Van Life Dreams Come True: An Epic Guide to Travelling Turkey by Campervan and Motorhome

Turkey is a dream destination for van life. You will be hard-pressed to find another country quite like it. Especially when you travel by van and motorhome.

It is the perfect place for van life; you get it all the friendly people, the incredible food, relaxed and scenic wild parking, affordable gas and groceries, incredible history, beaches and all wrapped up nice and neatly with big hot air balloon ribbons.

It’s one of those destinations that stays with you forever. Unfortunately, you will have to live with the constant feeling of things just not being as good as they were in Turkey once you leave, and the pang of wanting to go back time and time again never goes away.

We loved our time in Turkey so much that a one-month trip quickly turned into a three-month trip! We wrote this complete guide to help you navigate your way around van life in one of the best countries in the world Turkey.

Wild camping Capadoccia

Dream destination Capadoccia

Turkey

Turkey is a large country, twice the size of Germany with a population of more than 82 million. The country is one of the most unique in the world as it is transcontinental. It sits between two continents, where Europe and Asia meet and come together. This unique geography has shaped the course of their history and civilisations. From Neolithic history to modern man to the birth of cities Turkey has seen many civilizations and peoples flourish. With the silk road, the Roman empire, and the seat of the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, Turkey will have any history buff’s heart. The lands of Turkey are diverse, with vast changing landscapes that span from the Black Sea to the mediterranean. Making Turkey a haven for any type of activity you can think of, it really has it all!

The country is predominately Islamic with 99% of the population identifying as Muslim. It is a secular country meaning the country, people and culture separate religion and the state. They welcome everyone of all nationalities, races and religions with open arms. You can wear what you want in Turkey, for women there are no requirements about wearing head coverings, unless you are visiting mosques and religious sites. Remember to dress modestly when visiting these places: covering shoulders, knees and having a light scarf to pop over you. It is a respectable and considerate practice to also dress modestly if you are visiting areas that are very religious or conservative.

Turkish people, culture & cuisine

Out of the 40+ countries we have visited, we found that Turkey topped the friendly list. The people are so friendly it is at times mindblowing. They are hospitable, kind and compassionate. The Turkish people will go out of their way to help you, offer you tea, give you a parting gift and stop to say hello. This is very common in everyday life. It is a country of loving and caring people. The people of Turkey are diverse and multiethnic, with the majority of the population being Turks, but there are also Kurds, Arabs, Circassians, and other ethnic groups living in Turkey.

Turkish Hammams 
No doubt once in your life you will have heard of the Turkish bath or hammam. They are a type of public bathing ritual that have been a fundamental part of Turkish culture for centuries. Hammams were traditionally used as a place to cleanse, relax and socialise. Today, Turkish hammams are still popular throughout Turkey and are often considered a luxurious and relaxing spa experience. Many modern hammams offer a wide range of treatments in addition to traditional bathing rituals; which are a must to experience when in Turkey.

As Turkey is located in both Europe and Asia, Turkish culture is a blend of Islamic, European, and Asian influences, which can be seen in its art, music, history, traditions and literature. The country is also famous for its architecture, including the amazing Ottoman-era mosques, palaces, and public buildings. As well as this it holds many archaeological discoveries from neolithic times through to classical antiquity, which has also shaped Turkey’s culture. When it comes to cuisine, Turkish food is flavourful and diverse, with a wide variety of dishes that reflect the country’s multicultural heritage. Some of the most popular dishes in the world originate from Turkey: kebabs, meze (small plates of appetisers), dolma (stuffed vegetables), Turkish breakfast and baklava (a sweet pastry made with filo dough and honey). Turkish coffee and tea are also an integral part of the culture and are served at most social gatherings.

Turkish Tea or çay (Pronounced like “Chai”) is big here, It will be offered to you numerous times throughout your time in Turkey by friendly locals, don’t pass them up on it!

Fun fact, Turkey has the highest tea consumption per capita in the entire world. Coffee lovers, fear not you won’t be missing out, the Turks have also perfected coffee, it’s served quick, hot, short, in cute little cups, sometimes with a hint of spices and traditionally warmed over hot coals or sand. 

Best time to visit Turkey

With four distinct seasons, Turkey is great all year round. Depending on what you like to see and do, Turkey has a lot to offer in all seasons.

