Which means of transport to use en Turquie?

Organize your stay en Turquie

From the airport to the city centre From the airport to the city centre en Turquie

Several airports welcome international flights. The main ones are located in the west of the country. There are two: Istanbul International Airport(istairport.com), 40 km north of Istanbul on the European side (the new Istanbul airport, inaugurated on October 29, 2018, which replaced Atatürk International Airport; international code: IST), and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, 60 km from central Istanbul on the Asian side; international code: SAW.

To get to the center of Istanbul from the new Istanbul International Airport, you can take a cab (approx. €30), several bus routes (30-60 minutes) or the M11 metro line to the north of Istanbul.

To get to central Istanbul from Sabiha Gökçen airport, you have two options: the Havabus bus to Taksim Meydanı (120 TL, €3, 1h30) or cab (approx. €25) to Taksim Meydanı and Sultanahmet.

Elsewhere in the country, major cities have their own airports: Ankara International Airport(esenbogaairport.com, ESB); Izmir International Airport(adnanmenderesairport.com, ADB); Antalya International Airport(antalya-airport.aero, AYT); Bodrum International Airport (milas-bodrumairport.com, BJV).

A direct flight from Paris to Istanbul takes 3 hours 20 minutes. Numerous low-cost airlines offer daily flights to the Turkish megalopolis from Orly, Marseille, Strasbourg, Nantes, Lille, Toulouse, Lyon, Bordeaux, direct or with stopovers in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Geneva or Rome. Shuttle, bus and cab services are available in front of each airport.

Note: internal flights may not be very environmentally friendly, but they can be very practical when you don't have a lot of time to get from one point to another far away. This saves a considerable amount of time, and often at a derisory cost. Many choices from Istanbul.

Public transport Public transport en Turquie

The bus is the most widely used means of transport in the country; very efficient, clean and comfortable, it's a good (and inexpensive) way to travel. The bus network is very well developed and all towns are served. To reach a remote point, you'll probably need to complete your journey with a dolmuş (collective shuttle bus). Very frequent services between major cities and tourist destinations. If you have booked your tickets online, be sure to ask at the counter of the company associated with your bus for the platform number(peron), as they are not always indicated... The bus station is called otogar.

Gradually, high-speed train lines are springing up all over the country, competing directly with buses. Normal" trains, on the other hand, are very slow, much slower than buses.

Regular boat services link the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara. Some sixty ferry connections are operated every week.

By car By car en Turquie

Renting a car is the ideal way to explore the Turkish territory at your own pace, in complete freedom, and to stop where the buses do not go. You will find many international (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt...) or local rental agencies throughout the country. The offices are often located in the city centers and airports. It is also possible to enter Turkey with your own vehicle. In this case, the authorized length of stay for the latter cannot exceed one month. Remember to bring your vehicle registration document and your insurance certificate with you. A document will be given to you when you enter the country, indicating the date on which you must leave the country.

Tourist traps Tourist traps en Turquie

Beware of the pitfalls of airport cabs, especially in Istanbul. Similarly, if you want to buy a sim card for the Turkish network and Internet, these are more expensive at the airport than in the city center. Nevertheless, it can be handy to have a direct connection...