Travelling by car in Istanbul

First of all, it’s not a very good idea to drive along Istanbul by car. The fact is there are big traffic jams in the city nearly every day. Every evening there are traffic jams on bridges and every morning on weekends - on the outskirts of the city. Besides, Istanbul is a very old city and some streets are very narrow and small there, so you should be a very experienced driver. But if you just can’t do without a car in Istanbul then you should know the following.

First, the rumors about the undisciplined Turkish drivers are greatly exaggerated. Hard fines for traffic violations and the incorruptibility of police officers responsible for road traffic have significantly organized the traffic in Istanbul. The drivers are friendly and very attentive to pedestrians. They always let you pass even if you have not crossed the road yet and the red light is already burning. Unless you step on the sidewalk on the other side of the road no car will start moving.

Secondly, parking is a big problem in Istanbul. Therefore, if you intend to go to the city by car or rent it already there, then try to rent a room in a hotel with parking.

The third and the last - get ready for riding in a car to a particular place of the city will take you more time than a journey by tram or subway. You’d better rely on local professional taxi drivers.