Categories
Featured Articles Turkey

Inspiration for Your Trip to Turkey in 2016

The Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque, the Ottoman Palaces… the grand sights of Istanbul pull with an Oriental flavor on a romantic traveler’s heart strings. But Turkey is far more than it’s big ticket tourist sights.

This year BootsnAll named Turkey one of it’s Top Value Destinations for Canadian Travelers. What that also means is that it’s an excellent value for those traveling with Australian money, US Dollars or Euros in their wallets.

2016 is a great year to visit Turkey and we’ve got plenty of inspiration for you:

Let’s start the count with 10 Experiences Not to Miss in Turkey: Oil wrestling anyone? Pamukkale’s pools? Cappadocia balloon flights?

Have you ever written a love letter to a city? Or read one? Check this one out: A Love Letter to Istanbul.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT leave Istanbul without eating these ten dishes. You’ll be glad you did.

You’ll want to read this First-Timer’s Guide to Avoiding Embarrassment in a Turkish Bath. Do you get naked, or not? What exactly goes down behind those closed doors? This will take you inside a hammam before you venture there in person.

Istanbul is the city everyone talks about, but it’s not the capital of Turkey. That’s Ankara. It’s got a pretty great Saturday night in store for you.

Last, but not least, if you’re looking for an escape from a harsh, cold winter, then Selcuk on the Turkish Blue Coast will take care of that. Visit some ruins and dip your feet in the sea. It’s way better than shoveling snow!

Categories
travel guide Turkey

10 Days in Turkey: Itinerary Ideas

Turkey has a lot to offer and 10 days in the country are not enough to visit too many places. This itinerary leaves out the beaches and focus on Istanbul , Cappadocia and the ancient sites of Ephesus, Troy and Hieropolis.

Itinerary assumptions:

  • You will be flying into Istanbul and out of Izmir
  • You will be using the buses and trains to get around Turkey, but a rental car is also a good idea for the time spent visiting the ancient sites
  • You will be staying in hostels or hotels , with easy access to the transportation hubs.

Day 1 -3 Istanbul

On the first day in Istanbul, get to know the most famous sights: Hagia Sofia, Blue Mosque and the Spice Bazaar. On the second day, visit the Topkapi palace and allow some time for the Archeological Museum, too. Allow for a more relaxing day 3 when you can take a ferry on the Bosphorus, stopping in several ports to explore the sights and take photos.

Read about :
>>3 Days in Istanbul
>>Things to do in Istnabul

Day 4 -6 Cappadocia

Your best bet (price wise) is to catch a bus from Istanbul to Nevsehir or Göreme. Or you can catch a train to Kayseri.

Tourists come here to see the cave dwellings . Don’t miss the churches and monasteries, which are also carved in the stone. It’s best to rent a car for the stay in this area. If you like to spend time in nature, there are some interesting hiking routes here, too.

Make sure not to leave Cappadocia without trying the local food https://www.turkeylogue.com/what-to-eat-in-turkey-famous-turkish-foods.html and wine.

>>read more about Getting from Istanbul to Cappadocia

Day 7, 8 Selcuk , Ephesus , Priene, Miletus and Didyma

Fly into İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB), then catch a train (or rent a car ) to get to Selcuk , as it’s just 60 km from the airport.

Ephesus is located just 3 km from Selcuk . You can easily plan to walk to the site or catch a dolmus. You can easily cover the entire site in just 2 h. And you should check out the museum while you are here, too.

If you chose to rent a car, you can also visit other interesting sights. Priene is close to Kusadasi , which is a bit further from Ephesus. The sight is one of the most important in the area and is located close to Ephesus and Miletus. Priene is the least crowded and a bit off the beaten path. Also in the area is Didyma, containing the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo.

>>read about the Greek and Roman ruins in Turkey

Day 9 Troy

Travel back to Izmir and catch a bus to Çanakkale, the town closest to Troy. Or you can use the rental car to get here. The site has a mix of Roman and Greek ruins. You can spend quite a lot of time here as there are many ruins to see.

