Anyone driven to Istanbul?

[StephandJohn]

Just watched Rick Stein's programme from Venice to Istanbul so I looked up how far Istanbul is from the port at Ijmuden and its only 1685 miles. So not so far if you have enough time.
Has anyone done this?

 

[Snowbird]

Many times in a truck and a few times by car and motorhome since retirement. Its much easier now than it used to be as there is motorway almost all the way. Serbia is the only closed border now.

 

[Feltwell]

Not driven to there - but driven whilst there, in a hire car. Not for the faint hearted.

I loved the comment I once had from a taxi driver in Istanbul

"In England, red lights are compulsory. In Italy, Optional. In Istanbul, Decorative!"

Stated of course as he drove through a red light!

 

[StephandJohn]

Thanks. We've been warned not to drive through it.

 

[Figaro]

Thanks. We've been warned not to drive through it.

But your going too ............... ?

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[StephandJohn]

Yes. Hopefully. But we'll get a campsite outside and bus it. May even stay in the centre in a hotel for a couple of nights.

 

[bonniechris]

you may find our bumbles blog useful
https://ourbumble.com/here-we-go-trip-2018/

 

[Snowbird]

Its not so much the driving in Istanbul thats the problem, its finding somewhere to park .
We were there for a week a couple of weeks ago although we did fly and stayed in a hotel in the centre, it was a nightmare even crossing the road. Parking is just impossible with a car never mind a motorhome. One more thing to bear in mind is that although the Turkish Lira is now only worth a third of what it was 12 months ago, due to rampant inflation and devalue of the Lira everything is VERY expensive.

 

[Nicepix]

I would advise taking a couple of spare horns. They seem to wear them out every three or four days.

We suffered a taxi ride from the airport to a hotel in the middle of Istanbul when they forgot to send the hotel courtesy car for us. Bear in mind that taxis tend to be a bit newer than the average vehicle, although this was a Dacia copy of a Renault 12, and supposedly licensed, this one had no working brakes, the indicators were redundant and the driver didn't appear to be able to see further than the end of his bonnet.

The idea of parking up on the outskirts and bussing it is perhaps the best idea.

 

[makems]

Never driven to Istanbul.
But I’ve been driven to drink many times.
Tonight is one of them.

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[Glandwr]

I did it in 1972 but suspect any info I can provide might be a little out of date

 

[Tea Bag]

The idea of parking up on the outskirts and bussing it is perhaps the best idea.

Hi.
In 1980 we "Bussed ?" from the airport into town.... The horns were blaring away all around,i learn't a new hand signal : Driver Arm out of the window,hand palm up,fingers extended,wave arm up and down with a look of sheer disgust on your face. Note. The driver was a short person,so when we hit a bump,the "Air ride"seat chucked him up in the air so his foot came OFF the accelerator...so we Kangarood into town.(Could he have reached the brake while airborne ? )
Super place,saw most of it the Bazaar,Blue Mosque Top Kapi ?museum over the Bospheros and had the Passport stamped...... I was expecting Peter Ustinov to appear around the corner dressed as a local and the Belly Dancer............. YES!!!!........ Nuff said about that!! All these years later..She had a dimple...
Enjoy
Tea Bag

 

[Nicepix]

Hi.
In 1980 we "Bussed ?" from the airport into town.... The horns were blaring away all around,i learn't a new hand signal : Driver Arm out of the window,hand palm up,fingers extended,wave arm up and down with a look of sheer disgust on your face. Note. The driver was a short person,so when we hit a bump,the "Air ride"seat chucked him up in the air so his foot came OFF the accelerator...so we Kangarood into town.(Could he have reached the brake while airborne ? )
Super place,saw most of it the Bazaar,Blue Mosque Top Kapi ?museum over the Bospheros and had the Passport stamped...... I was expecting Peter Ustinov to appear around the corner dressed as a local and the Belly Dancer............. YES!!!!........ Nuff said about that!! All these years later..She had a dimple...
Enjoy
Tea Bag

Brilliant place. We spent 4 days there then needed another 10 in Mamaris to get over it.

Did you notice that whenever someone offered to show you the way to the Blue / Pink Mosque, underground cistern, Hippodrome or wherever, they always took you past their cousin's carpet shop with an obligatory look inside?

Love the place!

 

[Brucek]

Never driven to Istanbul, but have driven from Scotland to Dalaman via Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece. Great trip, throughly recommended. You could do the same route and then drive to Istanbul from Canakkale, avoiding Bulgaria. Driving in Istanbul NOT RECOMMENDED the drivers are mad. Nice hotel though in the Sultanahmet area is the Basileus, good prices, very friendly staff and close to the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace.

 

[PeteH]

Only ever been by Sea. Probably the safest way?. But right what they say it`s an "experience". (worth having??)

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[wanderer]

Part of our Overland route Belgium , Germany , Czech Rep , Hungary , Romania , Bulgaria , Turkey (Istanbul). The roads were fine , some of the border crossings were time consuming . if possible you should try to go further into Turkey especially Goreme , there is a great campsite up on the hill with many Motorhomes . In Istanbul we parked up by the ramparts and employed a locals to guard the van while we stayed in nearby guesthouse .

 

[pjay]

We did a trip to Turkey in the moho in 2012 and came back through Istanbul on our return. You can overnight at the otopark at Fishermans quai on Kennedy Cadesi which is a short stroll to the blue mosque and all the tourist stuff. Its just a car park and can be noisy but for location to the city it can't be beaten. Cost us 30ytl pn on our visit and we stayed 3 nights. 41.00191 28.97743
There was also another spot just down the road behind the sports complex 41.00253 28.97743 but not sure if that one is still possible for moho's.

Pete

 

[Janiemou]

If you don't want to drive through the Balkans, the best route is by ferry from Ancona to Igoumenitsa. 200m from the port exit, and you're on to the Egnatia Highway - almost 700 miles of motorway taking you up to the Greek/Turkish border.

IJmuiden to Ancona is about 950 miles.