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| Tips for getting around Turkey posted by real travelers and Turkey locals. Map |
 | Turkey Transportation | Tips 1 - 10 of 298 |  |
Bus is a great and really cheap way to get around Turkey. They are very frequent and goes all over the country. Long distance buses are normally quite comfortable and air conditioned. Some busstations can be a bit outside the center, but most of the times there will be a dolmus there, taking you around cheaper than a taxi.
Be prepared for plenty of stops on the long distance buses. It almost seems like there is a 15-30 min stop every hour... It can be very irritating on overnight buses, when you want to sleep.
A little sidestep:
One time we took an overnight bus someone had put a rose on our seat when we got back inside after the first stop. We got quite curious and tried to find out who it was, but we had no clue. The same happened at the next stop, and still we didn't know who it was.
At every stop we were spying at the bus and the other people, and when we got inside again there was a new flower lying on our seat, but we never found out who it was. The flowers kept us entertained the whole night, and it was the funniest bustrip we had in Turkey.
And thanks to all the stops we had plenty of nice flowers by the time we got to our destination... ;) Leave a Comment
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Even though driving a rental in Turkey is not, I feel, a good idea, I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING A BUS. The bus service in Turkey is fairly comfortable and inexpensive. The buses are big Mercedes, and you catch them at the otogar [bus terminal] in each city or town. Try to buy your ticket a day or more in advance because the tickets are sold with a seat assignment. In the summer months, try for a seat behind the roof vents if the bus is not air-conditioned! Three good agencies are: Ulusoy, Pamukkale, and Varan. Believe it or not, most buses are now non-smoking.
The only Train that I would consider in Turkey would be the overnight express train between Ankara and Istanbul called the Ankara Ekspresi or the Anadolu Ekspresi). They are not expensive [plus you save on a hotel fee], and a friend of mine had great fun on it. Trains otherwise are not very fast and cost about the same as a bus. The TCDD operate all trains.
Taxis: In town, a taxi is cheap, and the fares are regulated. They are easy to find. For long journeys, however, drivers can charge more than the meter reads. So negotiate the fare in advance.
The most unusual transportation in Turkey is called Dolmus for routes that buses don't take. The word actually means "To Fill"; thus, the dolumus leaves when it is full! They are usually a minibus, a jeep, or a van so they fill quickly. A bonus is that they will drop you off along the route. Leave a Comment Theme: Other
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Many of the big cities along the coast have ferries to Greece, Italy and other countries. It's a good way of getting to and from Turkey, especially if you are travelling from some of the nearby countries.
You can also take a daytrip to some of the greek islands, there are daily connections from many cities. From the islands you can catch a ferry to plenty of other greek islands. The ferries are nice and not too expencive. Sometimes you can choose between a fast boat (normally hydrofoil), or a slower and cheaper boat. The distances are not so large so I would recommend the slower and cheaper boats if you're not in a hurry. This way you can enjoy the sights and the seatrip, but also save a bit money.
If you are norwegian, like me, you might be quite surprised to see many of the signs on the ferries written in norwegian. This is because many of them have been used in Norway, before they have been sold to Greece or Turkey. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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A great way to get around in a city, or on not to long distances, is by dolmus. It's like a minibus that you can stop anywhere just like a normal taxi. Dolmus means stuffed, and you should be prepared for a crammed experience sometimes.
In the front of the dolmus is written where it's heading, and how much it costs. When you board, find an available spot and pass the money to the driver via the other passengers. It might seem a bit scary to just hand your money to complete strangers, but this is the normal prosedure and everybody does it, so don't be afraid. The dolmus is cheaper than both taxi and the public bus. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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I usually love having a car available to explore the countryside, but I am inclined to avoid driving in Turkey as a tourist.
Car rentals in Turkey are very expensive [much more expensive than in Britain or the USA].
Secondly, driving in Turkey is a little too dangerous. . Even though Turkish roads are good, the traffic is light, & gasoline is cheaper than Europe, [According to statistics for road accidents & death in Turkey], Turkish drivers do not fare too well. Friends (American & British) who have tried driving in Turkey reported that they could not relax behind the wheel & it caused "tension" with their fellow travelers.
They had "near-miss" incidents because as they were climbing a hill (which should NOT be a place for passing cars), they were confronted by not 1 but 2 cars coming straight for them!