Day 10 Pamukkale and Hieropolis

You can either travel by rental car to Pamukkale or catch a bus from Çanakkale. Trains are only available from Izmir. Pamukkale is known for the hot springs and the ancient site of Hieropolis. You don’t want to miss Laodikya either, which has been mentioned as one of the 7 Churches in the Book of Revelation. The site is located between Denizil and Pamukkale.

Travel to Izmir for the flight back home.

Photo creditsIstanbul , Cappadocia , Ephesus , Troy , Pamukkale

Categories
travel guide Turkey

3 Days in Istanbul: Itinerary Ideas

There are plenty of things to do in Istanbul and having only three days to visit the city means you’ll either be cramming in a lot in a limited time or take things slower and visit some of the important sights. This itinerary starts off with cramming a lot of sights during the first day, but offering a more relaxed approach for the other two days.

Itinerary assumption:

Day 1

Get to know the city and buy a map. Then make your way to the Spice market (take the tram to Eminonu). You can spend quite a lot of time picking up spice.

Sultanahmet Square is easy to get to either by tram or on foot . Hagia Sofia is in the area, too. You can visit the museum daily except on Mondays.

There are plenty of places to eat in the area . Try to look for one without a menu in English (or one filled with locals). Try some of the lovely Turkish food .

You can now visit the Blue Mosque, which is open daily except during praying times. Pay attention to the dress code. Make your way to the old peninsula and then head to the Covered bazaar. By the way: yes, you will be “kindly” (more like hassled) asked to buy. While a nice experience, skip this part if you don’t feel comfortable dealing with aggressive vendors. Instead , check out the Egyptian obelisk in the Hippodrome Square and spend some time in the area.

Day 2

You can start the day with visiting Galata Tower. The views from above are superb and the possibility to take fantastic photos are endless.

Then add a boat trip on the Bosphorus to the plan. There are many choices but it’s best to opt for the ferry. The ferries leave from Eminonu. There are three departures per day during summer and the round trip is about 5-6 h. The ferry stops in all ports along the Bosphorus, so you can stop and check out various places, but first look up the ferry times so you know when you can catch the next one.

Day 3

Take the tram to Sultanahmet station and walk to the Topkapi palace. It is open daily except on Tuesdays. You can easily spend an entire day visiting the palace and the Harem.

If you still have time, visit the Archeological Museum, open daily expect on Mondays. It houses very interesting items, including statues from ancient Roman Era , statue of the head of Alexander the Great, and fragments from the temple of Athens at Assos.

Photo credits: Hagia Sofia , View from Ferry , Harem at Topkapi palace

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Best Greek & Roman Ruins in Turkey

The region of Antalya , also known as the Turkish Riviera, has some of the best preserved Greek and Roman ruins in the world. Unfortunately, they tend to be overlooked by most visitors, but those who take the time to plan a visit are impressed with the well preserved ruins. Also, some of the sites are quite off the beaten path so you can explore them without bumping into fellow travelers at every step. Turkey is also the place where you’ll find the famous sites of Ephesus, Pergamon and Troy.

Aspendos

It was an ancient Greco-Roman city located in Asia Minor, 7 km from today’s Serik. It is known for having the best preserved amphitheater from antiquity with a diameter of 96 m, which provided seating for 7,000 people. It was built by a Greek architect during the rule of Marcus Aurelius.

The theatre is still in use today, holding the annual Aspendos International Opera and Ballet Festival.

>>read more about 10 Best Roman Ruins Outside of Rome

Didyma

It is an ancient Greek site, containing the remains of the Sanctuary of Apollo and is located near modern day city of Didim (and the resorts of Bodrum and Kusadasi). It was one of the most important oracles in the ancient Hellenic world , second only to Delphi. The original temple was destroyed by the Persians but Alexander the Great rebuilt it in around 334BC.

