G Turkiye

Category: Transportation

  • Railroads in Turkey

    Most major population centers are connected by rail. From a ring around the Anatolian Plateau, rail lines radiate to Zonguldak and Samsun on the Black Sea; Istanbul, Izmir, and Bandirma in the west; and via Adana to Syria and Iraq in the south. Three lines go into eastern Anatolia. There is rail service connecting most European countries to Istanbul, and there’s also rail service within Turkey (it’s usually slower than bus service). Trains are available from Germany through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria directed to its final destination Istanbul.

    Another Train available is departing from Iran with the direction of Ankara. Planned improvements include limited privatization, upgrading of the Istanbul – Ankara trunk line to include highspeed trains, and improved rail links between Anatolia and Thrace. The Marmaray project, scheduled for completions, aims to improve rail transportation through Istanbul. It will include a railroad tunnel under the Bosporus. Plans call for some private railroad operations to supplement the state system in the future. Ankara, Istanbul, and Izmir have metro systems.

  • How to Come in Turkiye

    BY COACH
    There are regular services between Turkey and Austria, France, Germany, Holland, It Switzerland, and Greece; also Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Syria.

    BY AIR
    Turkish Airlines ( THY ): THY has regular flights in Boeing 737-400’s, 737-500’s, RJ-100’s, and Airbus 310-200’s, 310-300’s, and 340-300’s for Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Antalya, Adana, Trabzon and Dalaman from the principal capitals and major cities of the world.

    International airlines: Most international airlines have regular flights from all major cities of the world to Turkey’s international airports.

    BY SEA
    Passenger Ferries: Apart from numerous cruises in the Mediterranean, several foreign shipping companies have regular services to the ports of Trabzon, Samsun, Istanbul, Dikili, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, Alanya, Mersin and Iskenderun.

    Car Ferries: There are several car ferries for tourists who wish to take their cars while sightseeing: Venice, Ancona, Brindisi, Bari, Istanbul, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Marmaris, Antalya.

    Lines between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
    Tasucu – Girne
    Alanya – Girne
    Mersin – Gazimagosa

    Ferry lines between Turkey and the Greek Islands:
    Ayvalik – Midilli (Lesbos)
    Cesme – Sakiz (Chios)
    Kusadasi – Sisam (Samos)
    Bodrum – Istankoy (Cos)
    Marmaris – Rodos (Rhodes)
    Datca – Siombeki (Symi)

    BY RAIL
    Train journeys can be made to Istanbul directly from and via some of the major cities Europe.

    BY ROAD
    Private car : London – Istanbul, approximately 3,000 km.
    Northern Route : Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
    Southern Route : Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Italy, with a ferry to Turkey

  • How Can I Travel in Turkey

    BY PLANE: Virtually every major city in Turkey has air service and Turkish Airlines offers nationwide services. Most flights connect through Istanbul or Ankara, both of which have domestic and international terminals. You can check Turkish Airlines’ schedules and book flights at www.turkishairlines.com

    BY BUS: Busses are an efficient and affordable way to travel in Turkey. Private bus companies provide frequent day and night services between all Turkish cities. Local Tourism Information Offices usually have bus schedules for their regions; their addresses can be found at www.turizm.gov.tr

    Tourism Information The major bus lines have spacious, comfortable coaches, and offer coffee, tea and snacks. The two largest bus companies’ web sites, www.varan.com.tr and www.ulusoy.com.tr, provide routes, schedules, ticket prices, and office addresses.

    BY TRAIN: The extensive Turkish State Railways network connects most major cities. On some trains, sleeping compartments are available. Detailed train schedules and prices as well as reservation telephone numbers and authorized ticket agents are listed on their web site at www.tcdd.gov.tr. Transportation From and To the Airport Havas airport busses are a convenient and affordable alternative to taxis for transportation from airports to downtown areas or from downtown areas to airports in Turkey. You can find detailed information about the schedules at www.havas.com.tr

  • Adana Airport (ADA), Turkey

    Adana Airport (ADA), Turkey

    For nearly nine decades, Adana Sakirpasa Airport served as the gateway to Turkey’s fertile Cukurova region. As the oldest public airport in Turkey, it witnessed the evolution of aviation from propeller planes to modern jets. However, in a significant shift for regional travel, this historic hub has now transitioned to a new role.

    This article provides a comprehensive overview of the former Adana Airport, its facilities, its operational history, and its replacement by the state-of-the-art Cukurova International Airport .

