Welcome to TürkiyeTaiwan! Want to know how to do intercity bus, high-speed train, train, metro, and bus travel in Turkey? After living in Turkey for a year, we have compiled many practical transportation methods and tips. Today, we will provide you with a detailed introduction on how to use public transportation to get around Ankara and travel all over Turkey!
Metro
🍀 Ankara metro is very simple to take, just look for a sign with an “M” symbol similar to the Mario logo,then you’ll find the nearest metro station.
🍀To take public transportation in Ankara, Ankara Ego kart is a must. You can get it from information office in evert metro stations.
🍀15 lira for adult, 7 lira for student, 7 lira for metro-bus transfer service. Credit card is accepted, costs 18 lira.
Important transfer stations
·Kızılay
Kızılay is a comprehensive station that serves as a hub for transfers, shopping, ego card services etc.
From Kızılay, you can transfer to the Ankaray line and reach the “Anıtkabir” station, where is the nearest station to Anıtkabir, mausoleum of Atatürk.
You can also transfer to the “Keçiören” line to get to “Dışkapı” station” , which is the closest station to where exchange students of Ankara University stay.
Additionally, from the Kızılay Güvenpark exit, you can take many buses to the immigration office at the “Kuğulu Park” stop, or to Tömer, Ankara University, and other places not accessible by metro.
🍀All information about immigration office and Resident Permit
Inside Kızılay station, there is a bustling underground shopping street that has everything from books, kitchenware, clothes, shoes, bags, to accessories. They are generally very cheap, but the quality is not very good to be honest.
There are also small doors inside Kızılay station that lead directly to Kızılay AVM (Kızılay Shopping Center).
*Little book store in Kızılay station
Kızılay station has many exit which lead to differents streets and building, among of these exit, ‘Karanfil sokak’ is my favorite,it’s a street where you can find anything you want and need!
Right outside this exit is “Helvacı Ali,” my favorite dessert shop! “Helva” is a warm, soft, and fluffy grain desser, which made by butter stewed coarse wheat, topped with cold Turkish ice cream, the combination of hot and cold creates an amazing texture, complemented by the aroma of wheat, butter and milk. It’s a dessert you’ll never get tired of! Highly recommend the plain “sade” flavor with tahini (sesame paste). The salty and sweet taste is definitely something you’ll fall in love with!
•Sıhhiye station
Sıhhiye Station is a must-pass station for students of the Faculty of Language, History, and Geography at Ankara University.
🍀 Click here to learn more about the Faculty of Language, History, and Geography at Ankara University
From the TCDD exit of Sıhhiye Station, a five-minute walk will take you to the Yenişehir Station of the Başkentray. You can use the Başkentray to reach places like Sincan or Mamak.
Ankara Gar- Doğu Ekspresi, YHT
If you want to take a train to visit other cities, you can go to Ankara Gar Station
for high-speed train (Yüksek Hızlı Tren) you can go to YHT Gar Station to catch your ride!
🍀How to buy train, high speed train tickets
how to buy ticket on tcdd app：
With train and high speed train, you can visit cities like İstanbul, Eskişehir, İzmir, with Doğu ekspresi you can reach eastern cities such as Sivas or Van.
🍀Dictionary
- 2+2 Pullman、2+1 Pullman：2+2, 2+1 seat
- 11s30dk : 11 hours 30 minutes drive
- Yataklı :sleeper
- üst：upper bunk
- alt：lower bunk
- Örtülü kuşetli：sleeper for 4
- YHT：high speed train
- Tam：adult price
- çocuk：kid price
- Dolu: seats are full
🍀 High-Speed Rail Business Class Experience
This time, since I couldn’t get a regular seat, I bought a business class ticket, which cost 800 lira one way. The seats, as shown in the picture (taken from the train company’s website), are arranged in a cabin for four people with face-to-face seating. The seats are very comfortable and the backrests can be adjusted, but facing each other can be a bit awkward. If you encounter someone who loves to chat, there’s no escaping the conversation even if you don’t want to 🤣.
Business class offer snacks and drinks throughout the journey as well.