Today, a range of ruins can be visited, including columns and remains of ancient tunnels.

Ephesus

It was a vibrant Greek ancient city, located near today’s Selcuk (and the resort of Kusadasi). It contains some of the best preserved Greek and Roman ruins in the Mediterranean.

Built in the 10th century BC, the city grew until 650 BC when it was attacked by the Cimmerians. The settlement was rebuilt and thrived again but later was conquered by the Persians.

Today, the well preserved site offers an amazing opportunity to walk among ancient Roman and Greek houses, buildings and stadiums. The famous Temple of Artemis is only represented by a column. The Library of Celsus is one of the most impressive buildings on site.

Hierapolis

It is an Ancient Roman city and spa, located near today’s Pamukkale . The site is famous for the hot springs , which were thought to have miraculous healing properties. Most of the ruins on site date from the Roman period ,but the Hellenistic layout can also be clearly seen. And it’s still possible to take a dip in the hot springs.

Miletus

It is an Ancient Greek city, located near today’s Balat. It still has an impressive theatre but the other ruins are few.

Pergamon

It was a famous ancient Greek city located in today’s Mysia region of Turkey, close to the city of Bergama. It was cited in the book of Revelations as one of the seven churches of Asia. The upper Acropolis included the Great Altar of Pergamon (which can be seen in a museum in Berlin), The Hellenistic Theater, the Sanctuary of Athena , The Royal Palaces , the Temple of Trajan, the Upper Agora, the Roman baths and other structures. The Lower Acropolis included, among other buildings, the Temple of Demeter , the Sanctuary of Hera and the Lower Agora.

Perge

It is a site containing mostly Roman ruins and is located near today’s Aksu (and Antalya resort). It has a history dating back to the Ancient Greek times as it was founded circa 1000 BC. The large theatre, the Roman agora , the bath and the necropolis can still be visited today.

Priene

It is an Ancient Greek city located near today’s Gullubahce (and the resorts of Kusadasi and Bodrum). It is one of the most important sites in the area , close to both Miletus and Ephesus. But it is located quite off the beaten path, providing a much relaxing experience (without the huge tourist crowds).

The Temple of Athena, the ancient theatre and the wall are still well preserved. You can also see the Roman baths and gymnasium, as well as the ruins of an Ancient Synagogue.

Sagalassos

The site contains mostly Hellenistic and Ancient Roman buildings and is located near today’s Aglasun. The Fountain of Antoninler is one of the best preserved ruins on site , but the theatre is not doing that bad either. You can also see the remains of the library, tombs , baths and temples.

Troy

Famous in antiquity, Troy stands in Turkey near today’s city Canakkale. It is one of the most famous and historically significant sites in the world, known to be the location of the Trojan War. The most popular fictional story is written by Homer in The Iliad and goes like this: the Greeks besieged Troy after Helen, the wife of Sparta’s king, was taken by Paris of Troy. However, historians believe that the reason of the Trojan War was a commercial rivalry between people of Troy and Mycenaeans.

The vast ruins can still be visited today. Each part of the site is numbered and is correlated to a specific period of time. And yes, the famous walls can still be seen. The site has a mix of Greek and Roman buildings, many built by Alexander the Great and Augustus.

Photo credits: Aspendos , Didyma , Ephesus , Hierapolis , Miletus , Pergamon , Perge , Priene , Sagalassos , Troy

Categories
travel guide Turkey

What to Eat in Turkey: Famous Turkish Foods

The Turkish cuisine is one of the greatest cuisines in the world. While influencing plenty other cuisines in the countries the Ottoman Empire formerly occupied, the Turkish cuisine reflects the country’s history. The varied climate allows for almost everything to be grown within the country.

Contrary to what you might have experienced, Turkish cuisine is not spicy, unless you visit the Southern part of the country, which has a strong Middle Eastern influence. Lamb used to be the most important meat eaten, but now it’s too expensive. The eggplant remains the most popular vegetable, enjoyed in various forms.

