Romance is the beating heart of Turkish television. Even the crime stories and family sagas usually have a love story at their center, and the best of them have made stars of their leads across dozens of countries. But "romantic" covers a lot of ground. A sweeping tragedy and a fake-engagement comedy both count, and they will leave you feeling very different.
Rather than ranking eight series from best to worst, we have grouped them by the kind of love story they tell. Pick the type that fits your mood, and you will find a series built for it. Episode counts refer to the original Turkish broadcast, and each episode typically runs around two hours.
At a glance
| Series | Love story type | Episodes | Best for |
| Endless Love | Tragic, epic | 74 | A big emotional commitment |
| Forbidden Love | Forbidden, classic | 79 | Slow, literary drama |
| Brave and Beautiful | Class-crossing | 32 | Glossy, mid-length romance |
| Price of Passion | Romance with danger | 32 | Tension and chemistry |
| Daydreamer | Romantic comedy | 51 | Feel-good viewing |
| Love Is in the Air | Fake relationship | ~52 | Light, binge-friendly fun |
| Love for Rent | Arranged-by-scheme | 69 | Witty, gentle pace |
| Bitter Sweet | Wary-heart romance | 26 | A shorter, polished option |
Tragic and epic love stories
1. Endless Love (Kara Sevda)
2015 to 2017 · Star TV · 74 episodes over two seasons
Kemal, a young engineer from a modest family, falls for Nihan, who comes from wealth. Their love is real, but outside forces pull them apart, and the story follows what remains years later. It is the series most often named when fans are asked for the definitive Turkish romance, and it won the International Emmy for Best Telenovela in 2017.
Why it works: it treats love as something that survives loss, not something that wins easily. It is long and heavy, so it is better as your second or third dizi than your first. Burak Özçivit and Neslihan Atagül lead.
Forbidden and class-crossing romances
2. Forbidden Love (Aşk-ı Memnu)
2008 to 2010 · Kanal D · 79 episodes over two seasons
Based on an 1899 novel by Halit Ziya Uşaklıgil, it follows Bihter, a young woman who marries a wealthy older widower and then finds herself drawn to a man who should be off limits. The drama is about desire, pride and consequences rather than a simple love triangle. Beren Saat and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ became stars through it.
Why it works: it is a more adult, slow-moving story, closer to a classic novel than a modern rom-com. Choose it if you like morally complicated characters.
3. Brave and Beautiful (Cesur ve Güzel)
2016 to 2017 · Star TV · 32 episodes
Cesur is a self-assured man with a hard past, and Sühan is a strong-willed woman from a very different world. Their attraction runs into family pressure and social class. The series was nominated for an International Emmy for Best Telenovela and won an Excellence Award at the Seoul International Drama Awards in 2018. Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Tuba Büyüküstün star.
Why it works: at 32 episodes in a single season, it gives you an old-fashioned grand romance without the commitment of a 70-episode saga.
4. Price of Passion (Siyah Beyaz Aşk)
2017 to 2018 · Kanal D · 32 episodes
A doctor, Aslı, becomes the unwilling witness to a crime, and Ferhat, a guarded man tied to a criminal network, is made responsible for her safety. Romance grows from a situation that began as a threat. İbrahim Çelikkol and Birce Akalay have the chemistry that carries it.
Why it works: it suits viewers who want a love story with some real stakes, without it becoming a full crime epic.
Feel-good romantic comedies
5. Daydreamer (Erkenci Kuş)
2018 to 2019 · Star TV · 51 episodes
Sanem, a dreamy young woman who wants to be a writer, takes a job at an advertising agency and meets Can, a photographer and traveler who has come home to run the family business. It is warm, funny and full of misunderstandings. Demet Özdemir and Can Yaman are the leads.
Why it works: it is one of the easiest dizi to start with, and its colorful tone makes the long runtime feel lighter.
6. Love Is in the Air (Sen Çal Kapımı)
2020 to 2021 · FOX · about 52 episodes over two seasons
Eda, a florist with a scholarship at stake, agrees to pretend to be engaged to a company heir, and pretending turns out to be harder than either expects. Its finale reportedly became the most-tweeted Turkish series ending. Hande Erçel and Kerem Bürsin star.
Why it works: the setup is easy to explain and the pace is quick, which makes it a good bridge from Western romantic comedies.
7. Love for Rent (Kiralık Aşk)
2015 to 2017 · Star TV · 69 episodes over two seasons
Defne, a hardworking young woman, is drawn into a scheme to steer the love life of Ömer, a successful fashion designer who avoids commitment. The plan is supposed to be temporary, and feelings complicate it. Elçin Sangu and Barış Arduç lead the cast.
Why it works: it has lovable supporting characters and a gentle pace, which suits viewers who like a long, cozy watch.
A polished option for a shorter watch
8. Bitter Sweet (Dolunay)
2017 · Star TV · 26 episodes
Nazlı, a culinary student who works as a private chef, meets Ferit, a wealthy businessman who distrusts women, and a custody storyline involving a young boy ties their lives together. Can Yaman and Özge Gürel star.
Why it works: with 26 episodes, it is the shortest romance on this list and a good pick if you want a full love story without a long commitment.
How to choose
- You want to cry in a good way: Endless Love.
- You want something smart and a little darker: Forbidden Love.
- You want a glossy mid-length story: Brave and Beautiful or Bitter Sweet.
- You want to laugh: Daydreamer, Love Is in the Air or Love for Rent.
- You want chemistry under pressure: Price of Passion.
Looking for more? Browse every romance series or the romantic comedies on DiziCentral. If you are new to the format, start with our guide to the best Turkish dramas for beginners, and read how to choose a Turkish series to watch to match a story to your time. To see which romances share a plot device, our guide to enemies to lovers series goes deeper.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most romantic Turkish drama?
Endless Love is the one most fans name first, largely because of its emotional scale and its International Emmy win. For a lighter kind of romance, Daydreamer is the common favorite.
Which Turkish romance is the shortest?
Among the series here, Bitter Sweet has 26 episodes, and Brave and Beautiful and Price of Passion have 32 each.
Do Turkish romances have happy endings?
It varies. Romantic comedies usually end happily, while dramas such as Endless Love and Forbidden Love are built around heavier outcomes. Check the genre before you start if a happy ending matters to you.
Are Turkish romantic dramas suitable for family viewing?
Romantic comedies are generally the lightest, but themes differ from series to series, so check the age guidance first.
Should I start with a romantic comedy or a romantic drama?
If you are new to Turkish series, start with a romantic comedy. It is lighter and easier to settle into, and you can move on to the heavier dramas later.
