Which Turkish series should I watch first? A decision guide by genre, era and length

This page does not declare a "best Turkish series"; no such measurement exists. It splits the decision into three axes instead: how much time you can give (episode count, TMDB), which genre you like (primary genre) and which era you are curious about. The series in each section were selected from data by that axis's criterion and ordered by Turkish search volume; being listed means a series meets the criterion, not that it is better than another. For choosing by source, book adaptations, remakes of foreign series and series inspired by real events have their own guides.

Criteria: length (episode count) · primary genre · era · airing status

Last checked: 2026-09-13 · 31 all series

I have little time: I want to start with a short series

Completed, 6–30 episodes in total.

2026
Museum of Innocence
Masumiyet Müzesi
drama
- drama
- 2026
- 9 episodes · completed
1
2025
Crown Prince
Veliaht
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 26 episodes · completed
2
2025
Jasmine
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 6 episodes · completed
3
2023
The Tailor
Terzi
drama
- drama
- 2023
- 23 episodes · 3 seasons · completed
4
2025
The Fall of the King
Kral Kaybederse
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 30 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
5
2020
The Teacher
Öğretmen
drama
- drama
- 2020
- 9 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
6

All short series

I want a long-running story

Completed, 100 episodes or more.

2006–
Back Streets
Arka Sokaklar
crime
- crime
- 2006–
- 752 episodes · 20 seasons · completed
1
2006–2010
Falling Leaves
Yaprak Dökümü
drama
- drama
- 2006–2010
- 174 episodes · 5 seasons · completed
2
2011–2014
The Magnificent Century
Muhteşem Yüzyıl
historical
- historical
- 2011–2014
- 139 episodes · 4 seasons · completed
3
2017–2021
The Pit
Çukur
action
- action
- 2017–2021
- 131 episodes · 4 seasons · completed
4
2010–2019
Behzat Ç.: An Ankara Policeman
Behzat Ç.
crime
- crime
- 2010–2019
- 105 episodes · 4 seasons · completed
5
2003
Sihirli Annem
children
- children
- 2003
- 119 episodes · 7 seasons · completed
6

I want to follow a series that is airing now

Airing according to TMDB (checked 2026-09-13).

2024
Far Away
Uzak Şehir
drama
- drama
- 2024
- 98 episodes · 3 seasons · ongoing
1
2025
This Sea Will Overflow
Taşacak Bu Deniz
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 40 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
2
2025
Sins and Roses
Güller ve Günahlar
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 69 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
3
2026
The One I Love
Sevdiğim Sensin
family
- family
- 2026
- 51 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
4
2022
Cranberry Sorbet
Kızılcık Şerbeti
family
- family
- 2022
- 174 episodes · 5 seasons · ongoing
5
2026
Torn Apart
Daha 17
drama
- drama
- 2026
- 18 episodes · ongoing
6

New

I want drama

2025
Eşref Rüya
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 47 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
1
2024
Far Away
Uzak Şehir
drama
- drama
- 2024
- 98 episodes · 3 seasons · ongoing
2
2025
This Sea Will Overflow
Taşacak Bu Deniz
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 40 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
3
2026
Underground
Yeraltı
drama
- drama
- 2026
- 17 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
4

Turkish Drama Series

I want comedy

2026
Torn Apart
Daha 17
drama
- drama
- 2026
- 18 episodes · ongoing
1
2024–2025
Mahsun J
comedy
- comedy
- 2024–2025
- 1 episodes · ongoing
2
2023
The Prince
Prens
comedy
- comedy
- 2023
- 23 episodes · 3 seasons · ongoing
3
2026
Possible Love
Muhtemel Aşk
comedy
- comedy
- 2026
- 13 episodes · ongoing
4

Turkish Comedy Series

I want action

2025
Eşref Rüya
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 47 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
1
2024
Far Away
Uzak Şehir
drama
- drama
- 2024
- 98 episodes · 3 seasons · ongoing
2
2026
Underground
Yeraltı
drama
- drama
- 2026
- 17 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
3
2006–
Back Streets
Arka Sokaklar
crime
- crime
- 2006–
- 752 episodes · 20 seasons · completed
4

Turkish Action Series

I want crime

2025
Eşref Rüya
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 47 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
1
2006–
Back Streets
Arka Sokaklar
crime
- crime
- 2006–
- 752 episodes · 20 seasons · completed
2
2025
Jasmine
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 6 episodes · completed
3
2021
Family Secrets
Yargı
family
- family
- 2021
- 95 episodes · 3 seasons · completed
4

Turkish Crime Series

I want history

2025
Founder: Orhan
Kuruluş Orhan
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 26 episodes · completed
1
2023
The Patriots
Al Sancak
historical
- historical
- 2023
- 19 episodes · completed
2
2011–2014
The Magnificent Century
Muhteşem Yüzyıl
historical
- historical
- 2011–2014
- 139 episodes · 4 seasons · completed
3
2021
The Shadow Team
Teşkilat
historical
- historical
- 2021
- 187 episodes · 7 seasons · ongoing
4

Turkish Historical Series

I want a family drama

2024
Far Away
Uzak Şehir
drama
- drama
- 2024
- 98 episodes · 3 seasons · ongoing
1
2025
This Sea Will Overflow
Taşacak Bu Deniz
drama
- drama
- 2025
- 40 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
2
2026
The One I Love
Sevdiğim Sensin
family
- family
- 2026
- 51 episodes · 2 seasons · ongoing
3
2022
Cranberry Sorbet
Kızılcık Şerbeti
family
- family
- 2022
- 174 episodes · 5 seasons · ongoing
4

Turkish Family Series

I want a love story

2015–2017
Endless Love
Kara Sevda
drama
- drama
- 2015–2017
- 74 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
1
2002–2003
The Mansion With Vines
Asmalı Konak
drama
- drama
- 2002–2003
- 54 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
2
1998–2001
Second Spring
İkinci Bahar
drama
- drama
- 1998–2001
- 37 episodes · 3 seasons · completed
3
2005–2007
Under the Trees
Ihlamurlar Altında
drama
- drama
- 2005–2007
- 150 episodes · 2 seasons · completed
4

Turkish Romance Series

I want an old classic (the 1990s)

1994
Liberation
Kurtuluş
historical
- historical
- 1994
- 6 episodes · completed
1
1998
Üvey Baba
drama
- drama
- 1998
- 204 episodes · 6 seasons · completed
2
1989–2002
Our People
Bizimkiler
drama
- drama
- 1989–2002
- 459 episodes · 15 seasons · completed
3
1993
Yorgun Savaşçı
No poster
historical
- historical
- 1993
- 1 episodes · completed
4

90s Nostalgia Turkish Series

I want to choose by source

Turkish Literary Adaptations Series based on true stories Series like Çukur

Viewing guides

Turkish series like Çukur (The Pit)Turkish series based on true stories: what is confirmed and what is only claimed Turkish series like Diriliş: Ertuğrul (Resurrection: Ertuğrul)Short Turkish series: completed shows with 30 episodes or fewer

Frequently asked questions

Which Turkish series should I start with if I have little time?

A completed series with 30 episodes or fewer, for example Masumiyet Müzesi (9), Veliaht (26), Jasmine (6), Terzi (23), Kral Kaybederse (30).

Which Turkish series are airing right now?

According to TMDB as of 2026-09-13: Uzak Şehir, Taşacak Bu Deniz, Güller ve Günahlar, Sevdiğim Sensin, Kızılcık Şerbeti.

What is the best Turkish series?

This site does not rank series as "best": there is no measured quality score behind such a claim. Choose by the three axes above (length, genre, era) or by source; every list states its criterion.