Turks don’t eat pork, because of the religion. But you can find beef, lamb , fish and poultry in the dishes, although the vegetarian specialties are also incredible.

Meze

Just like their Greek “sisters”, the meze is a selection of food served as appetizers. Borek, cacik, octopus, dolma, fava, hummus and kofte are just some of the foods you’ll be able to enjoy as meze. Some of these are also served as a main meal.

Dolma

In Turkish, Dolma means “to be stuffed”. The vegetables used for dolmas are unlimited but the most popular version is the “stuffed grape leaves” or Yaprak Dolmasi . Greeks call them dolmades .

Dolmas generally use: tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage leaves and eggplants. The stuffing contains, aside from rice, nuts and raisins, but it varies from region to region. Dolmas made without meat are served cold; while dolmas made with meat are served warm.

Kebap

Kebap (kabob) means any kind of meat grilled alongside with vegetables. There are plenty of kebap varieties in Turkey. The most popular meat used was lamb, but now it’s been replaced with beef or poultry.

The Sis Kebap is the traditional way to grill meat, in which pieces of vegetables are added among the pieces of meat.

The Doner Kebap is made from the meat which grills on a vertical skewer.

Kofte is a kind of kebap but is made with minced meat to which seasoning is added and they resulting mixture is shaped along a skewer and grilled. But you can also call them the Turkish meatballs because they can be grilled in a meatball shape, too.

Adana Kebap is a very spicy kind of ground meat, grilled on the skewer.

Taze Fasulye

These are green beans cooked with tomato (or tomato paste) and onions.

Karnıyarık

The egg plans are fried, after being filled with a mixture of minced meat, onion, tomato, garlic and parsley.

Borek

It is layers of dough (phyllo) which are filled with spinach, cheese (feta) or meats.

Bulgur Pilavı

It is a side dish which resembles rice, but it’s cooked bulgur (which is wheat). It’s cooked with roasted onions, bell peppers , tomatoes and mint.

Hamsi

It’s probably the most popular fish eaten in Turkey and there are 50 ways to cook it.

Cacık

It is the Turkish version of the Greek tzatziki . The cucumbers are also grated and mixed with yogurt , garlic and mint, but the mixture is more watery than the Greek one.

Lahmacun

It is the “Turkish pizza”: a thin layer of dough is spread with minced meat, tomatoes , onion, parsley and red pepper.

Baklava

It is the most famous Turkish desert: layers of filo pastry are spread with melted butter, pistachios or walnuts, and a lot of honey. When they are baked, the baklava is soaked in a sweet fluid. You can try helva, too.

Lokum (Turkish delight)

Once it was eaten to aid digestion, now it’s just a very common sweet, with a range of varieties.

Kahve / Coffee

Anyone knows the Turkish coffee, a small cup which packs a punch. The grounds sit on the bottom and the coffee is served with a glass of water on the side.

Photo credits: Meze , Dolma , Kebap , Borek , Lahmacun , Hamsi , Baklava , Lokum , Turkish coffee

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Greece

Turkey and Greece , once foes, now friends and always bordering each other…two countries which have similar cuisines and cultures. In some parts of Turkey you can swear you are actually in Greece…and the opposite is exactly the same. Thanks to being so close to each other, many travelers plan to visit both countries during their vacations. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to travel between Istanbul and Greece. Choosing the right one for you depends on your budget and how much time you plan to spend traveling.

Quick summary

Should you plan to get between the capitals, the simplest choices are : flights and buses. Bus fares are slightly cheaper but the travel time is 16 hours. Flights take under 1 ½ h. Should you plan to get anywhere else in Greece, there are always the ferries available. Or a combination of flights and ferries.

Flights from Istanbul to Greece

Turkey has several international airports but only some of them offer direct flights to Greece’s airports .

Direct fights between Istanbul and Athens are operated by Olympic Air, Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines. The flight time is 1h 20 min and the cheapest ticket is provided by Olympic Air (single fare: €71 during the shoulder and high tourists seasons 2012).

