Buses are the way most Turkish people travel, so it’s hardly surprising that the bus network is so good. Comfortable, air-con buses ply routes between all the main cities, towns and resorts, and the fares are cheap too. Most people prefer travelling overnight on long journeys, although on the main routes they’ll be buses throughout the day as well.
On long journeys buses stop regularly at service areas where you can eat and use the toilets. There’s also normally a steward on board who serves tea and water. On the busiest intercity routes there’s no need to book, although it’s advisable to make reservations in advance during busy holiday periods or on the quieter routes.
Below are some typical journey times and prices:
Istanbul-Ankara, 6 hours, every 20 minutes
Istanbul-Izmir, 8 hours, every hour
Istanbul-Van, 23 hours, several daily buses
There are hundreds of different bus companies with fierce competition on some routes. The best
companies in terms of comfort and safety are below:
Varan – the country’s premier bus company operates luxury services between the main cities
Ulusoy – another luxury bus operator which also has routes to the
Black Sea region
Kamil Koc – one of the more reliable non-luxury companies