Filming Locations in Turkey
Four bases with very different rules. Istanbul works through district governorships and a three-zone vehicle system, Cappadocia through its own Area Presidency, Antalya through Ministry heritage sites and temporary stages, and Ankara through the institutions that own its landmarks.
Where to Base Your Shoot
Every foreign shoot starts with the same Ministry permit, filed at filmingpermit.ktb.gov.tr at least 10 business days ahead with a Turkish-citizen fixer named on the application. What changes from city to city is the second layer of permission, the climate and the locations that are genuinely available.
Istanbul
Skyfall's rooftop chase and Argo's Tehran streets were shot here. Since January 2026, public-space shoots apply to the district governorship at least 7 days ahead under a three-zone vehicle system. The Topkapı, Dolmabahçe and Beylerbeyi palaces bar film and commercial shoots.
Ankara
The capital films as itself: Behzat Ç. was shot on its streets, though no major international feature is documented here. Anıtkabir is controlled case by case by its military command, and Gordion became a UNESCO site in 2023. January averages 0.4°C.
Cappadocia
Pasolini's Medea and the Palme d'Or winner Winter Sleep were shot among the fairy chimneys. The Cappadocia Area Presidency controls the landscape, SHGM decides each morning whether balloons fly, and a 2022 commercial was fined about ₺2m for applying material to the rock.
Antalya
Guy Ritchie built temporary stages on the old EXPO 2016 grounds for Operation Fortune (2021) and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2023). Aspendos, Perge and Termessos need Ministry site permission, and January brings a 15°C mean high with heavy rain.
Our Worldwide Network
Need production support beyond this country? Our global network of fixers covers filming locations worldwide.
What Applies Everywhere in Turkey
One National Permit
The General Directorate of Cinema issues the filming permit under the 2019 regulation (Official Gazette No. 30919). It requires at least one Turkish citizen as fixer, who files a wrap report within 15 days. We fill that role and file the local permissions on top.
Heritage Sites Have Their Own Route
Ministry museums and archaeological sites need a provincial Culture and Tourism Directorate letter, heritage-directorate approval and a site-use fee paid before the shoot. National parks add a DKMP permit, at double the fee for foreign companies.
Up to 30% Back, Plus VAT
Foreign Film Production Support refunds up to 30% of Ministry-accepted spend, applied for by a Turkish co-producer or service company and paid as a lump sum after audit. Separately, foreign producers can reclaim the 20% VAT on permit-period spend.
Ready to Film in Turkey?
Tell us your cities and dates. We will map the permits, lead times and seasonal constraints for each location before you commit to a schedule.