• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Istanbul
  • Cappadocia
  • Mediterranean
  • Aegean
  • Black Sea
  • Other Places
Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish Travel Blog

Turkish People, Culture, History, and Places inTurkey

  • Culture and Traditions
  • Food and Drink
  • History
  • Travel Tips
  • Living in Turkey
  • About Turkey
    • About the Blog
    • Advertising
    • Contact

Tips for Planning a Road Trip in Turkey

by Natalie

Today’s post is by Kerri Ware who is a seasoned traveller. Her favourite method of travel is road tripping across countries. She hates bad weather and suffers from Jet lag. When she is not traveling, she can often be found somewhere on the internet, planning her next stress free trip.

Turkey is a treasure trove for travellers; it might sound clichéd, but it can’t be denied. From stunning coastlines, to the Eurasian city of Istanbul and the natural landmarks of Cotton Castle and Cappadocia, there are so many places to see.

In a country the size of Turkey, there is a lot of travelling involved  to see it all and there’s no better way to do it than on a road trip. Whether you’re solo, travelling with friends, family or as a couple, hit the road and explore at your own pace to uncover parts of the country which aren’t traversed by the typical traveller. To really get the best from the experience, road trips do require  prior planning, so take a look at my advice before you hit the road.

turkish women

Planning Your Route

Your route really depends on what you want to see and how much time you have in Turkey. Remember that the distance travelled is irrelevant; it’s the sights and experiences you leave with that really matter.

When you are planning your route, do remember to factor in the travelling distances. It might sound like a fairly obvious suggestion but if you have a must see list in mind, logic is easily overruled and hours spent aimlessly driving around isn’t fun for anyone!

The west, the home of the beautiful Aegean coastline, is generally the most popular destination for road trippers and boasts open roads with plenty of attractions to keep you entertained, fantastic cities to explore and small villages to unearth, adding a traditional Turkish theme to your time here.

Choose from one of the many hire cars at Izmir Airport and visit attractions such as Bodrum castle, Ephesus, the Greek village of Sirince and the windsurfing resort of Alacati.

planning a road trip in Turkey

Istanbul is usually a top priority for visitors, so you could spend a few days here first, touring the famous Grand Bazaar and exploring some of the cities other famed attractions such as Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque. Once you’ve had your fill of the city, you can head south to the Aegean coast line or perhaps east along the lesser visited Black Sea Coast.

Highlighted destinations to visit include Safronbolu which showcases old Ottoman architecture, beautiful Sinop or head to north east to Trabzon and the ancient Sumela Monastery.

Sumela monastry

Alternatively, Antalya to Fethiye with the Turquoise coast as your back drop is another popular option. You can pick up a car from Antalya airport and visit attractions such as the rustic resort of Cirali, Patara beach, the sunken ruins of Kekova and the simple but appealing place of Butterfly Valley.

Butterfly Valley Turkey

Choosing and Collecting Your Car

With so much to consider, car hire can be a bit of a minefield even for those in the know. To begin with, I would advise booking a hire car in advance. Not only will this guarantee availability it usually results in a much cheaper deal and allows you to vet reviews of your chosen company before you part with your money.

When comparing prices, there are a number of points to take note of, the most important being the insurance cover provided, mileage restrictions and fees for additional extras such as a second driver. It’s likely that you plan to collect and return your vehicle at different destinations, so be sure to check whether a one way rental fee will be applied as this often catches road trippers out.

When it comes to selecting the vehicle, don’t get too focused on price. Car hire is an expensive extra, there’s no doubt about it but you will need to find a company and vehicle that is suitable to your needs; for a few pounds more, air conditioning might be very worth it on a sweltering day!

Pay particular attention to the number of seats and luggage room and take into account the size of passengers; a 6ft tall man may not be very comfortable in a super mini!

Visit Cirali

Road Rules

It goes without saying that road rules vary for every country so it’s worth investing a little bit of energy into researching the rules of the road in Turkey before your trip. Traffic drives on the right here and as is the norm in most countries these days, it is illegal to drive without wearing a seatbelt and to use a mobile phone while driving.

The roads between Edirne and Istanbul, Istanbul and Izmit, Izmit and Gebze, Tsarsus and Pozanti and Ankara and Gerede are all toll roads and a charge will be applied.  Cash is not accepted and you will need to purchase a Kartli Geçis Sistemi (KGS) toll-payment card. You can buy one from the specific booths before joining the toll road.

When driving on motorways, the speed limit is 120 kph (75 mph), open roads are restricted to 90 kph (56 mph) and in built up areas the speed limit is 50kph (31 mph). It is also worth noting that the maximum blood alcohol limit is 0.05%. Your fellow motorists are known for their aggressive driving style and tendency to speed so do have your wits about you.

Bodrum sunset

Additional Tips For Planning a Road Trip in Turkey

Before setting off on your trip, consider your travel partners and how well you get along. I’m sure there are plenty of people, myself included, who have endured a trip with a less than ideal travel buddy. In an enclosed space for an extended period of time, the word ‘fun’ does not spring to mind!

Ensure you thoroughly understand the insurance cover provided with the vehicle you have hired and have contact details for the hire company with you at all times. In case of damage, it is always best to contact them and await their instruction on how to proceed.

Remember that the best part of a road trip is the flexibility to change your itinerary at the drop of the hat so get on the road and have fun!

What tips can you add?

What’s the most memorable road trip you have been on?

Save

Pin912
Share65
Tweet
Share
977 Shares

Filed Under: Random Information

Hi. I'm Natalie, a freelance travel blogger and writer specializing in the country of Turkey. I love hot summer days, historical sites and coffee. Read More…

Primary Sidebar

istanbul tourist pass

Search This Website

Popular Posts

Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman EmpireDolmabahce Palace in Istanbul : Last Days of the Ottoman Empire49K Total Shares
The Colourful Wooden Mosque of MaralThe Colourful Wooden Mosque of Maral6K Total Shares
Santa Claus and His Life in TurkeySanta Claus and His Life in Turkey5K Total Shares
Sanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in TurkeySanliurfa (Urfa) : The City of Abraham in Turkey4K Total Shares
The Serene House of the Virgin MaryThe Serene House of the Virgin Mary3K Total Shares
Ottoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in IstanbulOttoman Intrigue at Topkapi Palace in Istanbul3K Total Shares

Footer

Everything Else

  • Blog Sitemap
  • GDPR, Privacy and Cookies
  • Terms of Use and Disclaimer

Of Interest

  • About Us
  • Advertising and PR
  • Map of Turkey

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright @2023 - Turkish Travel Blog

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT