Transport in Turkey
If you’re planning to visit Turkey and want to know the best ways to get around, you’ve come to the right place. While flying may be the fastest option, it’s important to remember that the journey is just as important as the destination. One great way to explore Turkey and discover hidden gems is by road. Although Turkey is a large country, public transportation is widely available and affordable, making it relatively easy to travel. In this guide to Transport in Turkey, I discuss the various ways to travel around the country and provide valuable tips on the best way to get around Turkey
Your Turkey Transportation Options
Turkey offers a variety of transportation options, including planes, buses, trains, dolmus (shared taxis), bicycles, and motorbikes. Public transportation in Turkey is known to be very convenient and reasonably priced. With competition among transportation companies, you can enjoy exceptional rates and have a unique travel experience. Explore all the means of transportation Turkey offers and make your trip unforgettable! During our three-week stay in Turkey, we never encountered any transportation issues and never felt unsafe.
Travelling in Turkey Tips
- Refrain from assuming that flying is the only option to reach Turkey.
- Driving on certain roads after dark is not recommended, especially in remote or mountainous areas.
- Although Istanbul is known for its heavy traffic, it shouldn’t encourage you to explore Turkey.
- Long-distance buses boast comfortable reclining seats and frequent stops at service stations, making the journey more comfortable.
- Students get special rates for intercity transportation.
Flying in and around Turkey
Regarding flying, Turkish Airlines offers direct flights from most countries worldwide, making it easy to travel to and from regions in Türkiye. Other airlines offering flights around Turkey are Pegasus, Anadolujet, Onur Air, and Sun Express. Although Turkey is a large country, it’s relatively easy to get around. You can find distances and travel times, in both kilometres and miles, for all major and many minor destinations in the World. The three Airports within Istanbul, Istanbul International Airport, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and Atatürk Airport, all offer seamless connections to international destinations. For Airports, distances, and travel times between destinations within Turkey, go to Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Turkey.
See Specials, Options and Compare prices on Turkey flights
Some hotels and tour companies in Turkey include transport from Istanbul airport to your hotel. If not, check out these affordable transfer options: Turkey Airport Transfer / Istanbul Airport shuttle and Tourists Pass Options.
- Istanbul Airport to Istanbul Hotels, Private shared shuttle services, Dolmus or Taxi services,
- Rent a Car with Discover Cars
- Touring Turkey by Metro train,
- You can travel by Istanbul Metrobus or Istanbul airport bus.
- Get the Istanbul City Transport Card to include 5 or 10 rides on trams, buses, ferries, and the metro. Skip the hassle of buying transit tickets at metro stations.
- Pre-book your airport transfer and get a free ticket to the magnificent Hagia Sophia Museum.
Benefits of Pre-booking
- Skip the ticket line and enjoy more of your time in Istanbul.
- When pre-booking your Istanbul Turkey transport, the next available shuttle service will only take you to your hotel in Sultanahmet or Taksim.
- Upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, go to the travel counter and shop at shop 7 in the arrivals hall.
- With your voucher, you can visit the excellent Hagia Sophia, the most important place of worship in the World and a Top attraction in Istanbul.
- Within three days of arrival, enjoy a 30-minute guided tour.
Transportation in Turkey using a Tram
People can travel easily between the Otogar and Sultanahmet using the Istanbul tram or the Hop-on-Hop-off Istanbul bus.
Bus Transport in Turkey
One of the best ways to travel around Turkey is by bus, and bus travel in Turkey is the most popular Turkish transportation method for long distances. While the Istanbul bus system and buses are the backbone of Turkey’s transportation system, dolmuses and other means of transportation are widely available. These buses are equipped with air conditioning and comfortable reclining seats. Also, they frequently stop at service stations where one can buy snacks, a meal, or other refreshments. Due to competition, transportation companies in Turkey offer exceptional rates. The Best way to get around Istanbul is by bus.
Get a Hop on Hop off bus Card and Explore Istanbul at your own pace on board a double-decker, open-top, hop-on, hop-off sightseeing bus. Bus Travel in Turkey will let you see all the famous landmarks, from the Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque to the splendours of the Ottoman Empire. It also includes the Dolmabahçe Palace.
Benefits and Highlights
- Skip the lines and hassle of buying transit tickets at metros.
- Explore Istanbul’s Byzantine and Ottoman architecture by bus.
- Hop off at over 15 stops to explore Istanbul’s most famous sites.
- See Turkey in miniature at the child-friendly Miniatürk model park.
