There are, of course, taxis. It's difficult to estimate cost. Between 2300 and 0500 when the airport bus isn't running the cost is around US$12 to Sultanahmet. It will be more during the day, because of traffic delays! Check with the Tourist Information Office in the International Terminal (to the left after you go through the doors after baggage claim) for estimates and advice on the best transport to take based on the time of your arrival and budget.
From hotels in the Sultanahmet area there is The Airport Bus that picks you up at the door of your hotel. It, too, costs around US$5. Ask at your hotel.
By Road
Turkey has an extensive network of well maintained roads linking its towns, cities, and popular tourist areas. When arriving from Europe, the Bosphorus crossing to Asia has been greatly facilitated by the completion of the bypass and two Bosphorus (Bogazici) bridges which lead to the Istanbul- Ankara Expressway. The E80 and E90 are the two main roads leading to Turkey from European borders;also connecting the Iranian and Iraqi borders. These expressways have been constructed according to Asian and Middle Eastern international network standards.
Turkish road signs conform to International Protocol on Road signs. Archaeological and historical sites are indicated by yellow signs. Traffic circulates on the right and the Turkish Highway Code is similar to those of European countries. Outside cities, traffic moves freely, the Istanbul- Ankara highway being the only one on which traffic is heavy. There is a 50km/h speed limit in urban centres and a 90km/h limit outside urban centres.
The most popular means of internal travel in is coach. Roads are in good condition and as well as air-conditioned coaches, there are very good resting resort en route where coaches stop for breaks. Prices are cheap and many private companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities.
Ulusoy, Varan, Kamil Koc and Pumukkale are generally considered to be the top coach companies in Turkey. Ulusoy will be the most expensive while Varan and Kamil Koc are a bit cheaper. Pamukkale is usually the cheapest of the group.
But different coach companies cover different parts of the country, and for certain destinations, such as Cappadocia, none of the four offer service and you'll have to use a local carrier.
Coaches depart from the bus station (otogar) in large towns, and from the centre of the town in smaller cities.
It is not necessary to pre-book coach journeys of up to 5 hours duration; however it's strongly recommended that reservations are made for longer journeys. During the main tourist season between June and September, and public holidays, reservations are essential for all journeys.
Hop-On Hop-Off buses have been designed for backpackers. You buy an open ticket which allows you to get on and off at 22 "hot spots" from Istanbul then down the Coast and back to Istanbul via Cappadocia. Buses pick up and drop off at a main hostel.
Taxis are plentiful in all Turkish cities and are recognisable by their yellow colour. The fare shown on the meter reads according to distance travelled.
The “Dolmus”, a special service found only in Turkey, is a collective taxi which follows specific routes. It may be a car or a minibus. Each passenger pays according to distance travelled and can get off at specific or requested stops. This is a very practical means of transportation and much cheaper than a taxi.
By Sea
Turkish Maritime Lines has several coastal services providing excellent opportunities for sightseeing. They leave from the (Karakoy side), Sirkeci and Eminonu. It is advisable to make early reservations for tourist cruises. There are also organised tours on both sides of the Bosphorus.
Ferry schedules are unpredictable and are all subject to change without notice. If you are catching a plane or must be somewhere on a precise day, either plan to arrive a day early or have an alternate plan!
A frequent car ferry crosses the Dardenelles at Gallipoli, from Canakkale to Eceabat and Gelibolu to Lapseki. Istanbul Fast Ferries (tel: (212) 444 3436; website: www.ido.com.tr) operates frequent seabus services from Bostanci, Kadiköy, Kartal, Yalova and Büyükada Island to Auça, Bakirköy, Karaköy and Yenikapi. Turkish Maritime Lines used to operate the Black Sea service and the Istanbul-Izmir route, but the company recently went out of business. It is hoped a new operator will take over the routes.
By Rail
Many trains of the Turkish Railways (TCDD) (website: www.tcdd.gov.tr) have sleeping cars, couchettes and restaurant cars. Some are now air-conditioned. Fares are comparatively low, but are more expensive for express trains. Discounts of 20 per cent are available for students (though a Turkish student card may be required), groups, round-trips and passengers over 60. Children aged seven and under travel free. Tickets can be purchased at TCDD offices at railway stations and TCDD-appointed agents. The journey from Istanbul to Ankara takes five to nine hours, depending on the type of train.
Major Rail Terminals
| Adana |
+90 (322) 4533172 |
| Ankara |
+90 (312) 3114994 |
| Diyarbakir |
+90 (216) 3488020 |
| Istanbul |
+90 (216) 3488020, +90 (212) 5206575 |
| Mersin |
+90 (324) 2311267 |
