Catching the Bus in Turkey – Tips and Guide

Getting around in Turkey is easy, despite the rather large size of the country. There are many options to move between major cities and locations, the most common of which is by plane or bus. Obviously, plane is fastest, but sometimes not the most economical or convenient. This brings catching the bus in Turkey right into the equation.

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We have spent a lot of time in Turkey, and caught many buses between major centers and towns. Along the way we have found, through trial and error, how to find the best buses, what actually ARE the best buses, how to buy tickets etc.

So today, I have decided to put a few of those tips and tricks into an article about catching the bus in Turkey. If you read this and have anything to add, please do so in the comments below. This is a community after all, and YOU might learn something that I can share here as well.

About Turkey Buses

The first thing that you will notice when you start looking into catching the bus in Turkey, is that there are many, many companies. This in itself should make it obvious that the bus takes a large role in how people get around. The fact that there are so many means that there is a lot of room to be flexible, and you can really shop around for the best option.

Catching the bus in Turkey, I found, is very safe. On nearly every level. There are usually two drivers on most legs, meaning that they can swap around to avoid fatigue. It also means they can chat to each other and keep each other alert. So driver safety is pretty good.

There is also an extra member of staff on board who is basically your “flight attendant”. He will check tickets, count passenger heads at stops, make announcements and serve snacks and drinks. Having this person constantly wandering up and down the bus checking on things gives that little extra piece of reassurance, especially for solo and female travelers.

Also, another thing they do in Turkey, is allow for female passengers to sit alone. When you book online, you can actually see and specify whether its a male or female in a seat. That is great for solo females to feel safe. Also the layout on most buses in Turkey is a two and one arrangement. Two seats on the right hand side of the bus, and single seats down the left.

The buses themselves are in really good condition, I found, for buses in a country such as Turkey. They are large, usually Mercedes Benz, buses that are rather new. I did see a couple of lower quality buses, but if you stick to the larger companies, you will find them in good upkeep and condition.

Fares and tickets

When it comes to price though, we have found that a particular fare will not vary very much between operators. Whether this is by design or not I could not tell you, but it certainly seems that way.

For example. Traveling from Cappadocia to Antalya, we visited every ticket office of every company operating from Goreme. The fluctuation in price between them all was only a few dollars. This has happened on most routes that we have traveled around Turkey.

When searching for the best fares, I find that the best thing to do is to search online first. There are some really great sites such as Busbud, or Checkmybus which are pretty good for finding ticket prices. Also just for getting a good idea of what options you will be looking at. On most occasions though, I found Obilet to be the easiest place to search, so I suggest giving them a go.

Now, when it comes to tickets, there is one thing that you are going to have to remember. Bus drivers nearly always want paper tickets. If you book your ticket online, then make sure you have a means to print the ticket out, just in case your bus driver is one of them.

On a couple of occasions I was not asked for my ticket. This is very rare though, and I can guarantee that the one occasion you don’t have it, they will ask. It’s Murphy’s law.

So, if you are catching the bus in Turkey, and looking to buy a ticket, here is what I suggest to avoid issues.

• Search online first and find the bus you want to take. Note the time and company. Then, find their actual OFFICE. Go there and buy the ticket over the counter. In most places I have visited in Turkey, that has been really handy to where I was staying. There seems to be a lot of bus offices in major towns and cities. Plus, they are usually all near to each other.
• Keep an eye on the ticket online, and note whether there are plenty of seats available. If it is low season, then just wait until the day, and you can buy from the office at the Bus Terminal. I don’t particuarly like this option as you MAY miss out.
• Buy your ticket online and have it printed out for you. One way to do this, is to get to the bus terminal early and approach the ticket counter and ask them to do it for you. Usually it will be open if they have buses leaving.
• By no means do you HAVE to buy from an office. You can buy your ticket online, and it will probably be fine. In MY experience, especially with language issues, it was just a lot easier with a paper copy.

ONE THING TO NOTE when catching the bus in Turkey and buying your ticket – To use the WIFI on some buses, you will need a booking reference number to login. I have only found this number on tickets that I have bought from an office and has been printed out by their system.

Extra tip – When browsing your ticket online, some websites will tell you where the sun will be on the particular journey. So if the sun will shine into the left side of the bus, it will say that. This makes it really handy when booking your seat!

Also keep in mind that many, many times no one in the office you attend speaks English. Know the bus you want and the time. Even the seat numbers you want to book. It makes things a lot easier when you buy your ticket.

Bus Terminals

In nearly every major center, be it a city or town, there are bus terminals, usually called an “Otogar”. When you are catching the bus in Turkey, you will need to get to the Otogar to catch your bus, and from the Otogar to your accommodation.

