Car hire Turkey

As is befitting for the Gateway to the East, Turkey is a pleasing contrast of mosque minarets and domes sitting beside mountains and pristine beach resorts. Ancient ruins dot the countryside, from Roman walls in Pamphylia to the fabled Greek Temple of the Artemis site in Ephesus. Turkey car hire is inexpensive, but it is advisable to book online before you go.

Ataturk Airport in Istanbul is the primary international gateway to Turkey. Sabiha Gokcen Airport is just east of Istanbul and a hub for budget and charter airline flights. Airports at Adana, Samsun, Antalya, Bodrum and Izmir handle domestic and charter services. There are also ferries from the Greek Aegean islands to Turkey. Bodrum is the most popular port receiving ferries from Kos and Rhodes in summer.

Travelling around Turkey can be fairly cheap with bus, train and taxis among options. Trains in general are good, but do not cover the whole country, while the bus network goes to far-flung locations but seats are cramped and sweaty. Shared dolmus taxis run fixed routes similar to buses, but these too are usually very crowded. Hertz and National are among the companies with Turkish offices. Compare cheap car hire in Turkey with us, to find the cheapest daily rates.

Drivers in Turkey need international licences, although most of the car hire firms will accept a full UK license. Motorists drive on the right in Turkey, and the minimum age is 17, although car hire companies only rent to drivers over 21. Not all Turkish vehicle users have comprehensive insurance cover, so people getting car rental in Turkey should go for minimum excess charges when choosing their policy.

Although Istanbul's charms and historic sites are abundant, many holidaymakers choose Turkey for its beach resorts along the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Monuments and cultural locations are never far away however, allowing visitors to combine a spot of culture with a relaxing holiday. Ephesus is near Kusadasi, while the Sumela Monastery and Sebinkarahisar Castle can be found on the northern coast.