BUS TRAVEL INFORMATION

Bus travel is the easiest, cheapest, most popular way to travel to Turkey. (This luxury Starliner coaches are manufactured in Turkey.)

The buses, operated by hundreds of companies large and small, are modern and comfortable, the service is frequent, and fares are low to moderate. There are even services to Greece, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries and Europe.

An example: Buses on the 450-km (280-mile) six-hour journey between Istanbul and Ankara about every 15 minutes, leaving 24 hours a day in order for TL40 TL80 one-way.

Most rates are quite reasonable. Often, buses are so often you do not need to book in advance, except holidays.

Here is how to buy bus tickets in Turkey.

Here are routes, prices and travel times from Istanbul to other cities. Here are themajor bus companies, some of which have websites with schedules and fares. (Sorry, I have no more information than this.)

Service areas are on the road about every two hours for the toilet made, snacks or meals, and smoking (smoking in most public buses is allowed). Turkish buses are not usually equipped with on board toilets, so that the facilities in the terminal before you board.

Buses run everywhere, including Cross-Country (Istanbul to Artvin: 1352 km, 840 miles, 24 hours), although the coach should be bored by more than 8 or 10 hours. It is better to take a long trip into shorter trips break and, at one level, or take a train with couchette or sleeper. For discussions on ways to make, or questions, please visit the TTP forums.

For tips on how to increase your safety while traveling with the bus, see ASIRT, the Association for Safe International Road Travel.