Direct flights from Istanbul to Thessaloniki are operated only by Turkish Airlines. The flight time is 1h 25 and fares are more expensive than the fares to Athens (single fare: €133 during the shoulder and high tourist seasons 2012).

There aren’t any direct flights between Antalya and Athens or Thessaloniki. Neither there are from Izmir or Bodrum to Athens or Thessaloniki. And if you want to fly from Turkey to one of the Greek islands, you’ll most likely go via Athens. So, your best bet is to plan your flight from Istanbul to Athens and then continue by ferry or domestic flight to your destination in Greece.

Read more about:
>>Flights to Greece
>>Flights to Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Greece

Unfortunately, as of February 2011, due to the economic state of Greece, all international trains to/from the country have been canceled, the Istanbul –Thessaloniki-Athens train including.

Ferries from Istanbul to Greece

There are no direct ferries between Turkey and mainland Greece , but you can take the ferry from Turkey to some Greek islands and continue the journey via domestic Greek ferry or by plane. Of course, in Turkey, you can travel from Istanbul to the ports by bus (or train and bus).

Here are the possible routes:

  • Marmaris to Rhodes : runs year round . During the winter, ferries run on Fridays and Tuesdays. They depart Marmaris at 9 a.m. and arrive in Rhodes 2h 15 min later. On the way back, ferries sail on the same days of the week and the departure is at 2:30 p.m. from Rhodes. Please note that it may not be possible to book some routes via the ferry booking website .

    >>read more about Getting from Rhodes to Athens

  • Kusadasi to Samos : the ferry route is open between April and October. It sails two times daily, from Kusadasi, at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. On the way back, catch the ferry from Samos (either port of Vathy or Pythagorion) at 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. The trip takes about 1h 15 min. The single fare is €35.
  • Ayvalik (close to Izmir) and Lesvos : it sails Monday to Saturday and the single fare is €30. The travel time is 1h 10 min.

    >>read more about getting from Lesvos to Athens

  • Bodrum to Kos : it departs Bodrum at 9:30 a.m. On the way back catch it from Kos at 3:30 p.m. The single fare is €38.
    >>read more about Getting from Kos to Athens and Getting from Istanbul to Bodrum

You might also want to read about Getting from Turkey to Santorini , just in case you plan to do some island hopping on the way to Greece.

Buses from Istanbul to Greece

Once upon a time there were many companies operating between Turkey and Greece, but not anymore. Still, there are departures and you can get a bus from Istanbul and get off in Athens.

Metro Turizm is one of the companies operating on the Istanbul – Athens route. They run a bus per day, which departs Istanbul at 6 p.m. and gets to Athens 16 hours later. The single fare is either 140 Turkish Lira / €59 or 150 Turkish Lira / €64.

>>read more about Getting from Istanbul to Athens

Driving from Istanbul to Greece

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive to Greece, but make sure to ask whether you are allowed to take the car across the borders.

According to Google Maps, the shortest route between Istanbul and Thessaloniki is on E9. The total distance is about 600 km, which can be covered in about 7 hours.

View Larger Map

The shortest route between Istanbul and Athens is by sea and land (with 3 ferry crossings). However, you can also choose the 1100 km route via A2/E90 and E75, which is by land only and takes about 12 hours. Of course, plan some stops along the way (in Thessaloniki , for example).

View Larger Map

Photo credits: Athens airport , Ferry Rhodes

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Bursa

Bursa is located in the northwestern part of Turkey, near the Sea of Marmara, about 20 km inland. It was the first major city that the Ottomans had control of and served as the capital of the Empire between 1326 and 1365. The city is filled with historical sights dating back from the early Ottoman period.

Today, it is Turkey’s fourth largest city. It is the gateway to one of Turkey’s highest mountains, Uludağ , and the hear of the winter sports in the country.

