For sightseeing in Turkey, getting acquainted with the culture of the country, you can choose a trip by car. Include visits to ancient fortresses, ancient structures, waterfalls, canyons, nature reserves, resorts, etc. Before the trip it is necessary to determine what to see in Turkey by car, taking into account the chosen direction.
Best routes in Turkey for car enthusiasts
The territory of Turkey, located in the eastern hemisphere and occupying part of Asia and Europe, concentrated a lot of natural, architectural sites.
It has developed resort settlements near the sea, preserved the ruins of ancient cities. The country has picturesque cliffs, rich subtropical vegetation, nature reserves, etc.
In addition to rest at the resorts you can visit interesting places on their own by car. In Turkey, the tracks are landscaped, developed intercity communication. It is important to plan a route beforehand.
Two-week itinerary across Turkey by car from Antalya
During the trip from Antalya for 10-14 days you can see the park Sivri Dag, the port and resort city of Kemer, located on the Mediterranean coast, the ruins of Ephesus, Laodicea and many others. others. The southwest coast of the country is rich in picturesque beaches, remnants of ancient settlements and national parks.
In this direction it is recommended to include in the itinerary the exploration of Marmaris, Fethiye, Pamukkale, Saklikent Canyon, Salda Lake. The trip ends with the resort city of Antalya.
In summer you can sunbathe on the beaches, visit restaurants, national cuisine, water sports, buy souvenirs, local products.
When traveling in the demi season, the program includes a tour of museums, natural sites in the vicinity of Antalya. There are hiking trails in the national park near the resort. In Sivri Dagh there are spots for climbers, the ruins of Tipalia, Neapolis, Onobara.
Journey through eastern Turkey
When you leave Antalya for 10-14 days, you can see the sights of eastern Turkey. The destination is unpopular with tourists, but the most authentic.
Near Beyshehir Lake stands the 13th-century Esrefoglu Mosque, and there is a mountain pass. During the trip tourists can explore the cities of the central part of the country (Konya, Adana), the dam Berke, Mount Nemrut Dag, Diyarbakir district, the ancient city of Van.
The program includes a tour of Hasankeyf Castle, the provinces of Mardin, Gaziantep, Rumkale, Antakya, etc. A visit to a large preserved Neolithic settlement is available by car.
Some of the cultural layers have been dated to 7400 BC. On the eastern route you can stay in the hotels of the Hilton chain, which are in Van, Konya, Mardin, Adana, Mersin and other localities.
Route from Istanbul
Road travelers often depart from Istanbul, which is located on the southern side of the Bosphorus. The circular route from the former Constantinople takes 5-7 days.
It includes visits to Edirne, Gelibolu, Çanakkale, Bursa, Balıkesir, İzmit, Golcuk, Kazdagı National Park and other localities, architectural and natural landmarks. You can rent a car at the airport, cut the trip short or expand the visit to resorts, scenic beaches, waterfalls.
Where else can you go by car in Turkey
Travelers can rent a car and drive to the architectural and natural sites on their own.
It’s convenient to visit in the car:
- Mount Chimera;
- The twin villages of Olympos and Chiraly;
- Kurshunlu waterfalls;
- canyons of Tazy, Heyniuk, Kash, etc.
Olympos, Chirali and the Burning Chimera Mountain
The resort village of Ciraly is located near Kemer. In the trip you can combine recreation on the well-appointed beaches, in tents or hotels, walking the Lycian Trail, orange orchards. Chiraly is surrounded by picturesque Taurus Mountains, rich vegetation.
There are ancient ruins preserved here. Archaeological and restoration work is underway at some sites.
In the vicinity are the ruins of ancient Olympos. According to legend, the Olympic Games were born here. Admission costs 50 liras, but is free until 10:00.
On the outskirts of Cirali is Chimaera Mountain. Natural gas burns here around the clock, igniting and extinguishing in different parts of the slope. According to scientists, this has been going on for several millennia. You have to pay 9 liras to enter Chimera.
Kurshunlu waterfalls
The waterfalls of Kursunlu are located 19 km from Antalya. A landscaped trail leads to the site, located in a nature reserve. The water falls picturesquely from a height of 18 meters.
Nearby are winding pedestrian paths along which you can explore the park area. There are small rivers, bridges, lakes with fish, geese and ducks in the vicinity.
The park has cafes, souvenir shops, and picnic areas. The area of the park is about 13 hectares. The trails are surrounded by cedars, oaks, and pines.
Tazy Canyon and Keprulu Park
Tazi Canyon, one of the most picturesque in Turkey, is located near the Mediterranean coast between Side and Antalya in Keprülü National Park.
