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Somewhere between a bus and a taxi is the Dolmuş (dohl-moosh), a kind of "shared taxi" which has characteristics of both. It's a cheap and easy way to get around--from your hotel to a nearby beach--or from your home to work. By all means get over any reluctance to ride one for the first time. Once you take your first dolmuş ride you'll probably use them as a regular means of transportation, and probably wonder why they don't have them in your own country. Although cars are sometimes be used for this purpose, 12-passenger mini-bus dolmuşes are the norm. The word "dolmuş" means "stuffed." It recalls the days when dolmuşes were overcrowded with passengers, many of them packed in the aisle with little or no room to move. Laws now require dolmuşes to carry only the number of passengers they can properly seat. A dolmuş runs a fixed route from origin to destination, with regular stops along the way as indicated on a placard on the windshield. Regular dolmuş stops are marked with a sign, bearing a white "D" on a blue background. They usually don't work on a time schedule. If you miss one, another will probably be along in about 20 minutes. Boarding a Dolmuş Dolmuşes congregate at a garaj, which is usually an open parking lot. They wait until they have a few passengers, and then start their route. You can catch one at the garaj or waive one down anywhere along its route. Waive at the driver, and he will pull over and stop, traffic permitting. To make sure you're getting on the correct one, look for a placard in the windshield which displays its destination(s). Paying the Fare Dolmuş fares are set by the municipality. The fare is much less than a taxi, usually around 5TL. You can pay as soon as you board, or you can sit down and pass the fare to a passenger in front of you. The passengers will pass it to the driver. If you have change coming, they will pass it back to you the same way. Getting Off at Your Stop When the Dolmuş comes to a place where you want to get off, say inecek var (ee-neh-jek vahr), which means "there is one to get off." If you are new to the area and don't know which stop you need, you can tell the driver what hotel you're staying in or where your final destination is, and he'll let you know when your stop comes up. Operating Hours Dolmuşes usually operate during daylight hours. During the summer, in tourist areas, they may operate until midnight. Inter-city Buses Although not officially a "dolmuş," there are larger short-haul mini-buses which run routes between nearby towns, beaches or sights, either for a company or a cooperative between the two towns. They usually depart from the bus station, and have a set schedule and fare, but unlike long-haul inter-city buses, they may also pick up passengers who signal them along the way. See Also Travel, Tours, and Activities Forum

For short trips to and from nearby cities and towns, or for excursions to local attractions, you can catch a smaller, no-frills bus which usually hold around 15 passengers. These buses either depart from the main bus station, and/or from a smaller satellite bus station on the side of town nearest the destination. These bus routes are run by local companies or cooperatives, and the buses usually depart from around 6:00 AM to midnight on an hourly basis or less. The smaller companies seldom, if ever, have a website where you can book online. To book a seat, you will need to call or go to the bus company office which will be at the local bus station, or at a booth at their main stop in the city or town.You can also just show up, pay the fare, and hop on. They don't usually fill to capacity except during peak hours or on Turkish holidays. But if the next bus is full, you'll be able to get on the one departing after that. If you're going to a place along the way to their destination, let them know, since you might be charged less. While the drivers of these buses don't seek out passengers along the way like a dolmuş, they will stop and pick you up if you flag them down. See Also Turkish for Bus Travel: A guide to Turkish terms you'll need to know while using Turkey's inter-city bus system. Long-distance Bus Travel in Turkey: A guide for travel by inter-city motor coach. City Buses in Turkey: A guide to taking the city bus. The Dolmuş: A guide to riding privately-owned mini-buses, or jitneys.

