Recently, independent travel to Turkey by car has become increasingly popular. This is not surprising: the quality of Turkish roads is one of the best in the world, and travelling by car saves a lot of time and money.
How to get to Turkey by car
To Istanbul
The best route to the Turkish border usually goes like this:
Via Bulgaria: Enter Bulgaria from neighbouring countries such as Romania, Serbia, or Greece. Cross the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo-Kapıkule or Malko Tarnovo-Dereköy border crossings.
Via Greece: Enter Greece from neighbouring countries such as Albania, North Macedonia, or Bulgaria. Drive through Greece, passing cities like Thessaloniki and Alexandroupoli. Cross the Turkish border at Ipsala-Kipi or Kipoi border crossings.
Via Serbia: Enter Serbia from neighbouring countries such as Hungary, Croatia, or Romania. Drive through Serbia, passing cities like Belgrade and Niš. Cross the Bulgarian border at Gradina-Kalotina or Vrška Čuka-Dimitrovgrad border crossings. Continue your journey through Bulgaria, reaching the Turkish border at Kapitan Andreevo-Kapıkule or Malko Tarnovo-Dereköy crossings.
Alternative route (bypassing Ukraine) runs through Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania or Serbia, as well as Bulgaria.
Before crossing any of the borders, it is worth stocking up on bottles of water, as well as snacks - in the season (especially high), there are no avoiding queues.
The distance from Kyiv to Istanbul is just over 1200 km, from Moscow to Istanbul - 2000 km.
From Istanbul to other resort cities
At the same time, ancient and modern Istanbul is the first of the major cities on the way of a car from Eastern Europe. Its traffic is comparable to Moscow, parking spaces are a rarity.
In order to get to other resorts, for example, to Bodrum, you will have to drive over the bridge over the Bosphorus (for an amount of 25 USD). This road will take about 700 km.
How long does it take to get to Turkey by car
In order to reduce the risk of traffic jams, it is worth leaving Ukraine or Russia early in the morning. The latest suitable start time for the trip is 7:00.
The journey from Ukraine will take approximately 1 day. In order to get from Russia to Turkey, you will have to spend from 1 to 3 days.
A liter of gasoline in Turkey costs from 1 USD per 1 liter. Its cost is lower at gas stations within the city and, accordingly, higher on highways (up to 15%).
Features of traffic rules
In Turkey, it is allowed to drive in cities at a speed of 50 km/h. Between settlements, a speed of up to 90 km / h is considered acceptable. On the highway and motorway, the speed limit is 110 and 120 km/h, respectively.
For drunk driving (more than 0.5 ppm of alcohol in the blood), the driver faces a fine of 110 USD.
To avoid a fine, you must carefully ensure that all passengers are fastened, and children under 12 years of age sit exclusively in the rear seats.
Talking on the phone while driving is strictly prohibited. The standard fine for such offenses is from 25 USD. If you pay it right on the spot, there is a "discount" of 25%.
Overnight stays while traveling by car in Turkey
rest areas for drivers (Dinlenme Alani);
housing (from 20 USD per guesthouse room);
special camping sites (including campsites and in the form of wooden houses).
Useful information for a road trip
What is a vignette and why is it needed
In each country whose border you cross, you need to purchase a vignette - a special sticker. Its placement on the windshield allows the vehicle to move on toll roads. On the way to Turkey, you will have to buy the following vignettes:
The price of a vignette depends on the dimensions of the vehicle, its fuel consumption, and the distance to be covered.
Rent a car in Turkey
You can rent a car for 25 to 50 USD per day. This can be done both online and directly at the airport, companies in the middle of large cities, as well as at the hotel.
Among Turkish roads there are many mountain trails. Despite their width, driving a car on alternating descents and ascents is quite difficult. The main secret of safe driving is compliance with the speed limit.
