Getting there by road
Although the road network throughout Turkey is extensive, with some dual carriageways and numerous three-lane highways, maintenance can be poor and conditions dangerous – Turkey has one of the worst accident rates in the world. European road rules are now better enforced than in recent years – fines went up by 500% in 2001 – but the great volume of buses and trucks, many substandard and overloaded, still make driving in Turkey suited only to the brave or very cautious.
Drivers bringing cars into Turkey must show their registration documents and driving license at the place of entry. If arriving from Europe, visitors must have a Green Card (available from insurance companies) as well as appropriate insurance. Driving license, passport, logbook, insurance certificate and vehicle registration must be carried at all times. Driving is on the right and drivers must give way to the right at all times. The speed limit on motorways is 120kph (70mph), 90kph (55mph) on main roads and 50kph (30mph) in towns. It is worth noting that traffic lights change abruptly from red to green. Officially, there is a zero alcohol limit but this is poorly enforced.
British motoring associations have reciprocal agreements with the Turkish Touring and Automobile Association (TTOK) (tel: (212) 282 8140; fax: (212) 282 8042; website: www.turing.org.tr/turing/emain.html).
Emergency breakdown service:
Turkish Touring and Automobile Association (212) 280 4449
Routes to the city: The main motorway from the Turkish border at Edirne straight through to Istanbul, Ankara and beyond is the E-80, closely paralleled by the somewhat smaller D-100. The route to Antalya follows the E-80 to Izmit and then heads south on the D-650.
Driving times to Istanbul: From Ankara – 7 hours; from Antalya – 12 hours.
Coach services: The safest, cheapest and most convenient method of internal transport, especially for travel to southern Turkish resorts, is Turkey’s vast system of intercity coaches.
Uluslararasi Istanbul Otogari or International Istanbul Bus Terminal (tel: (212) 658 0505 or 0036) serves all international and domestic lines and is located in Esenler, about ten kilometers (six miles) from the city center. Most of the major intercity companies have free service buses from central Istanbul to the bus station. These shuttle services leave – several hours before the scheduled departure time of the coach – from along Sirasilveler Caddesi in Taksim, which is also where all the ticket offices are clustered. Visitors can book tickets here any time before departure and most offices take credit cards.
Providers include: Kamil Koc (tel: (212) 252 7223/4; website: http://www.kamilkoc.com.tr/); Pamukkale (tel: (212) 249 2791), which serve western and southern destinations; Ulusoy (tel: (212) 249 4373; website: http://www.ulusoy.com.tr/), which serves international destinations, Ankara, the Black Sea, as well as Izmir and Antalya; Varan (tel: (212) 251 7474; website: http://www.varan.com.tr/), which also serves international, western and southern routes, and Goreme Tourism (tel: (212) 658 1213), which serves Cappadocia. Long journeys are usually made at night, leaving Istanbul between 2200 and 2400 and arriving at the destination in the morning.
