Please does anyone know the best way to post a package to Istanbul from the UK?

What does it cost?

Is the postal service in Istanbul good?

I really appreciate help on this as I want to send my good friend a special parcel.

by a postage service
it is nice past services in istanbul

- Thank you. You so kind to reply.
I could be wrong but I heard if we send parcels from abroad they don't get to the address in Turkey???

Did anyone have this experience?

Hi there,

I posted a package from the UK to Turkey and I was told by the post office it would be there in 4 to 5 working days but in fact it took over 3 weeks! This was posted Airmail which seems the only way to send a parcel to Turkey. My package was quite cheap to post but if you know the weight you can check the cost online through www.postoffice.co.uk.

Hope this helps.

Hi there,
I am very experienced at posting things from the UK to Turkey.

Firstly, I have posted 2 letters to Istanbul which never arrived at all, and I have posted parcels to Istanbul which have taken only 1 week to arrive.

The cost obviously depends on the weight and you can access the Royal Mail site which will give you a list of weights and their prices to Turkey - I'll try and give the link later if you like but its easy enough to find.

When the PO tell you something will arrive in 2/3 days, they mean TO TURKEY - once in Turkey, you are then relying on the Turkish post to get your mail to its ultimate destination. This depends how far away it is from the nearest big City. So, for example. I have a friend in Ayvalik, the nearest big city is Izmir. I'm guessing that post goes first to Izmir and is then sent on to Ayvalik. Parcels to Ayvalik can take up to 4 weeks, even letters. BUT. I recently sent a big envelope which I wanted to go as quickly as possible. I sent it 'Special' this cost quite a bit more over £5.00 just for an envelope but it arrived in 1 week. This had to be signed for, and I think this gave it a priority once it got to Turkey.

Having said all this, I recently sent a parcel to Ayvalik (just ordinary airmail) and it arrived in 9 days (which was a record!) Oddly enough, I had sent a letter 4 days before the parcel and that arrived at the same time as the parcel, which suggests to me, that once the post gets to Izmir, they kind of 'hang on' to it until they have a lot and then send them on all at once.

I once sent a letter from Ayvalik to Istanbul and that still took 1 week to arrive.

In summary - there's no real consistency and its all a bit pot luck as to whether it arrives or when it arrives. If you have anything really important then use the 'special' service at the post office. If you have anything that's basically 'life or death' then use a courier which could cost up to £30 just for an envelope of documents.

Finally, it could well be cheaper and easier and more reliable to simply book yourself on a plane and deliver it by hand! Good luck!

lyndie,
i am sure u have tried so mant times to send letters to Turkey

Indeed I have!
I have sent many things to istanbul. As I said, some arrived and some didn't!