Changes

Trucks are banned Update 2022: ''Definitely have some lira before hitchhiking into Istanbul. Both times we did it we were left far away from entering the city during rush hours center so you will have to get on public transport and for this you should buy an Istanbul card instead of a one-pass unless you're literally just passing through the city. The city is absolutely huge and getting an Istanbul card is a must unless you want to pay double every time you enter public transport (morning: ''?''15Tl for 1-pass tickets vs 7, evening: about 17:00-22:0067tl for a ride with the card). Even though you have to pay for the Istanbul Card itself, after 5 or 6 rides it's already much better to have had the card, and even when they we learned this the expensive way. You can proceed through buy the city, there are few places card on kiosks and you only need to stopbuy one as you can use it for as many people as you want. Therefore When the funds run out topping it up is highly likely that your driver will let you out at as easy as placing the card on the Mahmutbey toll boothsticket machine white illuminated area and uploading tl into it. There are two ways Blackriding sadly seems to be impossible or at least improbable as every entrance and exit of the centre from heretram or metro is guarded and the bus drivers only open the first doors.''

One option is Also you can get out at fuel stations and ask there for ride to walk to the side road to the right of the motorway, then turn to the first or second street to your right (the wide one). From the bus stop about 200 m down that street, take bus 89M "Zeytinburnu Metro", which costs about 2.00* TL pp (~ €0.80).city

* note about buses - At the time of this correction (07/09/11) all public transport in Istanbul is 1.75 with an "akbil" which is used for pre-payment. It *is* usually still possible to ride the bus by giving the money to another passenger who will then use their akbil for you. Some drivers also ask passengers to do this for you if you try to give them money. It is almot certainly impossible to ride for free=== Northwest towards [[Greece]] , unless by permission of the driver.[[Edirne]], [[Bulgaria]] {{E|80}} {{E|84}}===

== Hitchhiking out == Test option - Ispartakule Park Area North ====

Generally, you can just start hitching anywhere in the city center. Just walk to the nearest Ispartakule Park Area North is a fuel station on E80 highway (See Google maps for getting there and stick your thumb out. It might need a few lifts until you get out of the border, but given that you hardly ever wait more than 10 minutes for a lift, it can be faster than public transportupdate how its.There is bus 76E going to Sehit Serife Bacı Lisesi bus stop not far place)

''Taksim Square in the center ==== Out of the European part of Istanbul is chosen as a starting point for the upcoming description due to the fact that there the most bus lines of the European side start and end.''city option ====

=== Northwest towards [[Edirne]] You can get out of city bus 303 from Yenibosna Metro to last bus stop Silivri Halk Otobüsü Bekleme Garajı (or bus 303B from Otogar Metro till bus stop Mimarsinan Mah). Ticket cost 11 TL and [[Bulgaria]] {{E|80}} ===you can pay only with Istanbulcard.

There are several ways to get out of the city centre and onto the main A) 4 km walk away is E8O highway. If you stop a car that is not going a long distanceemergency line, then it is best to aim for the Mahmutbey toll booths in the northwest of Istanbul where the E80 really begins. From here, it 5 km walk away is possible to Karbey Dinlenme Tesisi rest stop long-distance cars and trucks. Strictly speaking, pedestrians are not permitted here; if a bored traffic police officer asks you to leave, but ignore him and feign misunderstanding, and walk a few metres away and thumb.

You can take bus 83O* If you want to be at E8O highway emergency line faster get out from Taksim Square to the big bus station ''Bayrampaşa Otogar'' on the European side, which is just along the motorway to Edirne / Bulgaria. Take the bus to the last at Kamiloba stop, get off and walk back to the entrance1. From there, you'll be hitching directly along the motorway. A sign works well here, and there is plenty of space for drivers to pull over since a lot of buses and minibuses stop for passengers just outside). While exiting, you'll notice a petrol station to your right that is a possible alternative starting point where you can ask drivers for lifts (or just use the toilet)6 at Çakılyolu Sk street.

