How to Get Around in Turkey

All means of transport for travel within the country

Although Istanbul airport is the main gateway to the country and the other international airports also have a large catalog of flights from other countries, when you are in Turkey you will have to consider how to move from one city to another, if you want to make a tour of the most important destinations.
In this page
we will tell you which are the main means of transportation you can use to do so.

Table of Contents

Air: a large network of domestic flights

As we said in the page dedicated to How to get there, Turkey has about a dozen international airports, for flights from other countries.
But the list is much longer if we add the domestic airports, i.e. those where there is no border control infrastructure (immigration or customs), and where only air routes to/from other airports in the country operate.

Therefore, they are an ideal solution for travel within Turkey.
Sumando ambas tipologías, la lista total de aeropuertos es la siguiente (con sus respectivos destinos habituales):

  • Istanbul Airport (IATA code: IST): air connections with all airports listed below.
  • Adana Şakirpaşa Airport (IATA Code: ADA): Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir, Trebizond, Van, Bodrum, Dalaman
  • Ankara Esenboğa Airport (IATA Code: ESB): Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Bodrum, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Trebisonda, Van, Izmir, Adana, Adıyaman, Ağrı, Alanya, Edremit-Balıkesir, Batman, Bursa, Canakkale, Dalaman, Elazığ, Erzincan, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Hatay, Kahramanmaraş, Kars, Malatya, Mardin, Mus, Samsun.
  • Antalya Airport (IATA code: AYT): Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, Kayseri, Trebisonda, Izmir, Samsun, Van, Malatya, Mardin, Gaziantep
  • Adıyaman Airport (IATA code: ADF): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Agri Airport (IATA Code: AJI): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Batman Airport (IATA Code: BAL): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Bingöl Airport (IATA Code: BGG): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Canakkale Airport (IATA Code: CKZ): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Dalaman Airport (IATA Code: DLM): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Denizli Cardak Airport (IATA code: DNZ): Istanbul
  • Diyarbakir Airport (IATA code: DIY): Ankara, Bursa, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya
  • Edremit-Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (IATA Code: EDO): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Elazıg Airport (IATA Code: EZS): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Erzincan Airport (IATA Code: ERC): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Erzurum Airport (IATA code: ERZ): Ankara, Bursa, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Izmir-Andan Menderes Airport (IATA Code: ADB): Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Diyarbakir, Elazig, Gaziantep, Hatay, Istanbul, Kayseri, Mardin, Samsun, Sivas, Trebizond, Kars, Malatya, Kars, Malatya
  • Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport (IATA Code: GZT): Ankara, Bursa, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya
  • Gazipasa Alanya Airport (IATA Code: GZP): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Hakkari-Yüksekova Airport (IATA Code: YKO): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Hatay Airport (IATA Code: HTY): Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Smyrna
  • Igdır Airport (IATA code: IGD): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Kahramanmaras Airport (IATA Code: KCM): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Kars Airport (IATA Code: KSY): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Kastamonu Airport (IATA code: KFS): Istanbul
  • Kayseri Erkilet Airport (IATA Code: ASR): Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir
  • Konya Airport (IATA code: KYA): Istanbul
  • Kütahya Airport (IATA Code: KZR): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Malatya Airport (IATA code: MLX): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya
  • Mardin Airport (IATA Code: MQM): Ankara, Istanbul, Antalya, Izmir
  • Merzifon Airport (IATA Code: MZH): Istanbul
  • Milas-Bodrum Airport (IATA Code: BJV): Antalya, Ankara, Gaziantep, Samsun, Istanbul, Trabzon
  • Mus Airport (IATA Code: MSR): Ankara, Istanbul, Bursa
  • Nevsehir Airport (IATA Code:): Istanbul
  • Ordu-Giresun Airport (IATA Code: OGU)Airport: Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen Airport (IATA Code: SAW): Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman, Diyarbakır, Edremit, Erzincan, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Hatay, Izmir, Igdir, Kars, Kayseri, Malatya, Mardin, Nevsehir, Samsun, Sivas, Van, Trebisonda, Konya, Mus, Alanya
  • Samsun-Çarşamba Airport (IATA Code: SZF): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya
  • Sanliurfa Airport (IATA code: GNY): Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir
  • Sinope Airport (IATA code: NOP): Istanbul
  • Sırnak Airport (IATA code: NKT): Ankara, Istanbul
  • Sivas Airport (IATA Code: VAS): Istanbul, Izmir
  • Trabzon-Trebzonda Airport (IATA Code: TZX): Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, Antalya, Izmir
  • Usak Airport (IATA Code: USQ)
  • Van Ferit Melen Airport (IATA Code: VAN): Ankara, Istanbul, Adana, Izmir, Antalya
  • Zonguldak Airport (IATA code: ONQ): Istanbul
Aviones internos turquía

