TAXI AND DOLMUS TRAVEL IN TURKEY
Taxis in Turkey are yellow and easy to recognize. Fares in Istanbul are about 3.80 TL for 1 km (about ½ mile) with a starting flat rate of 3.95 TL; the former difference within the day and night rates has been abolished. Prices in other large cities are alike. Be aware that taxi drivers in tourist areas sometimes doctor their meters to require more; don't ride in a cab in which the meter doesn't work. Before setting out, ask at your hotel about how much a ride should cost. Note that saying the word direct after giving your destination may help prevent you from getting an unplanned grand tour of the town. In cities, it’s relatively easy to flag down a taxi, or you can go to a cab stand where drivers wait for fares. In Istanbul and Ankara, several of the larger hotels will find a taxi for you, usually with drivers or businesses they know and trust.
As a tip, it's common to round up to the next lira. There are no extra charges for luggage. In Istanbul, if you pass one of the Bosphorus bridges, you will be assumed to add the 4.25 TL cost of the toll to the bill regardless of which direction you are going (vehicles only pay going from west to east—the theory is that even if he does not have to pay to take you across, the taxi driver will have to pay to go back). In Ankara, taxi drivers are permitted to charge "night rates" (i.e., 50% higher) for trips to the airport at any hour of the day because it's often difficult for them to find a fare for the journey back into town. Particularly in Istanbul and Ankara, taxi drivers are often recent arrivals to the country, with a very limited knowledge of the city and will have to ask bystanders or other taxi drivers for directions.
Dolmuşes (shared taxis) are bright yellow minibusses that run along various routes. You can often hail a dolmuş on the street, at bus stops, or at dolmuş stands marked by the signs "D." The destination is shown either on a roof sign or a card in the front window. The savings over a private taxi are significant. A trip by dolmuş is often just as fast as by taxi, and service extends to the wee hours of the morning. Although dolmuşes only run along specific routes, they go to tourist destinations, as well as nightlife hot spots. If you're not familiar with your destination, tell the driver where you are going when you get in; he will usually try to drop you as close to your target as possible.
It is not customary to tip dolmuş drivers, and they will probably be confused if you try to hand them something extra.
As a tip, it's common to round up to the next lira. There are no extra charges for luggage. In Istanbul, if you pass one of the Bosphorus bridges, you will be assumed to add the 4.25 TL cost of the toll to the bill regardless of which direction you are going (vehicles only pay going from west to east—the theory is that even if he does not have to pay to take you across, the taxi driver will have to pay to go back). In Ankara, taxi drivers are permitted to charge "night rates" (i.e., 50% higher) for trips to the airport at any hour of the day because it's often difficult for them to find a fare for the journey back into town. Particularly in Istanbul and Ankara, taxi drivers are often recent arrivals to the country, with a very limited knowledge of the city and will have to ask bystanders or other taxi drivers for directions.
Dolmuşes (shared taxis) are bright yellow minibusses that run along various routes. You can often hail a dolmuş on the street, at bus stops, or at dolmuş stands marked by the signs "D." The destination is shown either on a roof sign or a card in the front window. The savings over a private taxi are significant. A trip by dolmuş is often just as fast as by taxi, and service extends to the wee hours of the morning. Although dolmuşes only run along specific routes, they go to tourist destinations, as well as nightlife hot spots. If you're not familiar with your destination, tell the driver where you are going when you get in; he will usually try to drop you as close to your target as possible.
It is not customary to tip dolmuş drivers, and they will probably be confused if you try to hand them something extra.