- Marvel at the minarets and dazzling blue tiles of the Blue Mosque.
- Savour the warm aromas of the Spice Bazaar.
- Cross the Bosphorus Bridge into Asia.
- Watch the fishermen on Galata Bridge.
Explore Istanbul at your own pace – getting around Istanbul Public transport with the Hop-on-hop-off busses.
- Save time and money with skip-the-line entrance to attractions.
- Cruise the Golden Horn or Bosphorus Strait and see the palaces of the Ottoman era.
- Watch a whirling dervish show in Hodjapasha Hamam.
- Learn the story behind Istanbul’s many cultures.
Turkey Buses
Touring Turkey by bus is a pleasure and easy to use. Turkey bus travel is one of the most comfortable ways to travel in Turkey. Turkey Transport Company services offer comfortable and air-conditioned buses; some provide free WiFi and entertainment. Buses are easily accessible and are the most affordable carriers in Turkey. As there are so many bus Turkey companies, it is mostly not necessary to buy bus tickets in Turkey in advance unless during Islamic holidays and if there is a special event.
Metrobus Istanbul
Büyük Otogar, the central bus station in Istanbul, is located northwest of Sultanahmet Square on the M1 line in the Esenler district. Get on any of their 324 platforms to travel safely in and around Turkey, Greece, and central Europe. Ticket prices depend on the season. Metrobus Turkey tickets are available online at any of the 168 bus offices or the Istanbul bus station. Alternatively, use the hop-on-hop-off buses, which are public transport in Turkey.
Transport in Turkey by Overnight Bus
Overnight buses touring Turkey can save you time and money. Why travel by overnight bus? You arrive early in the morning at your destination. It might not be as comfortable as a bed, but it saves you time and the cost of accommodation.
Turkish buses have no bathroom facilities, so make sure about the stops along the way before you book. We had an awful experience with ‘The Kamil-Koc company as the driver refused to stop within the first 5 hours.
Car Rental Turkey
A Turkey road trip is exciting and lets you travel around Turkey on Time. Turkish people are friendly and always eager to make a special deal. Compare prices and read reviews-
Motorbike Hire & Scooter Rentals
Another means of Turkey transport is by scooter or motorbike. Check out Mobility scooter hire / Mobility scooter rental with the following:
- Mobility Turkey, and nd Motorbike, hire with motorcycle rental Turkey,
- Motorcycle rental Istanbul with Turkeybikerent. com,
- Check out Rentalmotorbike, the best price guaranteed for a Scooter rental in Istanbul.
- Compare prices for Motorcycle rental in Turkey with Motoroads.com.
You can rent everything via Motoroads.com – enduro, dual-sport or adventure motorbike, urban, street or sport bike, road, cruiser, or touring motorcycles. Moreover, the best brands of motorcycles used for Turkish transportation are BMW, Harley Davidson, and Honda, as well as other motorcycles for rent. One can also rent motorbike & scooter accessories online with travel- and cancellation insurance.
Train Transport in Turkey
Train travel in Turkey is an inexpensive and great way to travel to Turkey. An overnight train journey can save time and money; should you go during the daytime, enjoy the scenery. Most trains have air conditioning, and carriages are equipped with carpets and reclining seats.
Turkey Trains
High-Speed Trains in Turkey
The high-speed train ‘Yüksek Hızlı Treni’ (or YHT) runs between 250 km/h and- 300 km/h. The private sleepers have cosy sleepers and enough room to move around. Most trains in Turkey have seats that fold into a bed at night. The one and two-bedroom compartments have bedding, a washbasin, a fridge, and a shower. Passengers can choose between two carriage classes, and the train also has a Cafeteria.
Turkey Train Tickets
Domestic train bookings open 15 to 30 days before departure, and high-speed train bookings open ten days before departure. The cost of train tickets in Turkey is about fifty per cent cheaper than bus tickets unless you take a high-speed train. Return tickets are less expensive than one-way tickets, with discounts for Turkish students and Pensioners (age 60+). The cheapest Turkish transport option from Istanbul to Ankara is by ferry and train, which takes 6 hours and 20 minutes.
High-Speed Train Routes in Turkey
- High-speed train between Istanbul and Ankara takes 4h15
- Ankara to Konya in 01h44
- Istanbul to Konya in 04h40
- Ankara to Istanbul in 04h15
Other Turkey Train Routes
- Izmir to Selçuk
- Istanbul to Izmir train
- Izmir to Konya
- Istanbul to Antalya train
- Antalya to Istanbul train
- Istanbul train map and Istanbul metro fare, go to the man in seat 61
Turkey Transport Options
How to Get From Istanbul to Antalya
- From Antalya to Istanbul, the distance is about 730 km.
