Turkey is a captivating mosaic of East and West, and invites travelers to immerse themselves in its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. From the bustling bazars of Istanbul to the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia and the sun-drenched beaches along the Aegean coast, the best way to experience the diverse beauty of Turkey is often by car.
Like any other foreign land though, navigating the country comes with its own set of challenges and surprises. In this guide, I will cover the essentials of driving in the awe-inspiring Gateway to the East.
My experience comes from driving from Istanbul to the Cappadocia region, along the Meditteranean southern coast, and looping back through the Anatolian plateau through Ankara. For more information, be sure to check out this article my Turkey Road Trip.
Traffic rules basics
First and foremost, the basics: in Turkey, driving is on the right side of the road with the steering wheel on the left. So overtaking is done on the left.
All common driving requirements of developed countries are followed (i.e., mandatory seatbelts, it is illegal to drive under the influence, with alcohol limit set at 0.05%, and the driving legal age is 18).
Speed limits vary considerably but the most common are 50 km/h in urban areas, and 120 km/h on highways, and 90 km/h in extra urban areas.
As per common traffic rules with RHT, priority must be given to vehicles coming from the right, except on roundabouts which are anticlockwise, with way given to those already in the roundabout (so to the left). Outside of main urban areas, traffic moving along a main road has priority at an intersection.
Save the driving cheat sheet for reference
Driving Requirements
The legal driving age is 18. For motorcycles not exceeding 50 cc, the driving age must be 16 or over.
For car rentals, the minimum age is 21, and drivers should have their license for at least one year.
For most nationalities, an international driver’s license is not required (as is often the case, it mostly depends on whether the alphabet which is used in your home country license is latin or not).
As in many other places, car rental companies may require a credit card deposit. Basic insurance coverage is typically included in rental agreements, and usually includes collision damage waiver (CDW) and theft protection.
Side note: Many rental car agencies have no smoking policies inside their vehicles. This might seem normal, but given the extremely widespread, almost “professional” smoking population, it is surprising (in neighboring Greece for example many rental agencies allow smoking)
Road Conditions
Roads in Turkey are similar to those in neighbouring Greece, meaning that highways are modern and in excellent shape, while rural roads can vary, with mountainous or coastal areas which can be less well-maintained.
Turkey offers many scenic drives, especially along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. These roads are beautiful but can also be narrow, and winding.
Driving
Large cities, such as Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir have heavily congested traffic. Driving is somewhat respectful, but also reactive and impatient. Expect honking, cars that might get into the road at the last second, and generally people that want to get to their destination quickly. It is what could be called “competitive”, without it going into full-blown madness as in some large megacities of other countries with less developed, and internationalized driving “culture”.
Road Signs
Road signs follow international conventions, and are easy to understand. The common words on signs are written in Turkish, such as the Stop octagon with the word “Dur”, or the inverted triangle for giving way with the word “Yolver”.
In general, in Turkey English is widely spoken in large cities and tourist-centric destinations.
Road tolls
Tukey has toll roads on its highways and major bridges such as the Bosphorus Bridge. Toll collection is usually electronic, mainly through the use of HGS (Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi). HGS tags can be purchased at post offices, some bank branches, and highway service stations. It is easier to simply arrange the inclusion of HGS tag with the rental car agency.
Police
Speed cameras are common in Turkey, especially on highways and places with high density traffic. Often the cameras are marked with signs indicating their presence, but clearly there are also mobile speed cameras and traffic police checkpoints scattered around.
Police checkpoints are not that common though, compared to other countries that I visited (such as Jordan, and Morocco).
Fuel
Most Turkish petrol stations offer full-service fueling, where attendants fill your tank and handle payment (it’s customary to remain in your vehicle while fueling), but there are also self-service pumps.
Petrol stations are evenly spread out and easy to come by and are almost always accompanied by small convenience stores, toilets etc. as would be expected.
Flora and Fauna
Being the bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey has a rich and diverse biosphere, with both Mediterranean, and Anatolian characteristics.
On the coastal regions you will find the classic Mediterranean landscapes, with maritime pines, olive trees, citrus groves, and aromatic herbs and arid shrubbery. The mountainous areas are also rich in forests of pines and cedars. The central and eastern parts of the country instead are characterized by vast steppes, with grasses and drought-resistant plants.
Trivia pill
Tulips might be associated with the Netherlands, but are originally native to Turkey, and have been popular as back as 1000 AD, during the Ottoman Empire.
When it comes to fauns, expect small mammals such as hares, rodents, and foxes, as well as larger mammals in forests such as wild boars, bears, and wolves.
Cats hold a special place in Turkish culture, and are extremely widespread throughout the country and especially in cities, where they are often cherished and looked after. This however also increases the chance of them being involved in traffic accidents and run over, and it will be the most frequent road kill that you may potential encounter.
