🎟️ Tickets in Türkiye: flights, buses, trains and ferries

Domestic flights: Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus

The three names you will see everywhere are Turkish Airlines (the flag carrier, turkishairlines.com), AJet (ajet.com, the lower-cost sister that used to be called AnadoluJet) and Pegasus (flypgs.com). Together they cover a dense domestic network: Istanbul’s two airports, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya, Dalaman, Bodrum, Kayseri, Nevşehir and many more.

Book on the airline’s official site or app, or through a large ticket platform such as Obilet. Check which Istanbul airport the flight uses — IST and SAW are not interchangeable, and the transfer between them is a journey in itself.

I am not quoting typical fares. Domestic prices move with the season, the hour and how early you book. Compare official sites and read the baggage rules: low-cost tickets often charge extra for a hold bag.

Intercity buses and Obilet

Long-distance buses (otobüs) are how many people move between cities. The bus station is the otogar — “Otogar nerede?” if you need to find it. Big companies include names such as Metro Turizm, Kamil Koç and Pamukkale; you can buy at the otogar, at company offices, or online.

Obilet (obilet.com) is the booking site most travellers actually use: it compares companies, seats and times, and also sells some flights and ferries. You get a ticket on your phone. Arrive at the otogar a little early; platforms can change and a teslim / luggage step is common.

Buses are comfortable on the main routes, with a rest stop (mola) on longer journeys. Keep your ticket handy and your bag tagged.

Trains: TCDD and the YHT high-speed lines

The national operator is TCDD Taşımacılık. High-speed trains are called YHT (Yüksek Hızlı Tren). The official place to buy is the e-bilet site: ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr — or the TCDD Taşımacılık app and station counters.

YHT lines connect Istanbul with Ankara and Konya, and Ankara with Konya and other cities on the high-speed network. Istanbul YHT platforms you will hear about include Söğütlüçeşme, Pendik and Halkalı — check your ticket, because the station is not always the one next to your hotel.

Book early for Friday and Sunday afternoons. Ordinary regional trains are slower and useful for some towns the YHT does not reach. Always use the official TCDD channel rather than a random reseller.

Ferries

In Istanbul, Şehir Hatları city ferries are part of daily life and are paid with an Istanbulkart at the pier. They are not only scenic — they are often the calmest way between Eminönü, Karaköy, Beşiktaş, Üsküdar and Kadıköy.

Longer Marmara routes are run by companies such as İDO and BUDO; İzmir has its own municipal ferries, rideable with an İzmirim Kart. Summer and weekend sailings sell out: buy in advance on the operator’s official site when you are taking a longer crossing, and just tap your city card for a short Şehir Hatları hop.

The phrases at the counter

“Bir bilet, lütfen.” “Ankara'ya bir bilet istiyorum.” “Ne kadar sürer?” And if you are not sure you are on the right vehicle: “Bu otobüs Taksim'e gidiyor mu?” Practise them in the Getting around lessons.