* note A good middle option seems to be taking bus 303 to station Selimpaşa from where it's about buses - At a 30 minute walk to the time of this correction (07/09/11) all public transport in Istanbul is 1.75 TL, however it is no longer possible E80 or about a 40 minute walk to pay the driver as you are supposed to have an "akbil" which first gas station on the E80 and catching a ride is used for pre-paymenteasy. It *is* usually still possible The first few cars will go to ride the bus by giving the money to another passenger who will then use their akbil for you, Silivri but this will usually take the cost up to 2TL. Some drivers also ask passengers to do this for you if you try to give them money. It is almot certainly impossible are bound to catch a ride for free, unless by permission of the drivergoing towards Edirne relatively quickly.

==== Metro Getting to suburbans of Istanbul ====

Get into Another way to get to city's western outskirts is to take the metro at Taksim Square from Aksaray close to Sultanahmet in the old city centre, and take a train towards ride it till ''Atatürk Oto SanayiYenibosna''. This is currently the last station for the trains departing from Taksim(2. One ticket costs 2,00 0 TL (~0pp,roughly €0.80 Euro). Then, or 1.75 TL with an prepay "akbil". At take the public bus #448 (''Sanayi MahallesiYenibosna Metro-Mimarsinan'' station (not to be confused with Atatürk Oto Sanayi ; an extra 2.00 TL pp), which is departs from the last stops right next to metro station en route), get out of the Metro. You will find yourself along the ride this bus for a ''Büyükdere Caddesilong'' avenue. Walk along the main street direction north (watch out for big signs that are leading drivers to time, roughly an hour, until where it quits the motorway west and turns to Edirne. After 3-4 min and passing right in a military camp you'll see cloverleaf interchange near the village of Mimarsinan, where the [[on-ramp]]bus eventually heads. Unfortunately, there is no way to cross Get off at the stop right at the street from very location bus turns right to left then by attempting suicide, because the main street this is mostly full of fast trafficwhere as much west as you can get on Istanbul's public transportation. If you are not brave enough to do so, Then walk another 10 min a bit further and cross from the street over a bridge junction, and walk back the way along the other sidestart thumbing.

Or better, you may get off the metro at ''İTÜ-Ayazağa'' station (the first one after ''Sanayi Mahallesi''), cross the street on an pedestrian overpass close to that station's exit and then walk ''south'' for about 10 min to get to the on ramp to the motorway. You will have to walk past the military park on the right side ==== Trains out of the road, and then you will see the big motorway below.city ====

Go somewhat down For those who rather not try hitchhiking through the overgrown western suburbs of the ramp and you can find city, a slightly more expensive but a good spot lot easier way to stand and stop cars. Also try follow this westbound route to Greece may be to take the morning train to get short lifts (even some kilometres can help [[Muratlı]] from Sirkeci station in central Istanbul), and then hitch your way forward to Greece via [[Tekirdağ]] from there. See [[Muratlı]] article for full details.

Other buses pass Check the toll bootharticle on [https://hitchwiki. One is 98H from Bakırköy, a suburb in the westorg/en/Kapitan_Andreevo-Kap%C4%B1kule_border_crossing Kapikule-Kapitan Andreevo border crossing] if you're going towards Bulgaria as it can be difficult.

=== Westwards towards [[GreeceCannakale]] (via [[Tekirdağ|Tekirdag]]) {{E|84}} ===

Take the suburban train (''banliyö treni'') from the very city center (Sirkeci) towards Halkali. It's only 2.00 lira. Get off at ''Küçükçekmece''. If the train station is 6 o'clock, walk in the direction of 12 o'clock in order to find the on ramp towards [[Tekirdağ|Tekirdag]]. This is the same road that will take you directly to Greece, although you will still be well within the congested motorways of suburban Istanbul. Be aware that you cannot cross this border walking! You have to find somebody to take you across. Knowing [[Western Europe phrasebook|German]] will help you a lot to explain that you need help Bus #34B/C/BZ/G to cross the border due to many drivers last stop and start hitchhiking with a Turkish-German background.Tekirdag sign there

