Although Türkiye is now the internationally recognised spelling, many travellers still search for Turkey. This page simply directs you to the updated name and gives you a quick answer to the common question: should you rent a car in Turkey?
Should you rent a car in Turkey?
You can explore Turkey without a car, because buses, domestic flights and intercity trains connect major cities very well. İstanbul, İzmir and Ankara all have strong public transport networks, so driving inside these cities isn’t necessary.
However, if you want to explore coastal villages, ancient ruins, Cappadocia’s valleys, or the eastern regions, renting a car becomes much more useful. Roads are generally good, distances are long, and rural buses don’t always run frequently.
🕌 İstanbul — do not drive
İstanbul remains one of the world’s busiest and trickiest cities for driving. Traffic never really stops, bridges clog easily, and parking costs more than many hotel rooms. The metro, ferries and trams cover almost everything you’ll want.
Arrive in İstanbul, explore on foot and by ferry, and only rent a car after you leave the city.
🏖️ Aegean & Mediterranean coasts
The coastline from Çeşme to Antalya feels like it was designed for road-tripping. Resorts are spread out, beaches hide behind hills, and ancient ruins sit on peninsulas far from town buses.
Here, a car means freedom. Without one, you’ll need taxis or occasional dolmuş minibuses. Those work well, but they limit how many remote coves or hilltop ruins you can reach.
🏜️ Cappadocia
You can manage with tours, taxis and the occasional local bus, but hiring a car lets you roam:
-
Love Valley
-
Ihlara Valley
-
Derinkuyu & Kaymakli underground cities
-
Scenic plateaus between towns
Everything sits far enough apart that a day or two of driving improves the whole trip.
In short – should you rent a car in Turkey?:
-
No car needed for major cities or basic intercity travel.
-
Car strongly recommended for coastlines, rural areas and flexible day trips.
For full details, including region-by-region guidance, please see the main page on car rental in Türkiye, which covers everything in depth.