    Key Facts About Adana Sakirpasa Airport

    Before its closure to commercial traffic, Adana Sakirpasa Airport (IATA: ADA, ICAO: LTAF) was a bustling hub. Here are the essential statistics from its final years of full operation:

    Feature Detail
    Full Name Adana Şakirpaşa Airport
    Opened 1937
    Location Sakirpasa area, 2.3 km west of Adana city centre 
    Elevation 65 ft (20 m) above sea level 
    Runway 05/23 (2,750 m × 45 m) Asphalt
    Terminals Domestic (1984), International (1997), Cargo (1993) 
    Operator General Directorate of State Airports (DHMİ)
    Status Active (General Aviation / Cargo only as of Aug 2024) 

    A Rich History: The Oldest Airport in Turkey

    Adana Airport holds a unique place in Turkish aviation history. Built on farmland, it was originally opened in 1937 as a joint civil-military facility . It remained the only airport in the region for decades, officially transitioning to a fully civilian airport in 1956.

    For many years, it was known for being exceptionally close to the city center – just 3.5 to 4 km away – making it one of the most accessible airports in Turkey for travelers heading to downtown Adana. Passenger traffic steadily grew over the years, hitting a record high of 5.63 million passengers in 2018 .

    The Transition: “Ceased Operations” Explained

    This is the most critical update for travelers to know: As of 10 August 2024, Adana Sakirpasa Airport officially ceased handling commercial airline flights .

    All scheduled passenger services – including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, and AJet (formerly AnadoluJet) – have been relocated to the newly constructed Cukurova International Airport (COV). The final commercial passenger flight departed from the old airport shortly after midnight on 11 August 2024 .

    What is happening at the old site now?

    While it no longer serves tourists flying in for vacation, the site is not abandoned. Adana Sakirpasa Airport has been repurposed into a General Aviation Airport .

    • Private Jets & Business Aviation: The facilities remain open for private travel.

    • Pilot Training: The runway is used by flight schools for training purposes.

    • Air Sports: The airfield supports hobbyist aviation activities.

    Airlines and Destinations (Historical Context)

    Before its closure, Adana Airport was a vital hub connecting Southern Turkey to the world. At its peak, it offered nearly 300 weekly departures .

    • Domestic Hubs: The busiest routes were to Istanbul (both IST and SAW airports) and Ankara, with nearly half of all flights heading to these two cities .

    • International Links: Due to the large Turkish diaspora in Europe, key international destinations included Cologne, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, and London .

    • Regional: Frequent flights connected Adana to Northern Cyprus (Ercan) and Beirut, Lebanon .

    Note: If you hold a ticket with “ADA” as the arrival airport, you must now go to the new Cukurova Airport (COV). Always check your ticket for the updated airport code.

    Ground Transportation (Historical)

    For those curious about the old airport’s accessibility (or if you are visiting the general aviation area):

    • Location: It was located in the Seyhan district, very close to the D400 state road .

    • Buses: Local municipality buses #135 and #159 served the terminal, connecting to the city center and the Central Railway Station .

    • Rail: Sakirpasa railway station was approximately a 20-minute walk from the terminal, offering regional train services .

    The Future: Cukurova International Airport

    With the shift of commercial traffic, the new Cukurova International Airport (COV) is now the primary entry point for the region. Located further outside the city center (near the Tarsus border), it was built to accommodate higher capacity and modern international standards, replacing the constrained, 87-year-old infrastructure of the Şakirpaşa site.

    Adana Sakirpasa Airport served as a loyal workhorse for Turkey’s Mediterranean region for over 80 years. While it is no longer an option for commercial flyers, its legacy as the “oldest airport in Turkey” remains secure. Travelers heading to Adana should now look for flights landing at the brand-new Cukurova Airport (COV) , leaving the historic ADA site to the quiet hum of private planes and student pilots

  • Postal System in Turkey

    Turkish post-offices are easily recognized by their black PTT letters on a yellow background. Major post offices are open from 8:00 a.m. till 12:00 p.m., Monday/Saturday, and 9:00 a.m. till 7:00 p.m., Sunday. Small post-offices have the same hours as the government offices.

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    Postal charges vary for different services depending on destination. Post restante letters should be addressed “postrestant” to the central post-office Merkez Postanesi, in the town of your choice. You have to show your identification card to collect your letters.

    All PTT branches have the facilities to exchange money at the current international exchange rates, as well as international postal orders and travellers’ cheques. There is also an express postal service (APS) operating to 90 countries for letters , documents and small packages. A wide variety of special stamps are available in all PTT centers for philatelists.

    eSIM provider

    To phone from PTT telephone booths, which are extensively found in all areas; telephone cards , and tokens (“;jeton”) in three sizes are used. Local, inter-city and international calls can be made from all PTT offices. Besides these main offices there are also mobile PTT services in the touristic areas. For the area codes of major cities and touristic areas in Turkey, please see the “Area Codes” list. Foreign countries area codes are indicated in the International Telephone Codes list.

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