- It will take about 6 hours 30 minutes by car @112 km/h.
- Flight duration is about 1 hour and 20 minutes, with a price of about Euro 21.
- Istanbul to Antalya bus takes about 11,5 hours & costs about Euro 25.
Best Ways to Get to Cappadocia From Istanbul
- Istanbul Turkey transport to Cappadocia distance – 735 km (Istanbul to Göreme)
- Travel from Istanbul to Cappadocia distance by car will take about 9 hours.
- Flights take about 1 hour and 20 minutes, departing from Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
- Istanbul to Cappadocia bus takes about 11 hours.
Fly to Cappadocia directly after you arrive in Istanbul. This way, you don’t waste time travelling to a hotel after your flight to move back to the airport the next day. By doing this, you save time as well as transport
Transport from Istanbul to Ankara
- The travel distance between Istanbul and Ankara is 456 km
- Istanbul to Ankara by bus takes about 2 hours.
- Buses from Istanbul to Ankara leave at least every 15 minutes, 24 hours daily.
- The distance from Istanbul to Ankara train is 349 km and will take about 5 hours and 15 minutes.
Best Way to Get From Istanbul to Fethiye
- Your best transport option is to fly from Istanbul to Fethiye.
- The closest airport to Fethiye is Dalaman.
- You can travel by rental car, bus or taxi from Dalaman Airport to Fethiye.
- The transport distance from Fethiye to Istanbul is 804 km.
- Istanbul to Fethiye by car will take about 10 hours.
- A Bus takes about 12 hours,
- The distance from Dalaman to Fethiye is 44.7 km.
- Turkey transport by car will take about 23 minutes if you travel 112 Km/h.
Transport in Turkey from Pamukkale to Istanbul
- Distance Istanbul to Pamukkale – 655 km
- The Pamukkale bus to Istanbul will take about 10 hours.
- It will take 7 to 8 hours by car, depending on your stops and speed.
- Your fastest option from Pamukkale to Istanbul is to fly.
- Take a taxi to Denizli and then catch a flight to Istanbul.
- The Istanbul to Pamukkale flight takes 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Leave your stay and shopping in Istanbul for the last few days before returning home. You don’t have to travel around Turkey with souvenirs and shopping items.
Transport from Cappadocia to Antalya to Kayseri
- Distance Antalya to Cappadocia distance – 544 km
- Cappadocia to Antalya by bus (Antalya to Cappadocia bus), takes 9 hours.
- By car about 7 to 8 hours, depending on your speed and stops along the way.
- Most flights from Cappadocia to Antalya fly first to Istanbul.
- Antalya Kayseri Otobüs and Antalya Kas Otobus cost from 350TL
- By Bus, Booking a Bus with Busbud.
- Antalya İzmir Otobüs at 450 TL
Best Ways to Get from Istanbul to Antalya
Flying is your fastest option. Daily flights from Istanbul to Antalya take about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Bus travel in Turkey is cheaper but the slowest. The distance is about 730 kilometres, and a bus from Istanbul to Antalya takes about 11 hours and 50 minutes.
A train journey from Istanbul to Antalya will take just over 14 hours. There are also boats leaving from Istanbul to Antalya, which takes about 14 hours and 30 minutes.
Travelling from Istanbul Bursa or Bursa Istanbul
- The Distance between Istanbul and Bursa – is 240.00 Km
- By car, it will take about 1 hour 25 minutes if you average 112 km/h
- Istanbul Bursa-ferryboat – see the schedule and compare prices directly.
- Options are Car ferries, sea buses, and Catamarans, to name a few.
- Istanbul to Bursa ferry will take by fast ferry 1 hour 45 minutes.
- For schedules for Turkey transport, see Istanbul Bursa Otobüs.
Turkey Travel from Cappadocia to Pamukkale
- Turkey transport travel distance from Pamukkale to Cappadocia – 615 km
- Transportation by car will take about 7 hours and 26 minutes.
- The Cappadocia to Pamukkale bus takes about 10-11 hours.
Travel Insurance for Turkey
I cannot stress the importance of taking out Travel Insurance for Turkey. Why is Travel Insurance Essential? You can now also obtain a free quote for Travel Insurance in Turkey.
