BUS TRAVEL INFORMATION

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

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

An example: Buses depart on the 450-km (280-mile) 6-hour journey between Istanbul and Ankara about every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, for TL40 to TL80 one-way.

Most fares are quite reasonable. Often, buses are so frequent you needn't reserve in advance except around holidays.

Here's how to buy bus tickets in Turkey.

Here are routes, fares and travel times from Istanbul to other cities. Here are the major bus companies, some of which have websites with schedules and fares. (Sorry, I don't have any more information than this.)

Rest stops are made enroute about every 2 hours for toilet, snacks or meals, and smoking (no smoking is allowed on most public buses). Turkish buses are not usually equipped with onboard toilets, so use the facilities in the terminal before your board.

Buses run everywhere, even cross-country (Istanbul to Artvin: 1352 km, 840 miles, 24 hours), although bus trips of more than 8 or 10 hours are tedious. It's better to break a long trip into shorter trips; to take a plane; or to take a train with couchettes or sleeping cars. For discussions of possibilities, or to ask questions, visit the TTP Forums.

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

Source : http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/