Varan Turizm, Peron 15-16

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Varan Turizm, at offices 15 and 16 of Istanbul's Büyük Otogar, is perhaps Turkey's best bus company, with the best-maintained vehicles (see photo below to the right), most comfort and the highest level of professional service.

Varan has its own private bus terminals at Çaglayan (pronounced CHAH-lah-yahn), near Kagithane on the European side, and at Atasehir (AH-tah-sheh-heer) on the Asian side, from which its buses depart.

All Anatolia-bound Varan buses (ie, buses going anywhere except Edirne and Europe) originate on the European side, and stop at the Asian terminal to pick up additional passengers about 45 minutes later.

Free shuttle buses take Varan passengers to the Çaglayan (European) terminal from Taksim Square and the Büyük Otogar; and to the Atasehir (Asian) terminal from Gülfen Hatun Mahallesi, Balaban Caddesi No. 25, Üsküdar, and Rihtim Caddesi, Hacionbasilar Ishani No. 32/1, Kadiköy. (Shuttles run from a number of other points, but if you're staying near Sultanahmet none of these is convenient.)

If you're staying near Sultanahmet, and if your seat on a particular Varan bus is reserved in advance (your hotel can help you do this), it may save you time to take a ferry from Eminönü to Üsküdar or Kadiköy and catch the Varan shuttle bus from there directly to the Atasehir (Asian) terminal.

Some Varan terminals offer free Wifi—wireless Internet service.

Note that because Varan has its own private terminals, you can't always go to the main bus terminal and expect to climb aboard a Varan bus. You may have to find out where the private Varan terminal is, and go there instead. Check this in advance of travel.

Varan runs buses from Istanbul to:

Click here for a route map.

Varan also operates several buses in cooperation with the IDO fast ferries from Istanbul to Bandirma. You sail on the ferry from Istanbul, and when you reach Bandirma, Varan buses are waiting to take you to Ayvalik, Bodrum and Marmaris.

Varan operates a once-a-week bus from Istanbul via Kesan, Iskeçe (Xanthi), Gümülcine (Komotini), Kavala, Selanik (Thessaloniki) and Larissa to Athens (Atina), Greece. More...

Another Varan route goes from Istanbul via Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia to the Austrian cities of Vienna (Viyana, Wien), Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck and Bregenz. More...

Telephone the Varan Call Center at +90 (212) 444 8999; or at Istanbul's Büyük Otogar, tel +90 (212) 658 0270.

www.varan.com.tr
hlkisl@mail.varan.com.tr