Getting Around

Trains, roads, taxis and how to move around Turkey.

Long-distance comfort — Turkish State Railways (TCDD) operates overnight trains like Istanbul–Ankara and Istanbul–Izmir with sleeping cars. Book in advance through tcdd.gov.tr or at stations; night trains are cheaper than flights and good for budget travelers.
Trains are frequently delayed by 1–3 hours; don't plan tight connections. The network is limited compared to Western Europe, so many routes require buses instead.
Seat reservations mandatory — Most intercity trains require seat reservations (included in ticket price). You cannot board without one, even if you hold a rail pass.

Unified card system — Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir use the Kentkart (Istanbul) or equivalent contactless cards for metro, tram, bus, and dolmus. Buy at stations or kiosks and load credit; single journeys cost 2–3 TL.
Istanbul metro hours — The Istanbul Metro runs 6am–midnight on most lines. Line M2 (Yenikapı–Hacıosman) is the busiest; avoid rush hours (8–9am, 5–7pm) if possible.
Pickpocketing is common on crowded metro lines and buses in Istanbul and Ankara. Keep bags zipped and phone secure, especially on Line M2 and during peak hours.
Fine for fare evasion — Using someone else's Kentkart or traveling without a valid ticket carries a 50–100 TL fine that transit police enforce regularly.

Unmarked cabs scam — Only use white taxis with a visible meter or call a registered company like Tele Taxi Istanbul (0212 4444). Unmarked cars and drivers without meters will overcharge tourists by 200–300%.
Uber and Bitaksi safer — Uber and the Turkish app BiTaksi show fares upfront and have driver ratings. Prices are 30–50% higher than street taxis but eliminate negotiation and scam risk.
Night surcharge — After midnight, Turkish taxis legally charge a 50% surcharge on the meter. Agree on a flat rate with Uber/BiTaksi before booking if traveling late.
Taxi drivers often claim their meter is 'broken' and demand a fixed price 3–5 times the metered rate. Refuse and walk to find another taxi or use an app.

License & documentation — You need an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside your home license, plus passport and rental agreement. Turkish police fine drivers without an IDP 200–300 TL.
Aggressive driving culture — Turkish roads have high accident rates; drivers ignore lane markings, speed limits, and traffic lights in cities. Roundabouts in Istanbul are chaotic—rent a car only if confident.
Tolls (OGC system) — Highways use the OGC electronic toll system; rental companies add a transponder to your windscreen. Costs are 5–30 TL per journey; you'll be billed automatically.
Speed cameras & fines — Speeding fines start at 200 TL and are enforced heavily on highways. Urban limits are 50 km/h; highway limits are 120 km/h. Fines are deducted from your rental deposit within 30 days.

Istanbul airports — Istanbul Airport (IST, 35km west) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW, 55km southeast) serve the city. IST is newer and has metro access via the M11 line (8 TL, 45 mins); SAW requires bus or taxi only.
Airport transfers — Havas buses run from both Istanbul airports to Taksim and Sultanahmet every 20–30 minutes (15–20 TL). Metro + bus is cheapest; Uber from IST costs 50–70 TL with surge pricing.
Unofficial taxis outside terminals — Do not accept rides from men offering 'special prices' outside arrivals. Use official taxi stands, Uber, or pre-booked hotel transfers to avoid 200%+ overcharges.
Duty-free limits — You may take 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, 1 liter of spirits, and 2 liters of wine into Turkey duty-free. Exceeding limits incurs confiscation and fines up to 500 TL.

Istanbul ferries — Ferries run by IDO connect the European and Asian sides (Eminönü–Üsküdar, Galata–Kadıköy). A single journey costs 2–4 TL; buy a Kentkart or pay cash at booths. Ferries run 6am–midnight.
Aegean island hopping — Turyol and other operators run ferries between Aegean islands (Rhodes–Marmaris, Bodrum–Kos). Book through turyol.com.tr or at ports; prices vary 30–100 TL per leg depending on distance and season.
Ferry schedules change seasonally; summer runs (June–September) are frequent, but winter (November–March) sees cancellations due to weather. Always confirm departures at the port on the day of travel.
Crowding at rush hours — Ferries departing at 8am and 5–6pm from Eminönü are packed with commuters; expect long queues and pickpocketing. Travel mid-morning or afternoon to avoid crowds.

Bus booking apps — Book long-distance buses through Flixbus, Obilet, or TicketGo; prices are 20–80 TL for 4–8 hour journeys. Booking online guarantees a seat and often costs less than buying at the station.
No multi-city rail pass — Turkey doesn't offer Eurail-style multi-country passes. Buy point-to-point TCDD tickets online or at stations; a one-way Istanbul–Ankara sleeper costs 80–150 TL.
Refund policies strict — Train and bus tickets are non-refundable if canceled within 2 hours of departure. Some operators charge 30% cancellation fees even with advance notice.

Prepaid SIM cards — Buy prepaid SIM cards from Vodafone, Turkcell, or Türk Telekom at airports, city centers, or convenience stores for 5–15 TL. Data packages (5GB) cost 25–40 TL and last 30 days.
ID required for registration — All SIM cards must be registered with your passport details at the point of sale. This takes 5 minutes and is mandatory by law.
Free airport Wi-Fi — Istanbul Airport, Sabiha Gökçen, and major hotels offer free Wi-Fi. Registration via phone number takes 30 seconds; password is usually visible on the login screen.
4G coverage is excellent in cities but spotty in rural areas and mountains. Download offline maps (Google Maps or Maps.me) before leaving cities for hikes or remote travel.