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 Bus Travel in Turkey

 

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Starliner luxury buses, Turkey

Bus travel is the easiest, cheapest, most popular way to travel in Turkey. (These luxurious Starliner coaches are manufactured in Turkey.)

The buses, operated by hundreds of companies large and small, are modern and comfortable, service is frequent, and fares are low to moderate. There's even service to Greece, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries, and Europe.

An example: Buses depart on the 450-km (280-mile) 6-hour journey between Istanbul and Ankara about every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, for US$20 to $35 one-way.

Most fares are quite reasonable. Often, buses are so frequent you needn't reserve in advance except around holidays.

Here are routes, fares and travel times from Istanbul to other cities. Here are the major bus companies, some of which have websites with schedules and fares. (Sorry, I don't have any more information than this.)

Rest stops are made enroute about every 2 hours for toilet, snacks or meals, and smoking (no smoking is allowed on most public buses). Turkish buses are not usually equipped with onboard toilets, so use the facilities in the terminal before your board.

Buses run everywhere, even cross-country (Istanbul to Artvin: 1352 km, 840 miles, 24 hours), although bus trips of more than 8 or 10 hours are tedious. It's better to break a long trip into shorter trips; to take a plane; or to take a train with couchettes or sleeping cars. For discussions of possibilities, or to ask questions, visit the TTP Forums.

For tips on how to increase your safety while traveling by bus, see ASIRT, the Association for Safe International Road Travel.


Buses from Istanbul to Other Cities

Turkey's Top Bus Companies

Bus Companies & Offices at Istanbul's Main Bus Terminal

Bus Travel Costs & Fares

Air Travel

Car Travel

Ship Travel

Train Travel

Transportation in Turkey

Maps of Turkey

Turkey Travel Planner Homepage

 
Istanbul Otogar (Main Bus Terminal), Turkey

The mammoth Istanbul International Bus Terminal (Büyük Otogar), 10 km (6 miles) west of the city center at Esenler/ Bayrampasa, has 168 ticket offices and boarding gates, a Metro station, a hotel, restaurants and shopping centers.