Turkey Property | Property in Turkey | Travelling to Turkey
Airlines
Most people travel to Turkey by plane. Flight times are approximately 4 hours from UK airports. Most major airlines fly to Turkey and it is well served with many international airports. Transport to and from your arrival airport is plentiful, allowing you to reach your final destination with ease. Ideal for those who own property in Turkey as flight times are short and therefore ideal for those travelling to Turkey.
Turkish Airlines and British Airways have several daily flights, year-round to Istanbul’s Atatlirk Airport. From Istanbul there are domestic flights operated by Turkish Airlines and other private airlines to regional airports, such as Izmir, Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya for the coastal resorts, or Kayseri and Nev for Cappadocia. British Airways have also started a useful year- round service from Gatwick to lzmir.
Cyprus Turkish Airlines have direct flights to Antalya, Dalaman and lzmir from Gatwick, Heathrow, Glasgow, Stansted and Belfast. Seats on scheduled flights can be booked directly from the airlines or through a specialist travel agent.
Low-cost airline Easyjet now fly between Luton and Istanbul’s Sabilia (Jbkcen Airport, on the Asian side of the city, but onward domestic flight options are much more limited than from Atatfirk Airport.
During the summer season (approximately May-Oct) MyTravel, First Choice, Thomas Cook, and Thomson have direct charter flights to Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya from regional airports in the UK.
Holidays 4U (www.h4u.co.uk) (Onur Air UK Agent - Onur air is a Turkish low cost airline) run a weekly winter service from (Gatwick and Manchester to Dalaman and Bodrum with coach transfers to the main resorts. Other companies may join suit as demand increases for out-of-season flights, so you can visit your Turkey property all year round.
Antalya airport servicing the Mediterranean region is open all year round. Direct flights are available all year round via Thomas Cook from the major UK airports.
Detailed below for your information is a list of airports and airlines currently flying to Turkey from the UK.
Find out more about Turkey’s international airports.
Find out more about our All Inclusice £99 inspection trip.
Buses:
Bus travel is the easiest, cheapest, most popular way to travel in Turkey. Every town is linked by a service. They are normally run by private bus companies and coaches depart from city bus stations or the town centre in smaller regions.
The buses, operated by hundreds of companies large and small, are modern and comfortable, service is frequent, and fares are low to moderate.
Most fares are quite reasonable. Often, buses are so frequent you needn't reserve in advance except around holidays.
Bus travel is a popular means of transport within the country and every town will be linked by a service.
The 'Dolmus', a special service found only in Turkey, is a shared taxi which follows specific routes and is recognizable by its yellow band. Each passenger pays according to distance travelled and can get off at specific stops. Fares are relatively cheap and are fixed by the municipality. The 'dolmus' serve large cities and will go to suburbs, airports and often to neighbouring towns. This is a very practical means of transport and cheaper than a privately hired taxi.
Taxis:
There are many Yellow taxis and they are numerous in all Turkish cities. Most taxis are air-conditioned. All taxis are required to have digital meters (taksimetre), and to run them. In some tourist area taxis will have printed set fares usually posted or printed somewhere, this way it is clear and does end up being cheaper.
Taxis may also travel between cities or from cities or airports to resort towns. For these longer trips of, say, 10 or 20 km (6 to 12 miles) or more, set rates may have been established. If not, you may want to haggle for an agreeable rate before you begin your journey.
Turks don't tip taxi drivers, they normally round up the fare. As a foreigner, your driver may assume you'll give a tip, but you needn't unless the driver provides some special service, such as helping with lots of heavy luggage.
Ferry:
Turkey has 8 430 Km of coastline and 15 principal state-owned ports. The main ports are; Samsun, Haydarpasa (Istanbul), Izmir, Izmit, Trabzon, Mersin, and Iskenderun and run extensive passenger ferry services.
Local ferry services operate from Istanbul across the Sea of Marmara. Ferry services also operate between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus: Tas¸ucu – Girne (Kyrenia); Alanya – Girne; Mersin – Gazimagðosa (Famagusta).
There are also a number of ferry and hydrofoil services which operate between Turkey and the Greek Islands including: AyvalÝk – Lesbos; Çes¸me – Chios; Kus¸adasÝ – Samos; Bodrum – Kos; Marmaris – Rhodes and Datça – Symi.
There are also ferry services which operate between Ancona and Brindisi to Çesme.
Railways:
The wide network of the Turkish State Railways, totalling some 8,697 km, connects most major cities. The trains are modern with couchettes, restaurants, and lounge cars offering first and second class service.
Entry Requirements:
General Visa Information for British Passport Holders
British and Irish passport holders travelling to Turkey require a visa. Visas can be obtained at the port of entry in Turkey or from the Turkish Consulate General in London or Turkish Diplomatic Missions in other countries.
Sticker type visas are issued at the port of entry and allow staying in Turkey for up to 90 days. It costs £10 for UK and €10 for Irish passport holders. If there is more than one person travelling on the same passport, each individual is liable to pay the visa fee. This type of visa does not permit to engage in paid or unpaid employment.
Those who wish to obtain entry visa from the Turkish Consulate in London should apply to the Consulate General. The visa fee is £40 and should be paid by postal order or cash only. A passport size picture should also be submitted during application.
It is advisable to have a minimum of six months validity on your passport from the date of your entry into Turkey.
Travel document holders need to apply to the Consulate General in person with his/her travel document with a validity of at least one year, a passport size photo, fully filled application form, latest bank statement, a reference letter from his/her employer or school. The fee is 40 pounds sterling. All visas for travel document holders are single entry.
For more information or to make an appointment for a Visa application, please contact the Turkish Consulate General in London.
There are new visa regulations for the citizens of the following countries;
BAHAMAS:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 10th May 2003
MAURITIUS:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 11th May 2003
BELIZE:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 15th May 2003
UZBEKISTAN:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 1st June 2003
FIJI:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 22nd June 2003
JAMAICA:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 10th July 2003
BARBADOS:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 16th July 2003
SOUTH AFRICAN:
You need to apply to this Consulate for entry visa after 3rd May 2003
Passport validity:
Your passport should be valid for at least six months on entry into Turkey.
Travelling with children
If a parent travels on his/her own with a dual national Turkish child, written permission from the Turkish parent, certified by a notary, must be shown to the immigration authorities on departure, otherwise the child will not be permitted to leave Turkey.
For additional information click here.