🍀 Tips for Long Train Rides
For long train rides lasting over 10 hours, if you can’t get a sleeper berth, I suggest preparing the following items:
- Little Blanket
The seats are usually not very clean. A small blanket can reduce skin contact with the seat and can also be used as a cover when it gets cold. - Disinfectant
Since the seats are not clean and pets are allowed on the train, those who are more sensitive might want to bring disinfectant products to clean the seats before sitting. - Charger
Long-distance trains have charging ports, so you can charge your phone while you sleep. - Earplugs
These can be useful if you encounter passengers who snore loudly.
Trains like the Doğu Ekspresi may have old carriages, but they are generally comfortable with spacious seats that allow you to stretch your legs. Although the hygiene conditions are not great, 200 lira fare is very reasonable!
Ankaray & Intercity Buses
Anadolu Anıtkabir Station
This station is essential for visiting Anıtkabir, the mausoleum of Atatürk, and it is also the closest metro station to the Tandoğan campus of Ankara University.
AŞTİ Station – Otobüs Long-Distance Buses
AŞTİ is the main bus terminal of Ankara. Taking bus is a comfortable and affordable option for visiting nearby cities like Safranbolu and Konya. The buses are frequent, and during the journey, snacks and tea are provided, making it my favorite choice of transportation.
⭐️ Turkish long-distance buses usually stop midway to check identification documents, so be sure to carry your ID when traveling by bus or train.
⭐️ Turkish buses often depart an hour late, but it is still recommended to arrive on time. The bus station is very large, and sometimes the ticket may not indicate the platform (Peron), so you might need some time to find it
🍀How to buy bus ticket?
O bilet provides you with options from different bus companies and schedules for the same day, and it also helps you keep track of your ticket receipts.
🍀How to buy ticket on o bilet?
🍀 Bus Companies
- Kamilkoç: This is the bus company I prefer when travelling to cities like İzmir. Their service is good, and you usually won’t encounter problems like broken air conditioning, random stops etc.
- Metro: This is the largest bus company in Turkey, but I had an unpleasent experience, so I don’t highly recommend it.
- Pamukkale: This is the highest-rated bus company in Turkey, primarily operating in the Aegean region. I haven’t taken yet, but if any of you have, feel free to share your experience!
Teleferik Cable Car
The yellow line on the map represents the cable car route. The fare is the same as metro, with a full ticket costing 15 lira and a transfer costing 7 lira.
While taking cable car you can enjoy magnificent view of the entire city of Ankara. It is not only a commuting option for locals but also a must-try for tourists!
Buses-Ankara
After introducing the metro map and its corresponding transportation stations, let’s take a look at buses of Ankara! which are the most frequently used yet initially second most confusing mode of transportation in Ankara!
Bus stops in Ankara do not show the stops and schedules, and the bus departure times often do not match those on Google Maps. It took me quite a while to figure out the bus system, so I hope this article can help everyone avoid some of the confusion I experienced!🤣
🍀First download Ankara card app – ego cepte app
🍀You can see these functions
🍀Finding Bus station
Type in the bus station number you are at 》click otobüs nerede, the system will show when will the bus come.
🍀 Finding Bus Schedules
Click on Hat ve seferler ara 》Enter the bus number you are looking for.
Click on Duraklar to see the stops the bus passes through
Click on Saatler to see the departure times for each schedule.
Click on Güzergah to view real-time information and see which stop the bus is currently at.
🍀Nearby Bus Stops -Yakın dıraklar
Click on “Yakın Duraklar” (Nearby Stops) and the app will find the nearest bus stops based on your location. Click on your stop, then click on “duraktan geçen hatlar” (buses passing through this stop) to see where you can go from there.
🍀My Card – AnkaraKart
Click on “AnkaraKart,” enter your card number, and give your card a name. You will then be able to see your balance and perform functions such as online top-ups.
Buses- Turkey domestic travel
For domestic travel, I find the Moovit app to be the best and most comprehensive!
It includes bus routes for 30 cities in Turkey. While the timings might not be very accurate, the schedules are clearly listed!
For cities not supported by Moovit, I use the local bus apps.
