure.

Turkish law prohibits renting apartments for less than one year. Short-term rentals via Airbnb-style platforms require a special license, which is especially difficult to obtain for apartments in multi-unit buildings.

Blueground offers furnished apartments in good Istanbul neighborhoods with everything included. Prices are above market rate, but quality and locations are reliable — one of the few legal options for short stays.

Sahibinden has listings from private landlords, but prices tend to be inflated and many owners refuse short-term deals due to legal risks — evicting a non-paying tenant through Turkish courts can take years.

Contacting a local real estate agency is one of the practical ways to find a 2-month rental. Agents know the market and can connect you with landlords open to non-standard terms who don't advertise online.

Rental prices in Istanbul vary dramatically by neighborhood, apartment size, building age, and amenities. Prices can differ several times over between districts, so narrowing down your preferred area first is essential.