wtm003

We are renting a car for about 6 days to get from the airport in Izmir to Sirince then to the Bozburun Peninsula before dropping the car off in Dalaman. The opinions I've read about driving in Turkey are all over the place. Everything from it's a piece of cake to a death trap.

So I'd appreciate any driving tips as well as suggestions about interesting stops and places to eat during our drive.

Thanks.

Michael

Generally driving is no problem, with relatively little traffic on the open road. The airport in Izmir is south of the city, so that you will not have to deal with city traffic.

wtm003

Thank you Michael!

emily71

From what I've seen between Izmir and Selchuk, the main roads are in good repair and easy to drive. Just don't try and drive in the city.

otherchelebi

I have a number of posts on speed limits, tips, on various threads, but to summarize :

-it is easy where you are driving.
- make sure you have HGS or OGS toll pass thing on your windshield
- take motorway to Selcuk.
- eat at restaurant of hotel Bella at Selcuk or at Sirince.
try the local wild greens.
- On your way to Bozburun, if you take the faster Aydin route, eat at any location that looks nice and serves Chop Shish tiny bits of lamb on skewer and grilled peppers and tomatoes. (peppers may be rather hot)
- If you pass these locations have kofte (meatballs) at or around Cine past Aydin
- If you take the Milas route, take a side trip to Herakleia (Kapikiri) on lake Bafa and eat at one of the scenic restaurants. I remember fried eggplant as being exceptionally good. Do not eat the fish there.
- After you come down from the mountain past Mugla, on the way to Marmaris, there are a number of scenic spots. Try their Gozleme which is very thin pastry wrap with wild greens, cheese, mashed potatoes or mince meat. Try the greens or a mixed one.
- On the way to Bozburun, stop at the marina at Kiz Kumu at Orhaniye, walk on the sandy causeway almost to the other side of the bay taking photographs and astounding your friends back home.
- Visit any weekly markets you see set up on your route to buy fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, wash them at a fountain of spring water you see on your route and eat with some fresh bread and white cheese.
- Buy a small jar of honeydew (pine honey) and possibly almonds after you take the Datca Bozburun intersection.

- When you take car :

- check fuel (you may need to be told nearest station)
- check windshield washer fluid
- make sure you know where the switches are.
- Check seat adjustment for your comfort and visibility
- Make sure you know where and how you will return it.

- Prefer Renault, Ford, Opel, VW and definitely not Fiat.

Check my trip reports : and my wife's blogs :

http://datcapeninsula.blogspot.com.tr/
http://esercelebiler.blogspot.com/
http://esercelebiler.blogspot.com.tr...hiye_5242.html

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...10-trip.cfm?18

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...he-bees.cfm?10

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...in-phrygia.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...thout-fear.cfm

IMDonehere

Listen to Other and his wife (the brains and beauty of the operation), they know of which they speak.

wtm003

Thanks everyone! Definitely staying away from cities. OC, I'm printing out your tips so I have them while we are driving.

Croesus

"After you come down from the mountain past Mugla, on the way to Marmaris, there are a number of scenic spots"

A good view of the Gulf of Gökova from this restaurant - https://goo.gl/maps/CeR7Y

wtm003

Thank you Croesus!

Croesus

If you take the Aydın route, the detours to Alabanda and Lagina are not much off the track - https://goo.gl/maps/NB2nt

Croesus

I'm not sure if you would have time for Stratonikeia as well - https://goo.gl/maps/Zc0bR

Very enjoyable wandering around that one - http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=18057

IMDonehere

We never drive in cities, unless absolutely necessary. In fact, I find a car rental facility on the periphery of a city, so if we do rent, we do not have to navigate the traffic and streets of that city.

keliza

My sister & I rented a car in Izmir and drove to Cappadocia via Selcuk, Pammukale, Antalya, Konya and a few other stops. No GPS - just a good map and my sister is a genius navigator. (I was the genius driver!). We did not have any problems at all - the roads are wonderful and the people are fantastically friendly and helpful. Two women driving around Turkey alone - some people thought we were nuts but is one of the best trips so far.

Driving in Konya during a Ramadan festival day was crazy but memorable and quite fun actually. The only stop I see on your itinerary that we didn't like is Oludeniz. We found it to be a British tourist package holiday spot and not worth the drive.
The old part of Antalya was magic - but a challenge to drive to. Again - the wonderful local people were super helpful.
Don't worry about driving - you will love it!

wtm003

Thank you keliza, I just came back to this thread as we are spending the evening studying maps.

kja

I faced some challenges while driving in Turkey, but nothing insurmountable, and not in the areas you expect to visit. For more, check my trip report -- just click on my screen name to find it.

samuell

Can someone confirm the following?

Auto insurance is included in your rental car fee and covers Turkey's mandatory collision damage insurance and theft protection insurance. If you are driving your own car, contact your insurance broker to determine whether your policy covers travel in Turkey. If it doesn't, you must either purchase an add-on policy from your broker or buy a state-issued policy at the Turkish border.

Thanks

otherchelebi

Rental car fee usually includes mandatory liability insurance and NOT collision damage or theft neither of which are mandatory in Turkey unless your rental agency wishes to make them mandatory for the renter.

There are no State-issued insurance policies in Turkey. All mandatory or non-mandatory excess liability insurance policies are sold through agents or brokers of insurance companies.

If your liability insurance policy covers you while in Turkey and you can prove it at entry, you should not need to purchase one at the border.

pariswat

I alwyas read the rental conditions related to damage.

Last I rent from Rentalcars, I took the full insurance (which I usually don't take).
We were asked if we wanted to take full insurance at rental company (!), denied it of course. I then had damages on the car, filled in a report to Rentalcars and get full refund (got the mail today...).

So my experience with Rentalcars is excellent.

samuell

Thank you - Otherchelebi and pariswat..