Getting from Istanbul to Bursa is not hard and you’ve got plenty choices. It’s all up to you (and the travel budget, of course). Although Bursa is served by an airport , the short distance between Istanbul and Bursa do not require a flight. So, when flying from abroad, you’ll land on Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport (IST) before continuing to Bursa.

Quick summary

The fastest way between Istanbul and Bursa is to travel by ferry to Güzelyalı, followed by a bus to Bursa. Or you can take the bus directly from Istanbul to Bursa but spend about 4 h traveling. Prices are about the same though.

Buses from Istanbul to Bursa

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Bursa’s bus terminal. There are buses departing every ½ h to 1h from Istanbul, between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. The travel time is 4 h and the single fare is either 22 Turkish Liras / €9.30 or 24 Turkish Liras / €10, depending on the type of ticket.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Bursa

Bursa is not served by a railway station, but you can travel by train and bus from Istanbul to Bursa.

1) Istanbul to Eskişehir by train: there are four trains departing from Istanbul each day (07:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m, 1:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m.) The travel time is 4 h.

2) Eskişehir to Bursa by bus: buses leave right from the train station. Metro Turzim operates 8 buses per day (first one at 3:00 a.m. and the last at 7:30 p.m.) and the travel time is 2 ½ h. The single fare is either 13 Turkish Liras / €5.50 or 15 Turkish Liras / €6.30, depending on the type of ticket.

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Ferries from Istanbul to Bursa

The fastest option to travel between Istanbul and Bursa is the ferry. Ferries depart Istanbul Yenikapı terminal , on the European side of the city and they arrive at Güzelyalı, about 20 km from Bursa. From Güzelyalı you can catch one of the buses which await passengers at the ferry terminal.

The ferry crossing takes 80 minutes and costs 20 Turkish Liras / €8.40 one way ; the bus to the Organize Sanayi metro station in Bursa takes 30 minutes and costs 2 Turkish Liras / €0.85 one way.

Another option is to get from Istanbul to Yalova and from there catch a minibus (dolmus) to Bursa.

All ferries are operated by IDO and the tickets can be booked online.

>>read more about Ferries in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Bursa

You can rent a car and drive the 240 km between Istanbul and Bursa on E-80 and E881. The travel time is about 3h 40 min.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Ankara

Although Ankara is the capital of Turkey, Istanbul is the major travel hub in the country and chances are you’ll get a better fare for flights into Istanbul rather than the capital. So, you’ll need to figure another way to get from Istanbul to Ankara. Thankfully, there are plenty of options. You just need to choose the best for you (and your budget).

Quick summary

It costs about the same and takes almost the same amount of time to travel by bus or train between Istanbul and Ankara. That’s until the new high speed line will connect the two cities directly. If you are in a hurry, though, you can consider flying. It’s not too expensive compared to the bus or train fares.

Flights from Istanbul to Ankara

Ankara is served by Ankara Esenboğa International Airport (ESB), located about 28 km from the city center. Compared to Istanbul’s airports it receives fewer flights.

Istanbul is served by two airports, both handling flights to/from Ankara:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST): this is the main airport serving Istanbul , located on the European side of the city, about 20 km from the city center. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and the main gateway into the country. It is hub for: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Ankara are operated by Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) : this is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side. It is the airport preferred by the low cost carriers. Flights to/from Ankara are operated by Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines and AnadoluJet.

The cheapest flights to Ankara are from SAW. The flight time is 55 min. In mid April 2012, single fares start at €22 on Pegasus. Prices stay the same even during the peak travel season (July 2012).

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Ankara

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Ankara’s bus terminal (AŞTİ). Buses depart Istanbul every hour, every day between 5:00 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. The travel time is 5 h 15 min. The single fare is 38 Turkish Lira / €16 to 47 Turkish Lira / €20, depending on the hour of departure and type of ticket.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Ankara

There will be a direct high speed railway between Istanbul and Ankara but right now the high speed trains only work from Eskişehir to Ankara. Even so , the total travel time between Istanbul and the capital is 5 h 45 min. There is still one old fashioned (slow) train between Istanbul and Ankara which leaves Istanbul at 1 p.m and arrives in Ankara 9 ½ h later. The new high speed trains leave Istanbul at 7 a.m., 10:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The fare is 40 Turkish Lira / €17 during the day , one way.