Turkish long-distance buses are modern, comfortable, and air-conditioned. Some buses (called teknobus), even have wireless internet and entertainment systems so you can watch a small selection of Turkish television shows and movies on a screen mounted on the back of the seat in front of you (earphones provided). A steward will also serve you snacks, tea, coffee and soft drinks. There are no toilets, and smoking is not allowed. But the trips allow for a ten-minute break, called a mola, approximately every 40 minutes, with longer breaks for meals at designated rest stops along the way. The food at these rest stops is usually excellent. Trips lasting ten hours or more are usually done at night, or twice per day. These long trips can really wear you out. By flying, you can get the trip over with more quickly and not be as tired on arrival as you would after a long bus journey. Flights within Turkey are also reasonably priced, so unless you don't mind sleeping in a bus seat, at least check the airline ticket price and consider it as an option. Another option is to break up the bus trip into two parts, see another city on the way, and get a good night's sleep in between. If there is train service to your destination, you can also get a couchette, or sleeping compartment, on a train where you can get a night's sleep and arrive well-rested the next day. Buses and Car Rentals Renting a car and driving long distances is expensive, since petrol prices in Turkey are some of the highest in the world. A better option is to take a long-distance bus to your destination, then rent a car there. Once you've seen the local sights, you can take the bus back to your city of origin or to the next city you want to visit. How to Buy a Bus Ticket in Turkey At the Bus Station If you are going from one major city to another, you can usually just go to the bus station, buy a ticket, and wait for the next bus. When you enter the bus station, a tout will usually approach you to see where you're going and take you to his company's ticket desk. You can go with him, or walk along the rows of ticket desks looking for your preferred company or destination. Each company will have signs displaying the destinations they service. The ticket clerks will usually speak enough English to help you with any questions. At a Downtown Office You can also visit a bus company office in city center and buy a ticket, then take a courtesy bus to the bus station. Ask the clerk when the courtesy bus will be departing, since the time on your ticket refers to the departure time of the bus from the bus station, not the departure of the courtesy bus from the bus company office. The departure time (saat or haraket saati), and the departure gate will be written on your ticket. The major companies will also have a courtesy bus at the bus station at your destination, that will take you to their office downtown. Ask about this when you book your ticket, then again when you arrive, since you will need to find out where to go to connect with the courtesy bus. At a Bus Company Office Since most bus stations are on the outskirts of the city, all of the major bus companies have ticketing offices in city center. They are often right next to each other, and near the train station, if there is one. You can just walk in, tell them where you want to go and when, and buy a ticket. At Your Hotel You can also have the hotel clerk book your bus ticket for you. Have them call and reserve a seat, then just go to the bus company office and get your ticket. Seating If you want a window seat, ask for a pencere koltuğu (pen-jeh-reh kol-too-oo). For an aisle seat, ask for a koridor koltuğu. (kor-ee-dor kol-too-oo). You can also ask to see the seating plan and point to the seat you want. The most comfortable seats are those in the middle of the bus. Bus Ticket Prices Bus ticket prices vary according to company and the type of bus used. There are discounts for round-trip tickets, and for children. You can check prices on the various bus company websites here. Bus Travel During Turkish Holidays During Turkish national and Muslim holidays, buses fill to capacity, and the roads are busy with travelers. This also causes higher accident rates than other days of the year. It is safest to avoid travel during these times, but if you must, make your reservation at least one day in advance, earlier if possible. Short-haul Inter-city Buses These short routes are usually run by smaller local companies or by cooperatives between nearby towns. They may also go to nearby popular sights, running at least hourly every day during daylight hours. They are certainly a more affordable alternative to renting a car. You can take one of these buses to, for example, a nearby ancient site or beach, stay as long as you want, then take the same bus back. Be sure to ask when the last bus returns. See Also Turkish for Bus Travel: Basic Turkish you should know when using the long-distance bus system in Turkey. Short-haul Inter-city Bus Travel City Buses in Turkey: A guide to traveling by municipal bus. The Dolmuş: A guide to using privately owned mini-buses, or jitneys.

