Best Ideas for Istanbul to Izmir Road Trip
Turkey has an excellent road network, making it an ideal destination for planning road trips and exploring countless destinations at your own pace and schedule. Among the most scenic self drive tours popular among tourists while visiting this striking country is Istanbul to Izmir. Although the distance between the two cities is less than 500 km there are countless stops which you can make along the way to stretch the journey and plan an unforgettable Istanbul to Izmir road trip.
The best route to journey from Istanbul to Izmir is via Bursa, while making stops at Kocaeli, Ayvalik, Dikili, and Foca. The entire stretch of the drive is filled with plenty of scenic spots with panoramic ocean views, breathtaking natural beauty, UNESCO-acclaimed cultural heritage sites, trendy local bazaars, authentic Turkish cuisine restaurants, and trendy clubs. So if your road trip excursions involve driving from Istanbul to Izmir, we recommend studying our carefully compiled guide for a seamless traveling experience.
Istanbul to Izmir Road Trip – Best Stops
Here is the list of the most interesting places you can explore on your way from Istanbul to Izmir:
Place Name | Distance from Previous Location | Estimated Drive Time From Previous Location | Highlights |
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Istanbul | – | – | Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus views |
Bursa | 155 km | 2 hours | Grand Mosque, Koza Han, Green Tomb, Thermal Baths, İskender Kebab |
Cumalıkızık | 12 km | 20 minutes | Ottoman-era houses, cobbled streets, local breakfast |
Uludağ National Park | 40 km | 1 hour | Ski resort (winter), hiking, scenic cable car (Teleferik) |
Gölyazı | 45 km | 45 minutes | Lake Uluabat, ancient plane tree, boat tours, sunset views |
Balıkesir | 180 km | 2 hours | Kuş Cenneti (Bird Paradise), Ayvalık olive oil, historical houses |
Ayvalık & Cunda Island | 130 km | 1.5 hours | Aegean seaside, stone houses, seafood, Şeytan Sofrası, sunset views |
Bergama (Pergamon Ancient City) | 90 km | 1.5 hours | Pergamon Acropolis, Red Basilica, Asclepion healing center |
İzmir | 110 km | 1.5 hours | Kordon seaside, Konak Square, historical bazaars |
Istanbul to Izmir in a Rental Car
Travelers who value convenience and flexibility and would rather avoid having to tackle the schedules of the public transportation system can choose to rent a car. A private vehicle at your disposal means you get to plan your itinerary with complete freedom and make as many stops along the way as you desire, which would be otherwise difficult if traveling by bus or train. This is especially advantageous for those traveling in a group or with family who would rather take their time exploring each destination with plenty of time and plan multi-day road trips.
With a self drive car rental, it becomes convenient to visit multiple attractions without having to arange independent trips. For a memorable driving experience, travelers can utilize our secure and reliable booking engine and reserve their private car rental in just a few easy steps. Stiving to provide exceptional car rental services across the country, we enable users to customize their ideal vehicle based on pick-up/drop-off location, duration, car category, fuel policy, payment type, seating capacity, etc. Our years of strong association with international and domestic car rental companies like Garenta, Avis, Sixt, Avec, Green Motion, Europcar, Cizgi, Enterprise, Nissa, NoktAutos, ZiraatFILO, etc we offer cheapest car rental prices for the widest fleet of vehicles from economy, convertible, SUV, luxury/premium, van/minivan (7-12 seater), and electric options. Taking advantage of an aggregator website like ours, you can compare prices for car rental deals in one go and select the most suitable option based on your needs and budget.
Requirements for Booking a Self Drive Car Rental in Turkey
Renting a car doesn’t have to be a daunting task, whether you are a resident or a foreigner. You just have to present the following documents while picking up your vehicle from the supplier’s service station. For any confusion, refer to the Rental Terms section on our website’s search results page for the supplier’s specific Terms and Conditions or read our ultimate guide for renting a car in Turkey. Our highly qualified customer support team is also available 24/7 to help you with booking-related doubts and queries.
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Car Rental Age
The driver’s age must be at least 21. A young driver surcharge is generally applicable for drivers under 25. Additionally, age policy may differ depending on your selected car category and country.
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Credit Card
You must present a credit card with your full name when picking up your rental vehicle. The supplier will generally pre-authorise the refundable deposit amount of your rental vehicle on the credit card.
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Proof of Identity
A valid ID card or passport would be required at the time of pick up. All foreign renters must provide a passport that has been valid for at least six months.
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Driver’s License
Driver must present a full and valid driving license that has been held for a minimum of 1 year. An International Driving Permit (IDP) is required if the renter’s domestic license is not issued in the Roman alphabet.
Istanbul to Izmir Road Trip Planner
Whether planning to rent a car for one way or round trip journey, you can book either of them through our booking engine. The majority of our partner suppliers let you drive your rental car intercity between Istanbul and Izmir. With branches across popular airport, downtown, train station, bus station, and hotel locations, our partner suppliers make it easy for travelers to plan their pick up and drop off.
Booking a one way car rental from Istanbul to Izmir will be the most convenient as it would eliminate the need to backtrack and drop off the vehicle at its initial pick up location. Rental companies charge a one way fee for such routes, and the same will be included in the final price of the deal. Simply fill in your travel details in the booking widget available on our website to select the most suitable one way car rental for journeying from Istanbul to Izmir.
Istanbul to Izmir Distance | 571 kilometers |
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Pick-Up Locations | Istanbul Airport (IST), Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), Downtown, Taksim Square, Yenibosna, Pendik Railway Station, Levent, /Umraniye |
Drop-Off Locations | Izmir Airport (ADB), Karsiyaka |
Popular Car Types | Economy, SUV, Luxury/Premium |
Extras Available | Additional Driver, Child Seats, GPS, Snow Chains, WiFi Access |
Tips for Booking One Way Car Rental from Istanbul to Izmir
- It’s worth opting for a deal with unlimited mileage and a full to full fuel policy for additional cost savings and remaining stress-free when traveling long distances.
- Compare multiple deals by renowned car rental companies on our platform to select the most budget-friendly option based on your needs. Making an early online reservation is another sure way to avail below-average rates.
- It is advisable to carry all necessary documents, including your rental agreement, driver’s license, passport, etc, while driving in the hired car for an easy and hassle free car rental experience.
- For a safe and easygoing driving experience, upgrade your one way car rental deal with optional Extras like child seats, navigation system (GPS), infant seats, booster cushions, additional drivers, snow chains, winter tyres, etc available at economical rates.
- While browsing car rental deals on our platform, narrow your search results for the ideal vehicle by opting for filters like car category, supplier, price range, fuel policy, mileage options, payment type, etc.
- Based on your travel plans, book your one way car rental on a short term (hourly, daily, weekend, weekly) long term (monthly), or last minute basis. Long term car rentals are a more cost-effective option owing to their lower daily rates.
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