For example, when traveling in Mardin, I use the Mardin Kart app.
When traveling in Antalya, I use the Antalya Kart app.
These city-specific apps are easy to use and great companions for backpacking trips. If you can’t find any information, asking locals directly is also a great option!
Dolmuş
Dolmuş is a type of minibus found in every city in Turkey. It can reach places that metros and buses cannot, such as neighborhoods or narrow alleys.
Often seen in cities with inadequate bus systems, like Trabzon or Konya.
Photo: Üreten Ankara
🍀 How to Take a Dolmuş
- Destination Signs: Usually, there will be a sign on the dolmuş indicating where it is headed. However, most people stop the dolmuş and ask the driver, “___ (place) gidiyor mu?” . The driver will ask where you want to go, and if the dolmuş passes through that area, you can get on. The driver will let you know when you reach your destination.
- Fare: The fare is not fixed and usually ranges between 10-30 lira. Ask the driver how much it costs when you get on.
- Stops: Dolmuş stops are not fixed. You can try stopping them when you see it on the road, and they usually stop at bus stops as well.
When I first came to Ankara, I often got lost taking the dolmuş. But after a while, I became familiar with the routes I frequently traveled.
Turkish people are generally patient with foreigners, so if there’s no other transportation option, don’t hesitate to try the dolmuş and experience daily life in Turkey 🤣.
⭐️ Summer Caution: It is not recommended to take the dolmuş in the summer, as they usually don’t have air conditioning. The high temperatures, combined with the crowded space and the mix of sweat and body odor, can be quite unbearable!
Taxi
Taking taxi in Ankara usually doesn’t involve being overcharged. When I first arrived and was unfamiliar with the area, I often took short rides home at night, and it was very cheap back then. Now, due to inflation, the starting fare is 25 lira, and the minimum fare is 85 lira. This means even if your fare is below 85 lira, you will still be charged 85 lira.
🍀 How to take Taxi
Taxi Stand: Taksi durağı
There are taxi stands like this everywhere. Just walk up and tell the driver where you want to go, and a taxi will come to pick you up.
Taxi call buttons
You can find these taxi call buttons everywhere; just press one, and a taxi will come to your location to pick you up.
BiTaksi app can be used when there’s no taxi stands or buttons.
Airplanes
I don’t take airplanes very often, but if you don’t want to take long train or bus rides, are short on time, or have a more budget, taking airplane is an excellent option.
🍀 How to Get to Ankara Esenboğa Airport
- Havaş Airport Shuttle Bus
Havaş website
Havaş buses depart from AŞTİ almost every hour.
Also pass by Ankamall, so if the bus departs from AŞTİ at 7:00, you can wait at the bus stop across from Ankamall (under the pedestrian bridge) at 7:20 instead of going all the way to AŞTİ. Additionally, you can take Havaş from the airport to return home, which is very convenient.
Currently, a single ride costs 100 lira, and takes about 40-50 minutes, cash and credit card are accepted.
·Kızılay
From Kızılay, you can take bus route 442 to reach the airport by exiting at the Güvenpark bus stop.
Domestic Flights:
- Pegasus Airlines:Their ticket prices are usually cheaper, and the app is easy to use!
- A Jet (Anadolu Jet): Formerly known as Anadolu Jet.
- Skyscanner: This is a website where you can compare prices of different airline flights. I love using it because you can often find some cheap tickets!
Skyscanner website
International Flights:
- Türk Hava Yolları (Turkish Airlines): Recently, the prices for Turkish Airlines have skyrocketed, with a direct flight costing over 30,000 lira, which is quite daunting. However, Turkish Airlines has a benefit: you can accumulate mileage from international flights and use it to redeem domestic flights within Turkey, such as “Ankara-İzmir.”
🍀 How to Check and Redeem Mileage Tickets:
- Enter Turkish Airlines app (click here).
- Log in with your personal information and become a member.
- You can start accumulating mileage and access the app’s features!
These are the transportation experiences I accumulated over a year in Turkey. I hope this article can help you during your travels in Turkey! Feel free to leave comments, share your experiences, or ask questions!
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