| By Air |
There are frequent flights by Turkish Airlines (THY) from many of the capitals and cities of the world to Istanbul and Ankara with onward connections to all the principal cities of Turkey. There are also some direct flights to Izmir, Antalya and Dalaman. British Airways flies from London to Istanbul. From the United States of America there are connecting flights to destinations in Turkey via London, or via Amsterdam with KLM.
THY offers substantial reductions to students, sports groups and families. When planning a holiday, budget-conscious travellers should note that the air fare constituent in the price of a package tour is usually much less than the cost of a flight-only ticket.
Students and those who wish to limit their expenditure will be attracted by the cheap charter flights which operate from London during the holiday season. Some of these restrict the visitor to a maximum stay of two weeks. They are also frequently advertised in the holiday sections of the The Times, Sunday Times, The Observer, The Guardian, and other daily and weekly papers.
Flights to Dalaman in SW Turkey bring Bodrum, Marmaris, Fethiye and the small, beautiful resorts of the Lycian coast within the reach of travellers who have a limited amount of time at their disposal. The tour companies usually have special coaches to take their clients from the airport to their destinations. Individual travellers should take a taxi or dolmus to Dalaman village, where they can pick up one of the regular bus or dolmus services. There are bus services, for which a small charge is made, from all Turkish airports to the city terminals. Taxis are also available.
Information and Reservations: Turkish Airlines (THY) |
| By Coach |
There are regular services between Turkey and Austria, France, Germany, Holland, It Switzerland, and Greece; also Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria.
Contact numbers of the major coach firms :
|
» Kamil Koç
Taksim +90(212) 252 72 23-24
Kadiköy +90(216) 349 86 48
Ist/Kargo +90(212) 658 00 84
Ankara +90(312( 224 17 00
Izmir +90(232) 486 34 95 |
» Pamukkale
Taksim +90(212) 245 29 46
Kadiköy +90(216) 336 54 13
Ist/Kargo +90(212) 658 22 31
Izmir +90(232) 484 08 00
Antalya +90(242) 247 16 00 |
» Varan
Taksim +90(212) 251 74 74
Kadiköy +90(216) 345 40 81
Ist/Kargo +90(212) 349 20 95
Ankara +90(312) 417 25 25
Izmir +90(232) 489 19 17
Adana +90(322) 457 33 90
Bodrum +90(252) 316 78 49
Antalya +90(242) 36 18
|
» Ulusoy
Taksim +90(212) 252 37 87
Kadiköy +90(216) 336 93 66
Ist/Kargo+9 0(212) 244 12 71
Ankara +90(312) 286 53 30
Izmir +90(232) 441 71 50
Samsun +90(362) 431 61 61
Marmaris +90(252) 413 02 63 |
|
| By Sea |
Passenger Ferries: Apart from numerous cruises in the Mediterranean, several foreign shipping companies have regular services to the ports of Trabzon, Samsun, Istanbul, Dikili, Izmir, Çesme, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, Alanya, Mersin and Iskenderun.
Turkish Maritimes Istanbul Tel :+90(212) 252 17 00,
Reservations: +90(212)249 92 22
Car Ferries: There are several car ferries for tourists who wish to take their cars while sightseeing: Venice, Ancona, Brindisi, Bari, Istanbul, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Antalya.
Lines between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Tasucu - Girne
Alanya - Girne
Mersin - Gazimagosa
Ferry lines between Turkey and the Greek Islands:
Ayvalik - Midilli (Lesbos)
Cesme - Sakiz (Chios)
Kusadasi - Sisam (Samos)
Bodrum - Istanköy (Cos)
Marmaris - Rodos (Rhodes)
Datça - Sömbeki (Symi)
Information about times and fares can be obtained from local travel agents. |
| By Railway |
While it is possible to travel by rail from London to Istanbul, the rigours of this journey, which can take three days, are such that it will commend itself only to the most hardy travellers. The trains, which are popular with immigrant workers returning to Greece and Turkey from Western Europe, are usually very crowded and the condition of the carriages and the toilets tends to deteriorate as the journey progresses.
The trains are slow, subject to delays and are frequently late in arriving at their destination. Any illusions about the luxury enjoyed by the characters in Agatha Christie's celebrated crime novel vanish after a few hours in the noisy, smoke-filled compartments.
The ‘Istanbul Express' provides a daily service from Munich, Vienna and Athens. There are weekly departures, with sleeping cars, to Istanbul from Budapest, Bucharest and Moscow. Discounts are available to minors and students under the age of 26.
Information and Reservations: Turkish Railways (TCDD). |
| By Driving |
It is approximately 3000km from London to Istanbul. Any driver willing to tackle this distance must be prepared to do battle with the convoys of TIR lorries which carry goods to Turkey and beyond. Although most of the roads en route are well surfaced and well-maintained, some sections are very busy. An additional disincentive is provided by the checks at the various international borders, which are often long-winded and time-consuming.Two routes are suggested: the northern route by Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria and the southern route by Belgium, Germany, Austria and Italy and thence by ferry to Turkey. |