Driving in Turkey - Traffic & Road Signs

Foreigners can drive in Turkey with an international driving license. You should have a copy of this, together with your passport and insurance documents with you in the car at all times, as you will need it if you are involved in an accident. All of the major international car rental companies and a number of local ones have offices at the airports and major centers. Just as in continental Europe, driving in Turkey is on the right.

Turkish road signs conform to the International Protocol on Road Signs and archaeological and historic sites are indicated by yellow signs. Turkey has a good network of well-maintained roads. There is a 50 km per hour speed limit within urban centers and 90 km outside urban centers. Petrol stations are fairly easy to rind and on main highways, they are often open 24 hrs and have restaurants and other facilities attached. Unleaded (kurşunsuz) petrol is easily available.

Climate in Turkey

Turkey is a travel destination that can be visited all year round. For the most part, summer in Turkey is usually hot and dry. The Marmara, Aegean and Mediterranean coasts display a typical Mediterranean climate of hot summers and mild winters. July and August are the hottest months with temperatures around 29°C. The humidity is usually a little high during summer in these regions.

Temperatures increase a few degrees when traveling to the south and water temperatures also become warmer. The swimming season is from June to September along the Marmara and North Aegean coasts, while it is from April to October on the South Aegean and Mediterranean coasts. These are the best months highly recommended for most beach lovers so they can fully enjoy the glorious Mediterranean sun.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Guide & Info - Going to and from Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport

Going to and from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport without having someone to pick you up or take you at the airport is not something that you have to seriously worry about. There are several ways to travel from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to the main locations of Istanbul such as Taksim in Beyoğlu and Koztayatağı in Kadikoy.

In going to and from Sabiha Gökçen airport, you can either take a taxi, a public (IETT) bus, or the Havaş shuttle buses with non-stop services and runs daily at regular intervals right from the SAW airport to the city centers of Kozyatağı (Kadikoy), and Taksim (Istanbul's European side). Additionally, the airport shuttle bus also takes passengers to Izmit (Kocaeli province). Havaş shuttle buses depart from the Izmit Kocaeli Bus Terminal at certain hours taking passengers directly to and from the Sabiha Gökçen airport.

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Guide & Information

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) or Sabiha Gökçen Uluslararası Havaalanı (in Turkish) is one of the major airports serving Istanbul, Turkey. It is located in Kürtkoy, Pendik at the Anatolian side (Anadolu Yakası) of the bi-continental city, about 12 km to Pendik, 40 km to Kadikoy, and 50 km to Taksim (city center of the European side of Istanbul).

This award winning airport is named after Sabiha Gökçen - the first woman combat pilot of Turkey who also happens to be the first female combat pilot in the world.

Istanbul's Sabiha Gökçen International Airport was built due to the growing domestic and international passenger demands in Istanbul.  This significant growth has made Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport to cause problems for not being large enough to serve its millions of passengers.  At first, the Sabiha Gökçen International Airport's international terminal capacity was only 3 million passengers per year, and with a domestic terminal capacity of about 0.5 million passengers per year. But today, Sabiha Gökçen International Airport boasts of an international terminal which serves up to 25 million passengers annually making it as the World's Best Airport at the World Low Cost Airlines Congress in London in 2010.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Timetable - Going To and From Atatürk International Airport

Havaş airport shuttle buses which run faster (non-stop) than the regular public buses in Istanbul can be a good option for most passengers goint to and from Atatürk International Aİrport in Istanbul. It not only offers a good service and value for your money, but its a lot more convenient and economical for travelers and tourists who don't know so much about getting around in Istanbul. 

Below you will find the Havaş Shuttle Bus Timetable going to and from the Ataturk International Airport. You may also see this timetable posted at the Ataturk Airport which also writes Atatürk Havalimani Hareket Saatleri in Turkish.

Havaş Shuttle Bus Guide & Info - Going to and from Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport

Going to and from Atatürk International Airport without having someone to pick you up or take you to the airport is not something that you have to seriously worry about.  In Turkey, there are several ways for you to go to and from the Ataturk International Airport. You can take either a taxi, a public bus, a metro, through your hotel's private transfers, or the airport's shuttle bus service called Havaş / Havataş.

A Havaş/Havataş aiport shuttle bus parked in front of the airport.

These air-conditioned airport shuttle service known as Havaş / Havataş buses can be a good option for passengers who are traveling alone, as well as to those who don't want to take a cab or taxi, and also to some others who don't want to pay more for a hotel' private transfers.  Depending on the hotel, private transfers can sometimes cost more, unless you are traveling with your family or with a group. Other than that, the Havaş airport shuttle buses which runs faster (non-stop) than the regular public buses in Istanbul can be a very good option.  They don't just offers good service and value for your money, but its a lot more convenient and economical for travelers and tourists who don't know so much about getting around in Istanbul.

Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport - Guide & Information

Istanbul (IST) - Atatürk International Airport or Atatürk Havalımanı in Turkish is 24km (15 miles) west of the city which takes about 30-50 minutes travel time. In order to go to and from the Atatürk airport, you can either take a taxi, a car hire, a public bus, your hotel's private transfers, or the airport's shuttle bus service. 

The airport's shuttle bus service called Havaş offers a good service and value for your money. One way fare per person for Havaş shuttle buses departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport and going to Istanbul's city centers can cost as low as 5 TL (to Bakirkoy), 10TL (to Taksim in Beyoğlu), and 17TL (to Kozyatağı in Kadikoy). Also, you can conveniently get on Havaş shuttle buses right within the Ataturk Airport as these buses run a regular non-stop service only from the airport to Istanbul's busy centers such as Taksim and Bakirkoy (Istanbul’s European side), and to Kozyatağı (Istanbul's Asian side).

Major Airports in Turkey

Turkey's international airports are located in the cities of Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Adana, Antalya, Bodrum, Dalaman and Trabzon. Turkish Airlines (Turk Hava Yolları - THY) is the national airline which links to all the major cities of Turkey through its domestic flights. It also has international direct flights from Istanbul to New York, other European cities, and the Middle East.