Airlines operating in the country

To understand which are the possible airline combinations for your travels in Turkey by plane, it will also be useful to know which are national airlines that offer flights within the country:

  • Turkish Airlines: is the large national carrier for international flights, but also has numerous air routes within Turkey.
  • Anadolu Jet: is a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines
  • Pegasus Airlines: Is one of the low-cost airlines operating in the country.
  • Sun Express: is another subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, in this case specialized in flights to tourist destinations, mainly sun and beach.

How to get around Turkey by train

The train is one of the preferred means of transport for travelers, due to its integration into the landscape and its low environmental impact.
However, in Turkey it is not always the most convenient option, for several reasons.
First, the modest network of
high-speed trains The lines that operate are modern and fast, but the list of destinations is very limited. list of destinations is very limited..
Y la segunda, las grandes distancias que separan algunos destinos entre sí, haciendo que el avión sea en muchos casos la opción más rápida.

In any case, this means of transport also has the advantage of the charm of its routes. charm of its routesThe high-speed trains, on the other hand, are a fast solution on certain routes, with a really high quality of service.
High-speed trains, on the other hand, are a fast solution on certain routes, with a really high quality of service.

High-speed trains in Turkey

With service improvements and network expansion, it is becoming an increasingly popular mode of transportation, so you may want to consider it for articulating your circuit.
The high-speed rail service is known as the
YHT (Yuksek Hizli Treni).
Si tienes especial predilección por el tren, a continuación enumeramos las principales rutas de alta velocidad del país:

  • Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme – Eskisehir – Ankara – Sivas
  • Istanbul Söğütlüçeşme – Eskisehir – Konya – Karaman
  • Ankara – Konya

In addition, there are other lines under constructionIt is possible that at the time of reading this content there are other stations and routes available, such as those leading to tourist destinations like Izmir or Bursa.

On these high-speed trains there are usually two classes two classes: tourist and preferential.
Cuentan con vagón-cafetería y en las rutas de mayor distancia puede haber asientos reclinables al estilo de cama o bien espacios compartimentados a modo de estancias familiares con litera.
Este servicio, además, no es especialmente caro, puesto que sus billetes suelen tener un precio parecido al de autobús.

Long distance trains in Turkey

They are not exactly high-speed trains, but their routes have so much charm that some people consider them an attraction of their trip.
Its
network is much more extensive than the high-speed one, connecting with practically all the important regions and destinations in the country, with the exception of the Aegean and Mediterranean coast: although some of these sun and beach destinations do have a train station, there is no line running along the coast.

Some of these routes and services are:

  • Ankara – Kars (Dogu Ekspresi): it is one of the longest and, at the same time, most popular routes among travelers.
    It covers a distance of about 1,300 km in approximately 24 hours.
  • Ankara – Eskisehir – Izmir
  • Ankara – Kayseri – Sivas – Malatya – Diyarbakır
  • Eskisehir – Denizli
  • Izmir – Konya
  • Kayseri – Adana
  • Konya – Adana
  • Malatya – Adana
Transporte autobus Turquia

Getting around Turkey by bus

The Turkish domestic bus network is very extensive, and the vehicles on its routes are modern and comfortable. modern and comfortable.
Por ello, se trata de un medio de transporte muy útil para viajeros que desean organizarse el circuito de manera libre.
Encontrarán muchas rutas y con frecuencias muy variadas.

