Getting To And Around Turkey

Getting Around Turkey Itself

Domestic plane services in Turkey

Virtually every major city in Turkey has an airport and there are many domestic airlines serving the country; Turkish Airlines also offers nationwide services. Most flights connect through Istanbul or Ankara, which have both domestic and international terminals. Turkey is a very big country and it would take you several days to cross it by road. Air travel is therefore convenient. Prices for domestic travel can also be relatively cheap – you can fly from east to west for under 100 TRY if you book in advance. It is best to book tickets for domestic travel once you are in the country as it is far cheaper to do so.  Advance tickets are advised; a Turkish travel agent should be able to book your travel and get the tickets to you for no extra cost to yourself or you can buy e-tickets via the airline’s website.

Domestic carriers include Onur Air, AtlasJet, IZAir, Pegasus and SunExpress. 

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Travelling Turkey by train

Turkey has an extensive train network connecting most major cities. On some trains, sleeper compartments are available. Intercity trains between Istanbul and Ankara leave several times a day and are relatively comfortable. Ditto the service between Izmir and Ankara. 

Turkey does not have a high speed train network as of yet. The building of high-speed train lines started in 2003 and will revolutionize the system when completed; travel time between Istanbul and Ankara, via Eskisehir for example, will fall from six-seven hours to just over three hours.  So far only the Istanbul to Eskisehir part of the line has been completed and is now running. For long-distance trains in Turkey it is possible to make reservations locally at Turkish train stations no more than 15 days in advance, although these are not compulsory.

There is no train service to Bodrum, Antalya, Alanya or to any point along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast between Izmir and Mersin. Neither is there a train service to the eastern Black Sea Coast. 

By bus

Because there is no high-speed train system in Turkey, it is often faster to take the bus! Sometimes it can be twice as fast to journey by bus than by train; it can also be your only option for those areas where the trains do no run. Private bus companies provide frequent day and night trips between all major Turkish cities.

By car

Turkish driving habits are very similar to other southern European countries. The Turkish drive on the right-side of the road, with the right of way given to traffic coming from the right; you may see this rule flouted a fair few times, however, so it is always good to be careful. Road traffic accidents are common in Turkey and are mainly due to poor or reckless driving, particularly at night.

Another thing that may throw you is the lack of sign-posting in Turkey. Watch out also for livestock and unlit tractors on the roads at night!

Don’t be surprised to find some very nice freeways, some six lanes wide, with hardly any cars on them. Tolls are charged on some roads but you should research your specific journey first as some tolls cannot be paid in cash and you will need to ensure your car is ready for this. You should also check that your driving license will be accepted by the Turkish authorities. You may need an international driving permit or a notarized copy, in Turkish, of your driving license.

1.	Traveling to Turkey by Air, Land and Sea
2.	Getting Around Turkey Itself

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