There are many Turkish romantic series, and they are easy to confuse: similar titles, long seasons, different channels. We have gathered ten well-known love series that are already finished, from 2008 to 2025. For each one you get the years, the channel or streaming service, the scope and why to watch it, with no spoilers. This is not a ranking: we do not invent our own ratings or viewing figures, and the word “most popular” in the title means “most well-known”: we took series that have detailed pages on Wikipedia. Ukrainian titles are taken from Ukrainian Wikipedia where its pages exist. The data was checked on October 18, 2026.
Aşk-ı Memnu (Forbidden Love)
Official trailer · “Aşk-ı Memnu” (2008)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Ay Yapım YouTube channel
A modern adaptation of the 1899 novel of the same name. A love triangle unfolds in the house of wealthy Istanbul businessman Adnan Ziyagil: young Bihter Yöreoğlu and a young relative of Adnan, Behlül, who falls in love with her. Starring Beren Saat and Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ. Why watch: a family drama with a classic foundation.
Medcezir
Official trailer · “Medcezir” (2013)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the STAR TV YouTube channel
A Turkish adaptation of the American series The O.C. Yaman Koper from a poor family falls in love with the wealthy Mira Beyliçe; starring Çağatay Ulusoy and Serenay Sarıkaya. Because of high ratings, the series was renewed for a second season. Why watch: teen romance with a difference in social status. There is no Ukrainian Wikipedia page for it, so we keep the original title.
Kiralık Aşk (Rent a Love)
Waitress Defne Topal needs money to pay her brother’s debt, and Aunt Omera offers to pay her if she marries him and then leaves. Starring Barış Arduç and Elçin Sangu. Why watch: a romantic comedy about a fake relationship. An episode runs about 120 minutes.
Kara Sevda (Endless Love)
Official trailer · “Kara Sevda” (2015)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Ay Yapım YouTube channel
Kemal from a modest family and Nihan from a wealthy one fall in love at first sight, but they will have to go through trials. Starring Burak Özçivit and Neslihan Atagül. According to Wikipedia, the series became the first Turkish series to win the International Emmy Award (2017, Best Telenovela category). An episode runs from 113 to 158 minutes. Why watch: an award-winning melodrama about love despite a difference in status.
Aşk Laftan Anlamaz (Love Doesn’t Understand Words)
Official trailer · “Aşk Laftan Anlamaz” (2016)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Aşk Laftan Anlamaz YouTube channel
A romantic comedy about work at an Istanbul company. Hayat from the fishing village of Giresun must find a job in the city, or she will be married off by her father’s decision. Through a mix-up she ends up at the company Sarte, where its head, Murat, begins to take an interest in her. Starring Burak Deniz and Hande Erçel. According to Wikipedia, the series was shown in more than 30 countries. Why watch: a short season that is easy to get through in a few evenings.
Erkenci Kuş (Daydreamer)
Official trailer · “Erkenci Kuş” (2018)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Erkenci Kuş YouTube channel
Sanem dreams of becoming a writer and living on the Galápagos Islands, but her parents force her to choose between marriage and work. She gets a job at an advertising agency, where she meets Can, the owner’s son, who prefers to shoot photos. Starring Demet Özdemir and Can Yaman. The international title is Daydreamer. Why watch: a light romantic comedy about dreams and work.
Hercai
Official trailer · “Hercai” (2019)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Mia Yapım YouTube channel
Young Reyyan, the granddaughter of the patriarch of the influential Şadoğlu family from the town of Midyat, accidentally meets Miran, and this meeting sets off a complicated story. Starring Akın Akınözü and Ebru Şahin. According to Wikipedia, ATV sold broadcast rights in many countries, including Latin America and the United States. An episode runs about 150 minutes. Why watch: a family drama with a romantic storyline.
Sen Çal Kapımı (Love Is in the Air)
Official trailer · “Sen Çal Kapımı” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the NOW YouTube channel
Eda, a landscape architecture student, loses her company scholarship, and her boss Serkan offers her two months of pretending to be his fiancée; in return he pays for her tuition and living expenses in Italy. Starring Hande Erçel and Kerem Bürsin. The international title is Love Is in the Air. Why watch: a romantic comedy about a fake engagement.
Aşk 101 / Love 101
Official trailer · “Love 101” (2020)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the Netflix YouTube channel
Istanbul, 1998: four troublemakers and a top student try to get their teacher to fall in love with the basketball coach. Starring Pınar Deniz, Kubilay Aka and Mert Yazıcıoğlu. The Netflix page for Ukraine lists the Turkish original audio track and Ukrainian subtitles. Why watch: a short teen series about friendship and first love.
Yalı Çapkını (The Golden Boy)
Official trailer · “Yalı Çapkını” (2022)Still: © the series’ rights holders, source — the official trailer on the STAR TV YouTube channel
Ferit Korhan, a spoiled heir to a wealthy Istanbul family, has his grandfather searching for a bride from his native Gaziantep. Because of an unforeseen event, Ferit chooses Seyran. Starring Afra Saraçoğlu and Mert Ramazan Demir. The English title is The Golden Boy, or Kingfisher. Why watch: a story about a forced marriage, intrigue and family secrets.
What to choose by mood
| What you want | What to pick |
|---|---|
| Classic drama | Forbidden Love, Endless Love |
| Romantic comedy | Rent a Love, Love Doesn’t Understand Words, Daydreamer, Love Is in the Air |
| Teen story | Aşk 101 / Love 101, Medcezir |
| Family intrigue | Hercai, The Golden Boy |
| Short season for a few evenings | Aşk 101 / Love 101 (16 episodes), Love Doesn’t Understand Words (31 episodes) |
If you want a film rather than a series, see our selections of love movies and love movies that make you cry.
Tip. Episodes of Turkish melodramas are long: according to Wikipedia, “Endless Love” runs from 113 to 158 minutes per episode, and “Hercai” about 150. So plan one episode per evening, not three.
Frequently asked questions
Why are Turkish series so long?
Wikipedia gives 113–158 minutes per episode for some series (“Endless Love”) and about 150 minutes (“Hercai”). Some seasons are long too: Forbidden Love has 79 episodes across two seasons.
Where to start if you haven’t watched Turkish series before?
Take a short season: Aşk 101 / Love 101 (16 episodes on Netflix) or Love Doesn’t Understand Words (31 episodes). Among the longer stories, Endless Love is well known.
Does the selection include series with Ukrainian subtitles?
For Aşk 101 / Love 101, the Netflix page for Ukraine lists Ukrainian subtitles. For the other series, service catalogs change, so check the card on the service you need.
Are there spoilers here?
No. We talk only about the starting situation, plus awards and international sales from Wikipedia pages.
Sources
- Kara Sevda (Wikipedia)
- Aşk-ı Memnu (2008 TV series) (Wikipedia)
- Aşk Laftan Anlamaz (Wikipedia)
- Hercai (Wikipedia)
- Netflix Ukraine: Aşk 101 / Love 101
Data was checked against Wikipedia and the Netflix page on October 18, 2026.
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