There’s also a sleeper departing Istanbul at 10:30 p.m. and arriving in Ankara 10 ½ h later. The single fare is 60 Turkish Lira / €25.30 in a shared 2-bed room.

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Ankara

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive the 452 km to Ankara on E-80. The drive time is about 5 h 15 min.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Ephesus

Ephesus (Turkish: Efes) is one of Turkey’s major tourist attractions. It was a Greek town, later conquered by the Romans and which gained its popularity thanks to being home to the Temple of Artemis, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It is one of the best preserved Roman Mediterranean cities in Turkey.

Ephesus is located near present-day Selcuk in the Izmir Province. The closest airport to Ephesus is İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB). The closest railway station and bus terminal are also in Izmir.

Quick summary

The hassle-free and affordable way to get from Istanbul to Ephesus is by bus to Selcuk and then on foot to the ruins. But the travel time is long (11h) and in case you are in a hurry there’s always the plane. The flight time is 1h and from Izmir airport there’s a train service all the way to Selcuk. And it’s not that expensive to fly, either.

Flights from Istanbul (airport code: IST) to Ephesus

The closest airport to Ephesus is İzmir Adnan Menderes International Airport (ADB), located about 18 km from the city center of Izmir and 60 km from the archeological site of Ephesus. The airport is hub for IZair, SunExpress and Onur Air.

Istanbul is served by two airports, both handling flights to/from Izmir:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST): it is the main airport serving Istanbul and is located 20 km from the city center on the European side of the city. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and a hub for: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Izmir are operated by AtlasJet, Onur Air, IZAir and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) : it is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side, much further from the city center. It is the airport preferred by the low cost carriers. Flights to/from Izmir are operated by Pegasus Airlines, IZAir, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines (AnadoluJet).

It is slightly cheaper to fly to Izmir from SAW (€22 one way on Pegasus) than from Ataturk (€25 one way on Onur Air) in mid-April 2012. The flight time is about the same , though (1h to 1h 5 min). By mid-June 2012, the prices are about the same (€28 one way on AtlasJet from IST; €30 one way on AnadoluJet from SAW).

Once in Izmir, you can either rent a car and drive to Ephesus or take the train to Selçuk. There are six trains per day, departing from Izmir train station and from the Airport train station. The travel time to Selçuk is 1 h (from the airport).

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Ephesus

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Selcuk’s bus terminal, the closest bus terminal to Ephesus. There are two buses per day departing Istanbul at 9:30 p.m and 11:30 p.m. The travel time is 11 h. The fare is either 58 Turkish Lira / €24.50 or 65 Turkish Lira / €27.40, depending on the type of ticket.

Once in Selcuk you can walk the 4 km to the ruins.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Ephesus

The train station for Ephesus is Selcuk. The ruins are within walking distance of Selcuk (about 4 km). But there isn’t a direct link from Istanbul to Selcuk and you need to change trains in Izmir.

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train, with a stop in Eskisehir: the express trains depart Istanbul at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the total travel time is 19 hours. From Istanbul to Eskisehir the fare is 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40) and from Eskisehir to Izmir it’s another 21 Turkish Lira (€9).

2) Izmir to Selcuk by train: there are six trains departing Izmir each day (first at 8:09 a.m. and the last at 7:10 p.m.). The travel time is about 1h 20 min. You can check the timetable and fares here (requires a username/password).

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Ephesus

You can rent a car and drive from Istanbul to Selcuk, but plan to walk from the city to the ruins. The driving distance is 629 km on D565 and can be covered in about 8 ½ h. But make sure to plan some stops along the way.