Garages and Bus Stops Turkish city buses usually start from a garaj (gah-rahjh) or central bus station. Although the word "garaj" implies a covered building, they are usually just big parking lots with ranks of buses. City buses operate on a time schedule, and will only stop at an otobus durağı (o-tow-boos doo-rah-ooh), or bus stop. These bus stops may or may not be marked, and may or may not have a shelter. If the stop you're looking for isn't obvious, ask a passer-by where it is. Transportation Cards In the big cities, bus drivers don't accept cash. You must have a transportation card with a certain amount of money pre-loaded on it. You can get one at various kiosks which advertise them by displaying a logo for the local card. There is a fee for the card itself, then a charge for whatever amount of money you want the card to hold. These cards only work in the city where they are issued, and good for all other kinds of public transportation, such as trams, ferries, and the metro. Paying the Fare With a transportation card, simply swipe it across a sensor next to the driver. It will beep, and automatically deduct the fare amount from the card. If you only have cash or your card has been depleted, nearby passengers will often offer to swipe their card on your behalf. Just pay the other passenger for the amount of the fare in return. Getting Off at Your Stop City buses won't stop at a bus stop unless there is someone waiting there, or unless the driver is signaled to stop by a passenger. You can do this by pressing one of the stop buttons at the exits and also in the railings along the aisle. If you're planning to take the same trip regularly, familiarize yourself with nearby landmarks which will let you know when your stop is coming up, or ask a friend which landmarks to look out for. You can also tell the driver where you need to get off and he will stop there and let you know that you have arrived at your destination. If you're unable to reach the stop button in time, say inecek var (ee-neh-jek var), which means "there is someone who is getting off." Someone near a button will press it for you. This phrase can also come in handy if, because of the crowd, you can't get to the door before the driver closes it. Shout the phrase, and he will open the door again and wait for you to get out. Operating Hours Operating hours for bus systems vary from city to city, but they generally run at regular times from around 6:00 AM to Midnight. More popular routes will have reduced service, for example, every two hours, after midnight. Özel Halk (Special Public) Buses Besides municipal buses, some cities have privately-run buses which may accept both the local transportation card and cash. You'll find them in the larger cities on the more busy bus routes. Pickpockets and Gropers Crowded municipal buses are perfect for pickpockets. As a bus goes around turns and curves (the pickpocket will know exactly when one is coming up) will cause people to lean in to each other and grab railings and straps for stability. Read our article about pickpockets in Turkey for more information. Regular complaints have come from female passengers taking the city bus, especially in Istanbul, about being groped by male passengers. If this happens, face the man who is doing it and make a scene. Not only will it stop, but other passengers may intervene on your behalf. For more information, see our article on sexual harassment in Turkey. See Also Long-distance Bus Travel in Turkey Short-haul Inter-city Bus Travel: A guide to smaller buses which travel to and from nearby towns. The Dolmuş: A guide to using privately owned mini-buses

Çıktı: Departed. Dakika: Minute (60 seconds). Dolu: Full, reserved. Firma: Firm, company. Fiyat: Fare, price. Haraket: Movement, departure. Hareket Yeri: Departure place. Hareket Tarihi: Departure date. Internet Fiyatı: Internet price. Kalkış: Departure. Kalkış Yeri: Departure place. Kalkış Saati: Departure time Liste Fiyatı: Listed fare (list price). Normal Fiyatı: Normal (standard) fare. Otogar: Bus station. Peron: Gate, departure gate. Varış: Arrival. Varış Yeri: Arrival place Kalkış: Departure Kalkış-Varış: Departure-arrival, round-trip ticket. KM: Kilometers. Otobüs Tipi: Bus type. Saat: Time, hour. Sefer: Trip. Sefer Listesi: Trip listing. Sefer Tipi: Journey type. Sefer Durakları: Journey stops (number of stops along the way). Sefer No., Sefer Numarasi: Trip number. Sefer Sorgulama: Trip inquiry, normally the button on a website which takes to to the page where you can book a trip. Teknobus: A bus equipped with wireless internet. Transfer: transfer. Travego: Standard long-distance bus. Internet Fiyatı: Internet fare Aradığınız kriterlere oygun sever bulunamamıştır: No journeys were found which meet your criteria. Uygun: Avalilable, seats available. Yolcu: Trip, journey. Yolculu: Passenger. Yolculuk Süresi: Trip duration. See Also Turkish Language Forum: Our forum for the Turkish language. If you have any questions, please ask them there.