Another way to get to city's western outskirts is to take the metro from Aksaray close to Sultanahmet in the old city centre, and ride it till ''Yenibosna'' station (2.0 TL pp, roughly €0.80). Then, take the public bus #448 (''Yenibosna Metro-Mimarsinan''; an extra 2.00 TL pp), which departs from the stops right next to metro station. You will ride this bus for a ''long'' time, roughly an hour, until where it quits the motorway west === East and turns to right in a cloverleaf interchange near the village of south towards [[MimarsinanAnkara]], where the bus eventually heads. Get off at the stop right at the very location bus turns right, this is where as much west as you can get on Istanbul's public transportation. Then walk a bit further from the junctionBlack Sea coast, and start thumbing. Hitchhiker [[User:VidimianAntalya {{E|Vidimian]] tried this route in 2002 or 2003, when he wasn't very experienced at hitchhiking. The first lift offer arrived so late (after about 2 hours of thumbing) and the following lifts were so short (and, again, late) that he could make it to [[Tekirdağ]], a mere 120 km away from this hitching spot, after the night falls, despite starting early in the morning.80}} ===

Once you have passed the border'''Rest Stop Nr. 1:''' Take bus 19, 19C, 19Y, try to stay in the car 19T or just ask which took you through, as the first 20-30 km on the Greek side bus is one of the worst places going to hitchhike in Europe. Local people there are afraid of stories about immigrants from Iran and Afghanistan etc. so it's especially hard Ferhatpaşa the stop you have to get off at you will see a ride. It took hitchhiker [[User:Lapulevel|Lapulevel]] road going in a full day to get out of this area—and that wasn't simply circle like a shortage of luck as that happened twice!big roundabout its Flat Prof Dr Necmettin Erbakan Park from there search Mirkelam Dinlenme Tesisleri İstanbul rest stop (40.98854931087875, 29.192601039813262) on E-80 / O-4.

* '''From parking on motorway O4Rest Stop Nr. 2:'''Take ferry Metroline M4 in direction Tavsantepe and get out at Pendik Istasyonu. Change to Busline KM18 and get out at Mehmetcik Vakfi. You''Kadıköy'' on Asian side. Next re just next to the ferry terminal there is a bus terminal big highway reststop, where you can take bus 19, 19C or 19Y. Get off at the stop ''Ferhatpaşa'' (you will see a road going in a circle like a big roundabout). From there walk northeast until you get to also catch all the motorway O4 Anadolu Otoyolutraffic coming from SAW Airport. There is a fence along the motorway but it has many holes, so getting to the other side is not difficultCoordinates: 40. Once you get to the parking area, you can ask around or make a big sign and show it at parking area's exit to the drivers passing by on the motorway, so they can stop on a merge lane. There's one small restaurant in the parking area where many drivers stop for a short break92008 29.35054

* '''==== From Şekerpınar close to Gebze'''====

Most people who will take you might just drive for another 10km or so. There are lots of [[petrol station hitchhiking|petrol stations]] on the way in this giant suburban maze but chances are only local people stop there. You will have to go for about nearly 20 or 30 km until you will actually be out of the Istanbul metropolis.

If you want to avoid 30km 30 km of urban hitch hiking, from the last stop of 112 take bus 134BK (other 134 buses may work as well) which leaves across the road from where 112 ends. Ride until the end and transfer onto 133Ş and ride it until the last stop. You are then in Şekerpınar and can walk the 2km to the main motorway O4 Anadolu Otoyolu.E8O

* '''From Bostancı Köprüsü (Bostancı Bridge)Update 2022:'''From ''Taksim'' Square take bus 129T (''Taksim - Üst Bostancı'' line), which, like There is no reststop or gasstation at the other transcontinental bus lines, requires two tickets (3.50 TL*). Get off Otoyolu at the leaf-clover interchange called in Turkish ''Bostancı Köprüsü'' (literally Bostancı Bridge), close to its last stopŞekerpınar. You can recognize the interchange by big signs saying ''Bostancı'' and ''İçerenköy'' (besides the usual ''İzmit'' and ''Ankara'' signs) there. Then, after getting off the bus, walk past the interchange until you see a safe shoulder down the road The highway is a couple hundred metres away. Start hitching there ready really huge one with a [[Signs|sign]] saying at least ‘[[Gebze]]'/'[[Izmit]]’, it’ll make you more visible and look like a total hitchhikercars going very fast. Drivers around here seem to have some concerns about sharing their car with a stranger and looking like a total hitchhiker seems Walking or trying to somewhat ease their anxiety. However, there are also many minibuses heading for ''Gebze'' hitchhike on the highway in this road, so hiding your sign when they are passing by and shaking your head both sides when its headlights flash (to ask whether you’d like a ride … for a fee) may prevent some part of the unwanted attentionTurkey is definetly not recommended. Expect to wait at least 30 minutes until you are offered a lift. Morning hours (approx. between 6:30-8:30) are best since You can take the road is congested at that time and vehicles move slowlyonramp though, which lets the drivers but you will only be able to think more about taking you in. Beware of the motorcycles by the way, which sometimes illegally drive inside the shoulder catch traffic coming from Şekerpınar and literally skim you overother surburbs.

