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Turkey - Getting There |
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You can fly to Turkey from all major UK airports including Birmingham, Bournemouth,
East Midlands, Edinburgh, Gatwick, Glasgow, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester and Stansted.
By Air
The only nonstop service to Istanbul out of London is provided by
British Airways ( http://www.britishairways.com ) and
Turkish Airlines ( http://www.turkishairlines.com/en/index.php ), which also flies nonstop from Manchester.
Air France ( http://www.airfrance.com/uk ),
Alitalia ( http://www.alitalia.co.uk ),
Austrian Airlines ( http://www.aua.com/uk/eng ), offer connecting services through their home airport, providing service from many other major cities in the U.K. as well. Check out the budget airlines for other options. (Click here for more information ).
By Train
Train journeys can be made to Istanbul directly from and via some of the major cities
in Europe. The train journey from London or Paris to Istanbul takes three nights, using
Eurostar from London to Paris, the Orient Express from Paris to Vienna, a modern EuroCity
train from Vienna to Budapest then either a direct couchette car from Budapest to Istanbul
or a more comfortable air-conditioned sleeping-car from Budapest to Bucharest and again
from Bucharest to Istanbul. Departures from London are daily.
The recommended journey is via Bucharest because of the effects of the recent
war on the more traditional route through Belgrade and the former Yugoslavia. A
London-Istanbul train journey will cost more than an air fare.
Direct trains depart daily from Bucharest and Budapest and take about 27 and 40 hours,
respectively - and that's without any border delays. It is your responsibility
to obtain visas where required ( either transit or tourist, depending on your travel plans )
for every border that you will cross.
By Ferry
There are several options for traveling to Turkey by sea, but unless you've got a
car or just want to experience sea travel, flying will be cheaper.
Car Ferries: There are several car ferries for tourists who wish to bring their cars:
Connections run from Venice, Ancona, Brindisi and Bari to Istanbul, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi,
Marmaris and Antalya.
Long distance and short-hop passenger ferries service the central and eastern Mediterranean,
connecting various ports in Turkey with Italy and Greece. For example, ferryboat service
connects Bodrum with Patmos, Simi, Cos, and Rhodes; Marmaris with Rhodes and Simi; Fethiye
with Rhodes; Kusadasi and Samos and Çesme and Chios.
By Car
London – Istanbul, approximately 3,000km
Northern Route : Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey
Southern Route : Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, with a ferry to Turkey.
Road Safety
You should take particular care when travelling by road throughout Turkey, as road conditions
and driving standards can be poor. Serious traffic accidents are common particularly at
night.
For a stay of more than six months an international Driving Licence is required.
Do not drink and drive. The Police will breathalyse drunk drivers, fine them on the spot
( currently 340 New Turkish Lira ) and immediately confiscate their licence for six months.
Via Michelin ( http://www.viamichelin.com )
gives route directions for European journeys.
The Turkish Ministry of Tourism has an excellent site at http://www.turizm.gov.tr.
Travel advice by country from the foreign office ( http://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/ )
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