On the territory are available rafting, hiking, picnic recreation, photo shoots, etc. The length of the canyon – about 14 km along the mountain river, the width of the object reaches 100 m, depth – 400 m. On its banks grow cypresses, eucalyptus, pine trees. The area of the park is more than 360 square kilometers.
Alanya
The city is located in the south-west of Turkey. The popular resort and seaport on the Mediterranean coast is 138 km from Antalya. The place is popular with tourists landscaped beaches, preserved architectural landmarks.
On a rock near Alanya you can see a medieval castle surrounded by stone walls. Near the entrance to the harbor, the Red Tower and the Seljuk dockyard have been preserved.
Alanya is located at the foot of the Taurus Mountains. The city is divided by a rocky peninsula. The length of the coastline is up to 100 km. Tourists should visit Cleopatra Beach, Damlatas, etc.
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Demre, Mira and Kekova
Attractions are 30-40 km from the town of Kash on the coast. Travelers can explore the ruins of the ancient settlement of Mira in Demre and the rock tombs. The remains of the Issium in Keshkerler are scattered in the vicinity. There is a Museum of Lycian Civilization in Demra.
Kekova Island is located off the southern coast of the country near Demre. The area of the formation is more than 4.5 square kilometers. There are picturesque bays, rich vegetation.
The itinerary often includes a visit to the castle Simeny, the town of Kaleuchagyz, boat tours near the bays. You can stay in gesthouses, hotels.
Geinyuk Canyon
Canyon is located near the resort of the same name, 9 km from Kemer. The length of the canyon is about 6 m, the height of the object reaches 350 m. The walls of the canyon are formed by colored rocks (green, brown, black, and bronze hues). Water falls from the walls, picturesque turquoise rivers flow nearby.
Gainyuk Canyon is part of the nature reserve, where hiking trails, cafes and picnic areas are available. In the park you can explore the orange and pomegranate orchards, mountains. Rafting, rock climbing are available.
Kash
In 3-4 hours by car from Antalya is a cozy town of Kas. The village has narrow streets, landscaped center, picturesque hilly terrain.
In Cache, there is an amphitheater and a seaport, from which fascinating excursions depart. Car tourists can visit nearby islands, bays.
Many ethnic restaurants, patisseries, cocktail bars, nightclubs, cafes. From Kaş you can reach the ruins of ancient cities (Olympos, Fazelis, Mira), the castle of Simena, the Gainyuk Canyon and other sites.
Green Canyon
Green Canyon is located in southern Turkey. The cliffs are formed by the river Oymapynar about 14 km long. Deep lakes and high mountain ranges are picturesque. Tourists are offered boat rides, boating.
Green Canyon is rich in vegetation, including. rare species, there are squirrels, eagles, and storks. The hydraulic structure has the status of a national park. There are also places for picnics. On the territory there is a lake up to 100 m deep and an area of 500 hectares.
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Briefly about the intricacies of traveling by car in Turkey
You can get to Turkey by plane. There are flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other cities in Russia. Before you travel by car in a foreign country, it is important to plan the route, to clarify the conditions of the rental car, the necessary documents, the cost of hotel accommodation, the conditions of stay.
Required Documents
Tourists will need a passport with a validity of at least six months, confirmation of hotel reservations, airline tickets, insurance. Visa for Russians in Turkey is not required. Within 6 months, you can rest for up to 90 days.
Drivers must show a Russian license.
For long trips may be requested international, which can be done through the portal “Gosusluzhba”. According to local requirements, a tourist to drive a car in Turkey must be at least 22 years old, he must have driving experience of 2 years.
Rent a car and its cost
To rent a car you will need a passport. There are rental agencies (local and international) in the airports of the country. You can also rent a vehicle in the tourist areas of Turkey.
It is important to make reservations in advance. The procedure is available through the aggregators LocalRent, RentalCars, etc.
The cost of renting an automatic machine in the summer season – from 30 euros per day. A car with a manual transmission without insurance costs from 25 euros. Prices decrease by the fall (in October – about 10-14 euros), but are subject to change, so you should check the information in advance.
The cost of gasoline
There are gas stations on all highways in Turkey. The average price of gasoline – from 19 lira per 1 liter, diesel – from 21 lira per 1 liter. You can check the price on the official portals of the international gas station chains Shell and Total. Local Opet and Petrol are also represented. You can pay for gasoline in cash or by bank card.
The best time for car tourism in Turkey
By car is better to rest in Turkey in the off-season. In summer, the country is very hot and you can only plan to visit the beaches, natural sites.
The climate in the center of the country is Mediterranean with mild winters, in the southeast – subtropical. In December and February you can go to the Mediterranean and Aegean coast.
In March, April it is good to plan a visit to Cappadocia and the southeastern regions, where jazz, tulip and national festivals take place.
