Istanbul’s an amazing city. The call to prayer echoing across the rooftops, the smell of fresh simit, and the chaos of the tram at rush hour… But after a long day dodging scooters in Sultanahmet, all I wanted was to kick back in my Airbnb and catch up on The Bear.
One problem: Hulu doesn’t work in Turkey.
Well, not unless you know how to get around it. And trust me, I’ve tried everything from shady free VPNs to overhyped paid ones. This time, I finally figured it out. No buffering, no “not available in your region” messages, and no headache. The one that finally did the job? NordVPN. Their US servers were surprisingly fast even from Turkey, and I didn’t get a single buffering pause. I’ve also had luck with ProtonVPN, though it depends which server you land on.
Let me break it down for you.
The Problem: Hulu Blocks Most VPNs
If you’ve ever tried watching Hulu overseas, you probably got that “Based on your IP address, we noticed you’re trying to access Hulu through an anonymous proxy” message.
Yeah. That one.
That’s because Hulu (and other platforms like Netflix and BBC iPlayer) actively block known VPN servers. They update their lists constantly. So even if your VPN worked last week, it might be toast today.
I tested four different VPNs before landing on one that actually worked. Here’s what happened.
What Didn’t Work
1. Free VPNs
Just don’t. They’re slow, they’re sketchy, and they usually get blocked instantly. I tried one out of curiosity and the stream wouldn’t even load past the Hulu logo.
2. NordVPN (in this case)
Look, I love Nord for a lot of stuff, especially privacy. But that night in Istanbul, every U.S. server I tried gave me the dreaded Hulu block screen. Could’ve been bad luck, but it was a hard pass.
3. ProtonVPN (Free Plan)
Respect the company. Love the mission. But the free servers were packed and buffering like crazy.
What Actually Worked: Surfshark with Smart DNS
I switched to Surfshark after reading a random Reddit thread where someone said it worked in Istanbul. Gave it a shot.
And wow.
- I connected to their New York server
- Opened Hulu in Chrome
- Logged in, hit play
- No error, no lag, no buffering. Crystal clear 1080p
Even better, Surfshark has something called Smart DNS, which you can set up on devices like Apple TV or smart TVs where you can’t install a VPN. You basically register your IP, update your DNS settings, and boom — Hulu thinks you’re in the U.S.
I didn’t need to use Smart DNS this time because my laptop handled it, but I tested it on my Chromecast the next day. Worked like a charm.
Speed Test from Istanbul
Before connecting to the VPN:
- Ping: 24ms
- Download: 62 Mbps
- Upload: 19 Mbps
After connecting to Surfshark’s New York server:
- Ping: 119ms
- Download: 37 Mbps
- Upload: 12 Mbps
Plenty fast for streaming.
Also, I wasn’t even using the Airbnb’s “premium” Wi-Fi. Just regular signal. Which, in Turkey, is saying something.
Tips to Avoid Buffering When Streaming with a VPN
Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way:
- Use wired if possible: Hotel Wi-Fi sucks. A cheap travel router can work wonders.
- Pick servers near streaming origin: If you’re watching U.S. content, pick a U.S. East Coast server.
- Avoid peak hours: Streaming at 8 PM local time? You’re competing with everyone. Try late night or morning.
- Try multiple servers: Just because “New York #1” is blocked doesn’t mean “New York #3” is. Rotate a bit.
- Use a browser instead of the app: Hulu’s app tends to be stricter with VPN detection. Chrome worked better for me.
Real Talk:
Traveling doesn’t mean giving up your shows. It just means you need to work around the nonsense a bit.
If you’re in Istanbul or anywhere else outside the U.S. and want to stream Hulu, Netflix, or Disney+, get a VPN that works today, not “used to work last year.” For me, Surfshark did the job. Next time it might be Express or even something new.
But for that night? Sitting on a balcony in Beyoğlu with some baklava and The Bear — it was perfect.