HOW TO GO

Once you make up your mind and pack your suitcases, the next step is to make a choice among the alternative ways of coming to Turkey. You may decide upon one or several of the transportation methods; air, sea, rail and road, depending on your requirements with respect to time, budget and country of departure; or simply on your trip preferences.

BY AIR

The fastest, and consequently the least tiring way to get to Turkey is by asking a package tour, you can fly with one of the several airlines.

Turkish Airlines (THY) and foreign airlines have regular flights to American, European, Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, Asian and North African cities, from where the international airlines and the Turkish Airlines (THY) offer flights to Turkish airports.

As for the USA, there exist direct flights between New York and Istanbul; also both American and European national airlines have connecting flights to Turkish airports, stopping over the major European countries.

You can find the addresses of agencies of Turkish and international airlines in the 'Useful Addresses' section, and contact these offices for further information about flights, including types, fares and reductions.

On all these air routes, charter flights to predetermined destinations are also available, and some travellers prefer this type because of its economic advantages. Travelling by private plane is another option, with its related formalities and regulations applied.

International flights to Turkey mostly arrive at the Atatürk Airport in Istanbul. This is the largest and the busiest airport in Turkey, with modern terminals and facilities. Other airports are Adana, Ankara (Esenboğa), Antalya, Dalaman, Izmir (Adnan Menderes), Erzurum, Gaziantep, Kars, Van and Trabzon international airports and several regional airports.

BY SEA

A slower, but more fascinating way to get to Turkey is by sea. You may choose one of the numerous cruises in the Mediterranean designed for the sightseers, or participate in one of the several excursions via car ferries and combine road and sea travel.

Turkish Maritime Lines (TML) is the national organization rendering shipping services with its modern and comfortable car and passenger ferries. It has agents both in Turkey and abroad.

1. As for sea travel to Turkey, there are two alternatives: To / from Italy

Besides_. TML,  some   foreign ferries operate between Venice–Izmir-Cevne, Venice–Antalya-Marmaris or between Venice–Istanbul via Pireaus (Greece).

1. To / from Cyprus

Two routes exist on which sea buses, together with car and passenger ferries operate:

* Magosa–Mersin

* Girne–Taşucu

There are also ferry lines between Turkey and the Greek islands on which private shipping companies operate ferryboats:

* Lesbos (Midilli)–Ayvalik

* Chios (Sakız)–Çeşme

* Samos (Sisam)–Kuşadasi

* Cos (Istankby)–Bodrum

* Rhodes (Rodos)–Marmaris

Several foreign shipping companies also have regular services to the ports of Istanbul, Izmir, Kuadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Alanya and Antalya.

All ships including private yachts arriving in Turkish waters, must go to one of the following Çanakkale, Bandirma, Istanbul, Akcay, Ayvalik, Dikili, Izmir, Çeşme, Kuşadası, Bodrum, Datça, Marmaris, Fethiye, Kaş, Finike, Kerner, Antalya, Alanya, Anamur, Sake, Taşucu (Silifke), Mersin, Iskenderun, Samsun, Trabzon. Botaş (Adana), Didim, Derince, Tekirdag, Giresun, Rize, Sinop, Ordu, Zonguldak, Hopa (Artvin).

For further and detailed information, please contact the Turkish Maritime Lines offices; and the marinas concerned, upon arrival.

BY RAIL

A leisurely way to travel is by rail and there are many people who prefer the special atmosphere of railway journey and choose this alternative for their trip, at least combining it with the other travel types.

Direct Connections
Istanbul–Sofia Istanbul–Belgrade Istanbul–Budapest Istanbul–Vienna

Istanbul–Warsaw, Istanbul–Bucharest, Istanbul–Moscow, Istanbul–Thessaloniki Istanbul–Aleppo, Istanbul–Tehran.

The Istanbul Express has regular services to Istanbul from the major cities of Europe, by trains with couchettes or sleeping carriages.  

Trains coming to Turkey arrive at the Istanbul Sirkeci railway terminal. Here, you may choose to change your travel arrangements, or continue the railway journey through Anatolia. Services on the domestic routes are organized by Turkish Railways (TCDD), so please contact the offices of this organization for further information about subjects like fares and reductions, together with the types of services.

There is a very good web site for trains:http://www.seat61.com/Turkey.htm

BY ROAD

This alternative divides in itself to options of driving to Turkey by private car, and travelling by buses operated by coach companies. Certainly the routes are similar and the E-80 (previous E-5) constitutes the main road facilitating the intense traffic between Europe and Turkey. A journey of this type is relatively easy, and moreover very pleasant, offering the chance to see many European countries on the way.

Drivers of private cars (automobile, minibus, caravan, motorcycle) may either choose the northern route of Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and then Bulgaria for coming to Turkey, or prefer the southern route through Belgium, Austria, and Italy with a car-ferry connection to Turkish coasts. Upon arrival to Turkey, there On the other hand, direct and regular bus-services are available over this road network. Several Turkish coach companies operate modern and comfortable buses between Turkey and Austria, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Switzerland and Greece (also Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait & Syria).For further information about these services, including departures, fares and reductions, please contact the offices of these companies both in Turkey and abroad.