View Larger Map

Photo credit

Categories
travel guide Turkey

Getting from Istanbul to Antalya

Antalya is the largest city on the Turkish Mediterranean coast and the main gateway into the Turkish Riviera. From April to October it is crowded with tourists looking to soak up the sun. Although the city’s airport gets plenty of low cost flights from various cities in Europe, many travelers arrive in Antalya by way of Istanbul , Turkey’s largest travel hub and where most of the international flights land.

Quick summary

The cheapest option to get from Istanbul to Antalya is the bus. But the travel time is about 12 hours. If you want to travel faster, the flights are not that expensive (but you need to consider the time and money spent for the transfer to/from the airports).

Flights from Istanbul (airport code: SAW) to Antalya

Antalya Airport (AYT) is located about 13 km from the city center and is one of the three major airports serving the Turkish Riviera. It is hub for Freebird Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines. The airport handles both domestic and international flights.

Istanbul is served by two airports:

  • Istanbul Atatürk Airport (IST), located 20 km from the city center on the European side, is the main gateway into Turkey. It is Europe’s eighth busiest airport and a hub for the following airlines: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. Flights to/from Antalya are operated by AtlasJet, Onur Air, Sky Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
  • Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is the second airport serving Istanbul, located on the Asian side, much further from the city center. It’s, however, where the low cost carriers usually fly. Flights to/from Antalya are operated by Pegasus Airlines, Sky Airlines, SunExpress and Turkish Airlines (AnadoluJet).

Flying from SAW into Antalya is slightly cheaper than flying from Ataturk. In mid April 2012, expect to pay from €22 one way on Pegasus from SAW and from €29 one way on Onur Air from Ataturk. The flight time is the same, though, regardless of which airport you fly out of.

By mid June 2012, the prices do increase and flying out of SAW remains cheaper (€30 one way on AnadoluJet vs €40 one way from Ataturk on AtlasJet).

You have to remember that flying on low cost airlines requires you to be quite attentive to the fares and how they fluctuate. Still, generally speaking, booking 4 to 8 weeks in advance means you get the best fares.

Read more about:
>>Cheap flights to Istanbul
>>Cheap flights to Antalya
>>Airports in Turkey

Buses from Istanbul to Antalya

Metro Turzim is one of the companies operating buses from Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (main bus terminal) to Antalya’s bus terminal. There are seven departures per day, with the first being at 10 a.m. and the last at 11 p.m. The travel time is 12 h and the fare 55 Turkish Lira / €23.20 or 60 Turkish Lira / €25.30, depending on the type of ticket.

Has Turzim Bus also operates on this route but their website seems to be full of problems and it’s impossible to view the routes or prices*.

>>read more about Bus Travel in Turkey

Trains from Istanbul to Antalya

While there isn’t a direct train link from Istanbul to Antalya, there are two options to consider.

Option 1:

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train, with a stop in Eskisehir: Express trains depart Istanbul at 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the total travel time is 19 hours. From Istanbul to Eskisehir the fare is 20 Turkish Lira (€8.40) and from Eskisehir to Izmir it’s another 21 Turkish Lira (€9).

2) Izmir to Antalya by bus: just show at the otogar and tell your destination. There are plenty of companies operating on this route but do remember that the fares depend on the company.

Option 2:

1) Istanbul to Izmir by train (see details above)

2) Izmir to Denizil by train: there are 3 departures per day from Izmir, the first being at 8:09 a.m. and the last at 3:30 p.m. The travel time is about 4 h 15min. You can check the timetable and fares here (requires a username/password).

3) Denizil to Antalya by bus: just show up at the otogar and tell your destination. You can choose among regular buses and mini buses (dolmus)

>>read more about Train Travel in Turkey

Driving from Istanbul to Antalya

You can rent a car in Istanbul and drive the 727 km to Antalya (via D650) in about 12 hours. Make sure to plan some stops along the way.

View Larger Map

Note:*at the time the article was written

Photo credit