The other problem is the number of sheep, cows, donkeys, camels & dogs on the roads. Be very aware in the early mornings & early evenings. One chap from England told me that at night, he was nearly blinded by Turkish drivers who kept flicking the brights in his eyes.
Driving in Istanbul is quite an experience. I've never heard so many horns blowing (except perhaps in New York City). Our bus driver told us that the Turks use their horns to communicate to friends so it's not always out of impatience or anger!
Perhaps the most exasperating annoyance is the lack of street signs, which adds to ones ability to navigate with ease. Also parking is almost non-existent. I saw [out of the bus window] many car wheels that had been clamped for illegal parking.
I personally remember as a passenger on a bus, that the tunnels were the darkest I had ever seen, even with the lights on.
If all these warnings are not convincing, make sure that you have your driver's license & an International Driving Permit. If you are involved in an accident, [and statistics say it is quite possible], you MUST REPORT IT AT ONCE TO THE LOCAL POLICE Leave a Comment Theme: Car/Motor Home
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The most visually rewarding form of transportation is, I feel, by boat or ferry. We came (another tip) by ferry. But, while in Istabul, it's great to cruise the Bosphorus. The Bosphorus was always coveted by others because of its access to the Mediterranean.
Today, people love it for its beauty, the seafood it provides, and access to the glorious city of Istabul.
Some people like to take a cruise on the Bosphorus and eat aboard. Jayne and I choice to view the beautiful water from shore as we ate a delightful Turkish lunch. We are overlooking the Golden Horn and the Asian sie of Istabul. (See photo of Jayne).
I don't have a photo that I took, but I've seen the Bosphorus at night, and it is incredibly beuatiful. How romantic it would be to take a night cruise. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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The Ankara Ekspresi is a night train that runs between Istanbul and Ankara. As long as you're not a light sleeper it's great!
You can get a private or twin couchette with fold-out beds and there's even a little sink. The beds aren't big, but fairly comfortable and bedlinnen is provided. Each carriage has its own porter who cleans your couchette in the morning and does the roomservice. But you can also bring your own food and drinks or get something from the restaurant carriage.
PRACTICAL INFO:
The train leaves Haydarpassa station on the Asian side of Istanbul at 22:30 and arrives in Ankara at 08:00. Of course you can also travel the other way around, leaving Ankara at 22:30 and arriving in Istanbul at 08:00.
A ticket for a twin compartment costs TL41Million (oct 2004) per person, which is around EUR22. If you're a student or senior (60+) ask for a 20 % discount. To avoid disappointment you might want to buy your ticket in advance (we bought ours a few hours earlier at Sirkeci station, Istanbul). Leave a Comment Theme: Train
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If you are staying at Kundu or Lara areas where most of the five star hotels in Antalya are located, you may want to cut your costs by travelling by local buses. It costs only 2.00 Turkish lira (approximately one euro) to travel to the heart of the city, a distance of approximately 22 to 25 kilometres from Kundu or Lara.
Most buses pass through the heart of the city and the best alternative is bus no: 105. The bus will stop at the busy bus stops near Ataturk Cadessi and Kaleici Old Town. Other alternative buses using different routes and taking longer time to reach the city are buses no: 103 and 182. Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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Boat tour is a very popular tourist attraction in Antalya. They are operated by several boat operators usually using old fishing boats. The cruise will take a visitor around both sides of the harbour. An hour cruise costs between ten and twenty Turkish lira. Don't forget to bargain for the lowest possible fare!
Boat tour is highly recommended to anyone who visits Antalya! Lots of beautiful picturesque sceneries at and around the harbour are guaranteed especially the irregular rock formation near the coast! You may view more lovely photos of the boat tour at our Turkey travelogues. Leave a Comment Theme: Ship/Boat
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Take a day trip from Antalya to Alanya by bus from Antalya bus station. The bus terminal (Otogar) at Antalya looks very impressive from outside as well as inside. There are several shops and restaurants in the terminal. You may purchase your bus tickets at the terminal on the day of your travel from Antalya to Alanya. It costs just 14.00 Turkish lira one way which also includes refreshment, coffee or tea on board.
Regular buses ply between these two cities during the day usually at one hour intervals from early in the morning untill 10.00 p.m. at night. Please enquire from the terminal the time the last bus departs Alanya for Antalya if you are taking a day trip. You do not want to end up by taking a taxi back to Antalya! Leave a Comment Theme: Bus
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on September 20, 2004
on July 14, 2005
on October 25, 2004
on February 23, 2009