These are the main bus main bus companieswhose routes and tickets are available on their official websites:

  • Istanbul Seyahat: is one of the most important in Istanbul and its surroundings (Eastern Thrace and Marmara), as well as in the capital Ankara.
    Its Istanbul-Ankara route is very popular.
  • Kamil Koç: operates mainly in western and central Anatolia, as well as on the Black Sea coast.
    In addition, it offers international tickets for routes outside Turkey.
  • Metro Turizm: Company with a widespread route network throughout Turkey.
  • Pamukkale Turizm: the Aegean coast is its main service area.
  • Süha Turizm: Another company with numerous destinations in Anatolia, as well as in Istanbul.
Transporte en coche por Turquía

Getting around Turkey by car or motorcycle

The car or motorcycle option is interesting to reach those small unknown but picturesque destinations in deep Turkey, where often neither train, plane nor bus arrives (or at least, not with the desired frequency).

However, taking into account that distances in Turkey, especially in Anatolia, are really long, it is advisable to focus on a specific region. the road trip in a specific region and opt for and opt for the plane or the high-speed train for longer journeys.

You should also take into account that the price of gasoline gasoline is high compared to local purchasing power, but can be significantly cheaper than in your home country.
For example, it is often a
30-40% cheaper than in than in European Union countries, depending on the circumstances at the time.

The Western driver’s licenses are generally valid for to drive a car in Turkey, but we recommend you to check with your consulate or embassy to be sure that this is the case with the license of your country.
In Turkey people drive on the right and speed limits are similar to those in most countries:
50 km/h in the city, 90 km/h on interurban roads (unless otherwise indicated) and 120 km/h on highways

The roads are generally of good quality, especially on highways and national roads.
It is advisable to be more cautious on the roads in eastern Anatolia, as these are mountainous areas and are more affected by the harsh winters.
Snowfall and frost are common in the cold season, so winter tires are mandatory.

Regarding driving in Turkey, you should bear in mind that the Turks are not very fond of yielding the right of way or facilitating certain maneuvers, such as joining the road, so you should drive decisively.

Many of the highways (otoyols) are toll roads and payment is usually automatic, either by chips in rental vehicles or by rechargeable credit cards purchased at post offices and the like.The payment is usually automatic, by means of chips in rental vehicles or by rechargeable credit cards, which are purchased at post offices and the like.

The main roads in Turkey are:

  • O-5for travel from around Istanbul and Bursa to Smyrna
  • Highways in Istanbul and surroundings:
    • O-7the main ring road, to the north of the city.
    • O-1which uses the mythical Bosphorus Bridge to cross the aforementioned strait.
    • D-100the most central highway in Istanbul.
    • E-80a major European route coming from Eastern Thrace and crossing the country from west to east after crossing the Bosporus.
  • D-400a major highway that runs along the Mediterranean coast and is therefore the best way to get around this area where the railroad network is practically non-existent.
  • E-90which is actually one of the major European routes and crosses Turkey from east to west, taking a north-south route from Ankara to Adana.
Transporte privado turquía

Private transportation with driver

In Turquía Exclusiva we bet on a transport system full of advantages: private transport with chauffeur.
Although we can use domestic flights for large trips, our tours organized by stages use this means of transport for its comfort and safety.
We use
comfortable, modern and spacious vehicleswith drivers who know the Turkish roads to perfection.

Some of the main advantages advantages of this option with respect to the rental vehicle or own car are:

  • Comfort ComfortThe system allows travelers to forget about driving and the tasks and decisions involved in organizing a trip (selecting routes, paying tolls, filling up with gasoline, etc.).
    Thus, each trip is a tourist experience in itself or a moment of relaxation within the circuit.
  • SecurityThe vehicles have all the premium protection systems, as well as equipment adapted to each terrain and time of year.
    And drivers are familiar with local driving habits, as well as signs and indications that may be confusing for a foreign driver.
  • FlexibilityAlthough we provide a travel program and a road map, having a private vehicle with driver allows us to make the necessary changes according to the circumstances.
    For example, bring forward the arrival at a certain destination, change the order of the route or postpone a departure.

So if you trust Turquía Exclusiva, we will organize a circuit with the best means of transport on each occasion.
The private vehicle with chauffeur will be the service of reference day by day, with the option of using domestic flights for long distances or even high speed trains for lovers of this system.

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