Difference between revisions of "Istanbul"

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There is a petrol station exactly 9km before [[Izmit]] where you can be dropped off. This is a great place to catch direct rides to almost any part of the country.
 
There is a petrol station exactly 9km before [[Izmit]] where you can be dropped off. This is a great place to catch direct rides to almost any part of the country.
[[User:Garthelgard|Garthelgard]] got offered rides to [[Georgia]] and the Syrian border from that petrol station.
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[[User:Garthelgard|Garthelgard]] got offered rides to [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and the [[Syria]]n border from that petrol station.
  
 
For Mediterranean cities such as [[Antalya]], you should also take this eastwards route till [[Adapazari]], then head south via highway D650 from there.
 
For Mediterranean cities such as [[Antalya]], you should also take this eastwards route till [[Adapazari]], then head south via highway D650 from there.

Revision as of 11:14, 21 May 2009

Istanbul is the biggest city of Turkey, partly in Europe and partly in Asia.

In many parts in Europe you can find Turkish truckers, who might be heading to Istanbul. Watch out for Turkish number plates beginning with 34, the city code for Istanbul, but of course all truckers going to the Asian part will have to go through Istanbul.

<map lat='41.0937774863' lng='29.0069961548' zoom='14' view='0' float='right' />

Hitching Out

The Taksim Square in the center of the European part of Istanbul is chosen as a starting point for the upcoming description due to the fact that there the most bus lines of the European side start and end.

Northwest towards Edirne and Bulgaria

Get into the metro at Taksim Square and take a train to 4.Levent. This is currently the last station for the trains departing from Taksim. One ticket costs 1,40 YTL (~0,70 Euro). At 4.Levent get out of the Metro. You will find yourself along the Büyükdere Caddesi avenue. Walk along the mainstreet direction north (watch out for big signs that are leading drivers to the highway to Edirne. After 15min and passing a military camp you'll see the on-ramp. Unfortunately, there is no way to cross the street from right to left then by attempting suicide, because the main street is mostly full of fast traffic. If you are not brave enough to do so, walk another 10min further and cross the street over a bridge and walk back the way along the other side. Go somewhat down the ramp and you can find a good spot to stand and stop cars. Also try to get short lifts (even some kilometres can help in Istanbul).

With the recent extension of the metro line, you can change the train at 4.Levent station to another one bound for Atatürk Oto Sanayi (at the same platform you get off the train from Taksim; no extra fee), and get off at Sanayi station (the first stop after 4.Levent; not to be confused with Atatürk Oto Sanayi which is the last station en route). Sanayi station is a lot nearer to the on-ramp mentioned above, about 3-4min of walk away. However, this part of the line is somewhat on the phase of test runs, and is available only between 9:35 and 17:00 (9:35AM-5PM). So on other times of the day, for example earlier in the morning, you'll still have to get to the street level at 4.Levent and start walking there.

After getting a lift at the on-ramp, you'll notice that a few kilometers further on the highway, there is a toll booth where you can easily catch rides (the breadsellers might help you get a lift to your preferred destination).

Buses 98H (from Bakırköy, a suburb in the west) and 146T (from Yenikapı and Aksaray, near Sultanahmet) among others pass the toll booth. These buses pass adjacent the westbound lanes of E80. On on the other side of the highway is 'TEM Hospital' Crossing the highway here is not challenging.

Eastwards towards Ankara

Get on the 111, 112 or 200 and stay on the bus almost all the way to the last stop (get off approximately two or three stops before). You are now located a little bit south of the E80/O4 heading East towards Ankara. You will need to walk a little bit northwards in order to reach a ramp. There is a bus stop on the on-ramp. You can hitch out from there unto the E80/O4 going East. Most people who will take you might just drive for another 10km or so. There are lots of petrol stations on the way in this giant suburban maze but chances are only local people stop there. You will have to go for about nearly 20 or 30 km until you will actually be out of the Istanbul metropolis.

If you want to avoid 30km of urban hitch hiking, from the last stop of 112 take bus 134BK (other 134 buses MAY work as well) which leaves across the road from where 112 ends. Ride until the end and transfer onto 133Ş and ride it until the last stop. You are then in Şekerpınar and can walk the 2km to the main highway: Anadolu Otoyolu.

Another bus to take from Taksim Square may be 129T (Taksim-Kozyatağı line), which, unlike the other transcontinental bus lines, requires single ticket. Get off at the last stop (Bostancı Köprüsü), which is a leaf-clover interchange, and then walk past the interchange until you see a safe shoulder down the road a couple hundred metres away. Start hitching there ready with a sign saying at least ‘Gebze'/'Izmit’, it’ll make you more visible and look like a total hitchhiker. Drivers around here seem to have some concerns about sharing their car with a stranger and looking like a total hitchhiker seems to somewhat ease their anxiety. However, there are also many minibuses heading for Gebze on this road, so hiding your sign when they are passing by and shaking your head both sides when its headlights flash (to ask whether you’d like a ride … for a fee) may prevent some of the unwanted attention. Expect to wait at least 30 minutes until you are offered a lift. Morning hours (approx. between 6:30-8:30) are best since the road is congested at that time and vehicles move slowly, which lets the drivers to think more about taking you in. Beware of the motorcycles by the way, which sometimes illegally drive inside the shoulder and literally skim you over.

There is a petrol station exactly 9km before Izmit where you can be dropped off. This is a great place to catch direct rides to almost any part of the country. Garthelgard got offered rides to Georgia and the Syrian border from that petrol station.

For Mediterranean cities such as Antalya, you should also take this eastwards route till Adapazari, then head south via highway D650 from there.

South towards Yalova/Bursa

See Eskihisar for how to get to the ferry jetty on the route and how to get into the ferry for free.

The route via Eskihisar is also the shortest way to Izmir and its adjacent area in western Turkey.