* note about buses - At '''Other 2022 update''' There is no rest stop but the time lane of this correction (07/09/11) the enterance becomes a shoulder lane in like 50 meters.Move a bit away from the lane so the cars from that enterance can see you and thumb all public transport the highway cars and you'll have a ride in Istanbul is 1no time.75, however it As the police in Turkey are completely ambivalent towards thumbing on the highway catching a ride is no longer possible to pay the driver pretty easy as long as you are supposed to have an "akbil" which is used for predon't mind super-paymentfast cars flying by you. It *is* usually still possible to ride  ==== From Bostancı Köprüsü (Bostancı Bridge) ==== From ''Taksim'' Square take bus 129T (''Taksim - Üst Bostancı'' line), which, like the other transcontinental bus by giving lines, requires two tickets (3.50 TL). Get off at the money leaf-clover interchange called in Turkish ''Bostancı Köprüsü'' (literally Bostancı Bridge), close to another passenger who will then use their akbil for youits last stop. Some drivers also ask passengers to do this for you if you try to give them moneyYou can recognize the interchange by big signs saying ''Bostancı'' and ''İçerenköy'' (besides the usual ''İzmit'' and ''Ankara'' signs) there. It is almot certainly impossible to ride for freeThen, after getting off the bus, unless by permission of walk past the interchange until you see a safe shoulder down the driverroad a couple hundred metres away.Start hitching there ready with a [[Signs|sign]] saying at least ‘[[Gebze]]'/'[[Izmit]]’, it’ll make you more visible

* '''==== The (free) walking option==== While most people would find it more comfortable to take a bus to the outskirts and then start hitchiking there is another, slightly more challenging, option. Generally it is actually faster to just find a good piece of highway somewhere close to where you stay (even if it's in the centre of Istanbul), get ON the highway and put your thumb up. You are unlikely to wait more than 3-5 minute before a car pulls over (many people don''t really mind stopping on the highway) and the police is very unlikely to give you any trouble

While most people would From Taksim: Walk down Cumhüriyet Caddesi for about 40-50 minutes. It's a big avenue which is easy to find (alternatively just follow the signs on Taxim for Şisli). After 40-50 minutes you'll see Cevahir shopping center on your right side and that's about 200 meters from where you'll start hitching. If you manage to get lost (hard as it more comfortable to take 's a bus big avenue without any real tricky intersection or anything) you should just ask your way to Cevahir shopping center.After the 40-50 minute walk (about the time when you pass Cevahir shopping center on your right side) you'll see the highway. This is th spot where the outskirts Mercidiköy bridge starts and then start hitchiking from there hitchhiker [[Theo]] has, after hitchhiking out about 70-80 % of Istanbul 10ish times, found that it the traffic is bound for the Asian side. When you get to the highway (which is actually faster about 10 meters over you as you are under the bridge) you'll see the Mercidiköy bustation to just find your left. Turn left,walk 20 meters until you see a good piece of highway somewhere close small footpath leading up to where you stay, get ON the highway , climb up, thumb up, and put smile at your thumb up. You audience (often about 50-60 people) who are unlikely to wait more than 3-5 minute before a car stops and waiting for the police is very unlikely Metrobus to come. They might even give you any trouble (they picked [[Theo]] an applause if you just put up twice and gave him tea)a show.

