Road Trip Across Turkey: From Istanbul to Ölüdeniz and Back
Hello and welcome to the Pakor Man channel! Today, I’m taking you on an incredible road trip across Turkey, starting in Istanbul and heading all the way down to Ölüdeniz, before making our way back. Join me as I explore the road conditions, fuel costs, toll charges, and roadside facilities along the way.
Beginning the Journey in Istanbul
It’s morning, and all our bags are packed. The rental car is fully loaded, and we’re ready to head south towards the city of Selçuk, where we’ll spend a couple of nights visiting the Roman ruins of Ephesus. After that, we’ll continue to Fethiye and Ölüdeniz for a five-day stay. On the way back, we’ll stop for a few days in Pamukkale, before finally returning to Istanbul.
Since we have a lot of luggage, we chose a larger rental car. Hopefully, it serves us well for this long journey.
Our trip begins in the heart of Istanbul, where we were staying in the Sultanahmet area. During the day, the streets here are extremely crowded, so it was nice to start our drive while the roads were still relatively empty.
Crossing the Bosphorus
Since we were staying on the European side of Istanbul, we first needed to cross the Bosphorus to reach the Asian side. We did this through the magnificent SE Tunnel, which stretches for an incredible 6 kilometers.
As we leave Istanbul and head towards Selçuk, here are some highlights from our time in the city. Don’t forget to check out my other videos, including my visit to Galata Tower and Şamlar.
First Toll Gate and Roadside Facilities
The first toll gate we encountered had a fee of 190 Turkish Lira. Most cars passed through quickly, likely using an automated toll pass. We received a ticket and would pay at the other side. Later, I discovered that the toll system automatically registers the car’s license plate and bills the charges directly to the rental company.
We made a quick stop at a service station, not quite halfway yet, but we needed a break. The facilities here were excellent—clean restrooms, prayer areas, plenty of food options, and a variety of shops.
By this point, we had been on the road for a few hours. We left Istanbul at 7:30 AM, half an hour later than planned, and got caught in the morning rush hour traffic. In hindsight, it would have been better to leave at 6:00 AM or after 11:00 AM to avoid congestion. We also had some trouble with the satellite navigation at the beginning but switched to Waze, which worked much better than Google Maps.
We had about three hours left before reaching Selçuk and our accommodation.
Arrival in Selçuk and Exploring Ephesus
We arrived in Selçuk at 2:00 PM. If you subtract the wrong turns, traffic delays, and two 25-minute service station stops, the actual driving time was around 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Our reason for stopping in Selçuk was to visit the ancient ruins of Ephesus, where we stayed for two nights at Villa Dreams, a charming hillside property with a small pool. The rooms were clean, spacious, and tastefully decorated, making for a pleasant stay.
Journey to Ölüdeniz via Fethiye
After our two-day stay in Selçuk, we set off for Ölüdeniz. The satellite navigation estimated a distance of 183 miles, with a drive time of about 3 hours and 46 minutes via the toll roads. Taking the older route would have added about two extra hours, so we opted for the faster route.
Along the way, we enjoyed scenic views and even passed through Marmaris, a famous holiday resort, though we didn’t stop there.
After another toll tunnel (which cost 15 Turkish Lira), we finally reached Fethiye and caught our first glimpse of the stunning coastline. From there, it was just a short drive to Ölüdeniz.
Stay in Ölüdeniz
We checked into Golden Line Hotel Apartments, which was fantastic—featuring two bedrooms, a living area, a kitchenette, and a dining space. The views were breathtaking, and the pool was lovely.
Our six-day stay in Ölüdeniz was filled with relaxation and sightseeing. Afterward, we continued our journey back towards Pamukkale.
Return Trip: Stop in Pamukkale
Leaving Ölüdeniz, we had 200 kilometers to cover to reach Pamukkale, a journey that would take about three hours without stops. The drive through the mountains was breathtaking, reminding me of Lancashire’s steep roads back home.
At Pamukkale, we stayed at the Paradise Hotel, a clean and comfortable place with everything we needed.
Final Leg: Back to Istanbul via Bursa
After two nights in Pamukkale, we set off for Istanbul—a 600-kilometer drive that should take about six hours without stops.
Midway, we decided to take a detour to Bursa, which was two hours from Istanbul. Bursa, the first capital of the Ottoman Empire, has incredible historical sites like the Grand Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and the Tomb of Osman Gazi.
Final Arrival in Istanbul & Summary of Costs
We finally arrived back in Istanbul at 8:00 PM, much later than expected due to our detour to Bursa. Since we still had the rental car for another day, we decided to visit Sapanca Lake, a popular weekend retreat just 90 minutes from Istanbul.
Now that I’m back from my trip, here’s a summary of the total costs for this road trip:
- Car rental (12 days): £590
- Additional insurance: £53
- Accommodation costs:
- Selçuk (2 nights, B&B for 4 people): £60
- Ölüdeniz (6 nights, apartment for 4 people): £577
- Pamukkale (2 nights, B&B for 4 people): £43
- Toll charges (total for 2,200 km): £4
- Fuel costs (total for 2,200 km): £80
Final Thoughts
This road trip across Turkey was truly amazing. Surprisingly, what I thought would be the hardest part—the driving—turned out to be the easiest and most enjoyable aspect of the journey!
If you enjoyed this video, please give it a thumbs up, and if you have any questions or have done a similar road trip in Turkey, let me know in the comments! Don’t forget to subscribe and click the bell icon for future updates.
see you in the next adventure!