Usually, these bus terminals are located on the outskirts of town. No one wants big buses to be weaving through commuter traffic, or pulling up on the side of the road in the middle of the city, so this system makes sense.

The only place I really came across that there was no Otogar was in Goreme. If you are catching the bus from Cappadocia, you will find it pulls up right in the middle of the town and drops you (or picks you up) right outside the ticket office. In a small town such as Goreme, there is no need for them to do much else.

The thing we found difficult at first was getting to and from the Otogar. At first we were pulling our hair out and counting the cost of a taxi late at night. Then, we discovered a couple of things that really helped.

• First – if you book your ticket at the office, you can ask about their SHUTTLE service. In most big towns, the GOOD companies will offer a shuttle from the CBD to the Otogar. This was the case for us in Istanbul and also Izmir. Just note, that if you are on the Asian side in Istanbul and book a ticket from the European Otogar, there may be no shuttle. Same for vice versa.
• Second – Public transport usually runs to or right past the local Otogar. In Istanbul its a breeze on the European side, with the Esenler Otogar a major transport hub, right on the airport line! In Antalya, there are tram and local bus services right nearby. In smaller towns like Fethiye, there is a Dolmus that runs to the Otogar on a regular basis from a stop right out front.

If you find that there are no shuttles offered in the destination you are heading to, then find the location of the Otogar on Google maps. It’s as easy as typing “Otogar” or “Bus terminal” into the search screen. Better still, ask the staff to point it out to you on the maps.

Then, find your accommodation location. Nearby to the Otogar you will see local bus stops or metro stations. Click on them and find the bus routes listed. Then Click on them individually and they will instantly show you which ones run close by to your accommodation. Easy!

Companies

There are quite a few GOOD bus companies in Turkey. When catching the bus in Turkey, it is best to find the good ones and stick to them. Not that the others are actually BAD, but if you want maximum comfort and to get the best bang for your buck, it’s always nice to have the better facilities.

So, which are the best bus companies in Turkey? From my experience, I personally always stick with these:

• Pamukkale – My first pick of bus companies in Turkey. I have used them a lot and they are always top notch. On their Istanbul to Izmir leg, they even run “Jumbo” buses with larger seats and legroom.
• Kamil Koc – Great reputation and longest running company in Turkey. I have used them a couple of times and come in a close second.
• Suha – Good quality buses with good legroom and service. Also have a very good reputation around Turkey with locals and tourists.
• Nevsehir – I have personally never caught Nevsehir, but I have advice from many that have that they are a great company that are right up in the top 5!
• Metro – When catching the bus in Turkey you will see Metro everywhere! I never used them “in country” but caught a Metro bus from Istanbul into Bulgaria. No one spoke English, but the staff were extremely helpful on the journey and especially on the border crossing. The bus was great quality, and very comfortable.

Basically when catching the bus in Turkey, I will stick with Pamukkale. They hit all the right notes the very first time I used them, and have never let me down since. If, on the rare occasion, I cannot find a Pamukkale bus, I go with one of the other companies, and never have an issue.

Facilities on board

First things first. There are NO toilets on board.

Travelers that are catching the bus in Turkey, but come from places like Australia, always expect a toilet. You will NOT find one here!

But that is ok. Because on long haul trips the buses will usually stop every couple of hours. Sometimes this is just at a rest stop with a restaurant, toilet etc. Many times it is at an Otogar in another town to pick up or set down passengers. On these occasions you will generally have time to jump off and find a toilet.

So, what else can you expect on a normal, good quality bus in Turkey?

• Good seats – mostly the seats are in good condition. They recline and are in good working order.
• WIFI – it’s always advertised, and sometimes even works. A tip here – if you need to log in, use your booking reference on your ticket as the code. There may be a couple of numbers. Try them all. The WIFI Is usually slow and patchy, if it works at all.
• Air Conditioning and heating – All the good buses have both, and they generally work well.
• Snacks and drinks – They actually come around a couple times during the trip with a little cart. On it will be biscuits, tea, coffee and soft drink.
• TV – On most good buses there is a TV on the backs of the seats.
• Power sockets – Yes. You can charge your smartphones!

The facilities on most buses around Turkey is pretty good. Now, as a disclaimer, this is ONLY my experience, and that of others I have spoken to. But as with anything, in any industry including the airline industry, there will always be exceptions. All I can do is try to point you in the right direction!

Summary

If you are traveling around Turkey, and especially if you are traveling on a budget, then I really recommend catching the bus in Turkey. They are good quality for the price, and will get you where you want to go. In most cases they are more convenient to flying, and don’t have the restrictions you get by going on a plane.

In the end, the bus can be a very good option!

Do you have anything to add? If you have any more tips or tricks for travelers considering catching the bus in Turkey, then feel free to drop them in the comments below.