From TaksimImportant: Walk down Cumhüriyet Caddesi BE PATIENT AND DON'T JUST ACCEPT ANY RIDE. Wait for someone who's going at least past the main intersection in Atesehir (big avenuesay that you want to go direction Gebze/Izmit on the autoyol). Even though almost no traffic is going far from here it is important that your first ride is gonna take you to the O4 highway after the two highways merges and that may mean declining 1, hard 2 or 4 rides. Ask to get dropped of at the highway and not findat some on-ramp or something even more silly (this is [[Turkey]] remember) for about 40-50 minutes. It's a big avenue without any real possibility You may have to get lost but if repeat it one or two more times before you do manage to get lost you can ask for Cevahir shopping center which is about 100 meters from where youout of Istanbul just because of the city'll start hitchings enourmous size.

After the 40-50 minute walk (about the time when Alternatively you pass Cevahir shopping center on your right side) could wait for a ride to take you'll see across the highway. This is th spot where the Mercidiköy viaduct starts bridge and about 70-80 % of get dropped off at the traffic is bound for paytolls on the Asian side. When you get to the highway (which is actually about 10 meters over you as it is on and find a viaduct) you'll see ride onto the Mercidiköy bustation to your left. Turn left,walk 20 meters until you see a small footpath leading up to the highway, climb up, thumb up, and smile at your audience (often about 50-60 people) who are waiting for the Metrobus to comeE8O from there.

Ask See below the Eskihisar links for a road/bridge alternative. See [[Eskihisar]] for how to get dropped of at to the ferry jetty on the highway route and wait how to get into the ferry for your next ridefree. You may have The route via [[Eskihisar]] is also the shortest way to repeat it one or two more times but as the waiting times are so rıdicilously short it's still faster than spending 2 hours on the Gebze train :)[[Izmir]] and its adjacent area in western Turkey.

=== South towards [[Yalova]]Opet - Mehmetçik Vakfı Petrol petrol station /[[Bursa]] ===rest stop on E80 highway next to Mehmetçik Vakfı bus stop. Buses 130H, 132, 132B and KM 18 stopes there. Place isnt far from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

See [[Eskihisar]] for how Doğalhane Dinlenme Tesisleri petrol station / rest stop on E80 highway next to Çayırova İtfaiye bus stop. Bus 133Ş stops there Marmaray metro east in the direction of Gebze. Get off at Osmangazi Station (two stops before Gebze) as this is closer to the D-100 highway that will carry you east. Walk roughly 300m north up the road from the station until you get to the circle-underpass junction with the D-100 highway. A nice position just after the start of the on-ramp, where cars are still moving slowly, should score you a ride in minutes. However, the majority of traffic here seems to be going to Izmit, which is past the bridge. Turn down rides if you have to until you get one going over the bridge, to Yalova/Bursa/İzmir etc. If you're really stuck, take a short ride and ask your driver to drop you off on the side of the road at the off-ramp going to the bridge, and continue hitching from there or after the interchange. If you're really stuck on that road leading up to the bridge, you'll have to walk a few km along it until you get to the Petrol Ofisi fuel station, about a Kilometre before the bridge. Hitch at the on-ramp to the highway from there. == Wild camping == Hacı Osman Korusu park wild camping - ride metro line 2 to Darussafaka station and next to it on the circle corner of streets Buyukder and Ulu streets you can climb over the fance to Hacı Osman Korusu park https://ibb.co/RHmd9jb Get only a bit inside but be carefull there ar some sharp plants You will find many beaches on Prince islands, but many of them are privatised. You should walk away from the towns to find some wild beach. Büyükada island wild camping - you can get by paid ferry jetty there (Kadıköy, Bostancı or Kartal). Be aware that the forests are sometimes closed due to wild fires and the police might be even more strict if you're caught camping (not to mention the danger to yourself if there ever was a fire). You can camp on the route top of the island between Aya Yorgi Manastırı and the communication tower. You will have some shade from the trees and how a nice wind (at least during summer). You can take one of the small buses to get into closer from the ferry for free.BA-2 is the one that will get you the closest but is stops at 9 pm, otherwise you can take the BA-5 that runs until 11-12 pm. Be aware that you should not drink water tape on the islands. OGM (nature protection) may bother if you stay late in the morning, but you should not get fined, turkish or foreigner. == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}}