By Taxi and Dolmus

By Taxi and Dolmus

Taxi stands, or taksi durai, can be found in every major city and town and can be hailed on the street or called ahead of time; doing the latter is generally more reliable. Cab fares start at around $2 and the rates increase based on distance covered, as well as idle time spent in traffic. They're very expensive in resort towns like Çesme and Bodrum. In areas with high taxi-to-customer ratios, or when you're traveling long distances, you should definitely use your bargaining skills. In these cases, agree to a fare ahead of time and try to give the driver the exact fare at the end of the trip (in the off-chance that he'll try to renege on your agreement and keep the change). Metered cab prices are fixed and shouldn't change based on number of passengers or pieces of luggage.

The dolmus is a much more economical way to travel, especially in the resort towns. Fares range from $1 to $2 per ride and you can get dropped off anywhere along the driver's route (just say the magic words "eenejek var").