Turkey (TR)

Yellow taxis (sarı taksi) are abundant in Istanbul. All should use a taximeter (taksimetre) — if driver refuses, get out. Base fare: ~TRY 65.40 flag fall + TRY 43.56/km (2026); minimum fare TRY 210. Gece tarife (night rate) from 24:00 to 06:00 is approximately 50% higher. IMPORTANT: tourist taxi scams are common — from airports, use official taxi queues. Taxi apps: BiTaksi (most used Turkish taxi app), iTaksi. Uber operates in major Turkish cities but with local taxi regulations. Minibuses (dolmuş) are shared minivans running on fixed routes — cheap and characterful (flag down on route, pay driver).

Uber operates in Istanbul, Ankara, and İzmir. BiTaksi is the dominant local taxi app. inDriver (price-negotiable rideshare) has a presence. Bolt also operates. Ride-hailing is competitive — always compare. Note: Uber in Turkey works with professional taxi and "private car" services — not peer-to-peer like in some countries. Cab services on apps generally safer than street hails.

Cycling infrastructure is limited and chaotic outside dedicated areas. Istanbul's hills, traffic, and driver aggression make it challenging and not recommended as primary transport. Dedicated cycling lanes exist in some districts (Kadıköy, Princes Islands, some coastal roads). ISMEK İBB bike-sharing (İBB Bisiklet) operated in Istanbul. İzmir is considerably more bike-friendly. Bodrum and coastal towns are manageable for cycling. Helmet strongly recommended — legally required for cyclists on roads.

TCDD (Turkish State Railways) operates an increasingly modern network. High-speed trains (Yüksek Hızlı Tren / YHT): Istanbul (Pendik)–Ankara in 4 hours; Ankara–Konya in ~1.5 hours; Ankara–İzmir; Ankara–Eskişehir. Booking: tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (often only in Turkish) or Biletix. Major stations: Pendik (Istanbul, Asian side — high-speed hub), Ankara Gar (main), İzmir Alsancak. Night train (Vagon-li) between Istanbul and eastern cities. Marmaray connects Istanbul across the Bosphorus underground. Note: rail infrastructure has improved greatly but still lags behind Western Europe — buses (otobüs) often faster for some routes.

Driving in Turkey is challenging — especially Istanbul, where traffic is among the worst in the world (Istanbul consistently ranks in global congestion indices). International driving licence valid for first 6 months after residence is established; then exchange for Turkish licence at Nüfus Müdürlüğü. Roads outside cities can be good (TEM motorway, O1 ring road) but driving style is aggressive. Toll roads (otoyol) require HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi) or OGS sticker, available at Migros, PTT, and petrol stations — without HGS, tolls are billed to your vehicle and fine added. Speed cameras widespread. Police (Trafik Polisi) regularly conduct speed and document checks. Seatbelts mandatory. Mobile phone use while driving illegal. BAC limit: 0.50 mg/mL (lower for professional drivers: 0.20). Petrol (benzin) and diesel (motorin) available everywhere; LPG (OtoGaz) very widespread in Turkey.

Istanbul Airport (İstanbul Havalimanı / IST) — opened 2019, one of the world's largest airports. Located European side, north of city. Metro (M11 Istanbul Airport line) connects to city centre in ~40 minutes. Havataş airport shuttle buses. Taxi to city centre: TRY 500–900 (check current rates). Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) — Istanbul Asian side; serves many low-cost carriers. İzmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB). Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB). Many low-cost domestic routes via Pegasus and AnadoluJet (Turkish Airlines budget arm).