Summer
In summer the climate gets very hot, common average daily temperatures are above 30ºC. Think about that in van life. Long hot days in campervans and motorhomes aren’t the most comfortable unless you have air-con. it is however perfect weather for the beach.

Winter
Winters can get bitterly cold in Turkey. Depending on your region it is common to see snow and temperatures dropping well in the minuses. If you are staying towards the Mediterranean west coast winter temperatures can be quite mild. Places at high altitudes can be bleak in the winter and snow chains are a requirement.

Autumn/ Spring
Autumn and spring are some of the best times to visit Turkey. Temperatures are more comfortable and the tourist season hasn’t hit yet so you will find yourself with just a little bit more breathing space.

Is van life in Turkey safe?

Van life in Turkey is extremely safe! For the most part, Turkey is a safe country with low crime rates. Obviously like everywhere in the world when you travel you need to be cautious in new surroundings and have a great deal of common sense about leaving your vehicle and your general safety. Petty crime and break-ins can happen in bigger cities or in more tourist destinations so be sure to keep yourself prepared when travelling into the city and crowded places. Tourist scams and tourist traps do happen but they are far and few between to be honest.

What is van life in Turkey like?

Turkey is one of the best places to do van life. Expect amazing hospitality, friendly locals, really minimal parking restrictions with a very tolerant camping culture, amazing food and absolutely incredible scenery and places to visit. It really is a van life dream destination.

Turkey is an incredible country and this goes without saying for many places on the Asian continent. Have an open mind and respect whilst travelling and exploring new countries and cultures. Quite often they will be different to what you are used to so expect different standards and lifestyles. If you are going to travel through rural Turkey, you may see different standards of living and poverty. Please have a prejudice-free mind and attitude.

Should I do van life in Turkey?

Yes, do not hesitate to put it on your list. Van life in Turkey is a dream. It is really affordable, there are very few parking restrictions for wild camping, and some of the most amazing scenery to discover.

Visa and Requirements for Turkey

Many nationalities are allowed a stay of 90 days in every 180 period. Check here the total list of requirements for your nationality. Like most countries, your passport should be valid for up to 150 days from the date of arrival, and you will need an entire blank page for stamps.

You are allowed to drive as a foreigner in Turkey and can use your license for up to 6 months. Some nationalities may need an International driving permit, or if you intend on driving for more than 3 months in Turkey. You will also need an International driving permit if your license is not in the Latin alphabet.

The permit you need is International Driving Permit 1968, it is £5.50 and available on the spot at any post office. You can also buy them online at InternationaldrivingPermit.org Try to use this official site as others may scam you. You will need green card insurance to drive in Turkey but more on that below.

Wild Camping at Lake Salda

Must visit places & hidden gems

The Euphrates River

Carpet Bazaar

Sunken City of Old Halfeti

Sultanhani Caravanserai

Ankara and Istanbul

Ankara
Ankara is the capital city of Turkey, with a population size of 5.5 million people. Making it the second-largest city in Turkey after Istanbul. Ankara is known for its rich history, modern architecture, and vibrant cultural scene. It is also the seat of the Turkish parliament. Since 1923 after the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Ankara replaced Istanbul as the capital. 

Istanbul
Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia, with the Bosphorus strait one of the world’s most significant waterways which cuts through the city. Istanbul is one of the largest and most populous cities in the world, with a rich history spanning thousands of years. Istanbul was known as Byzantium and Constantinople in ancient times and has been an important cultural, economic, and political centre throughout its history to this day. It is home to some of the most vibrant markets, impressive architecture and historical relics. Famous landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and the Galati Tower are just some of the amazing places to visit.

Visiting Istanbul can be a bit daunting in a van, it is an extremely busy city and some areas in sultan Ahmet (the oldest part of the city) gets very narrow, but if you can get over that then it’s a great place to visit in a van. There are a few central park ups which are safe to use. For more information read and see more information on van life Istanbul.

It has to be noted that there was a recent terrorist attack in Istanbul there is currently a heightened threat of terrorist attacks against churches, synagogues, embassies/consulates, busy areas and other places frequented by Westerners in Istanbul. We went to Istanbul just before and after the attacks and security was heightened but we felt safe. Check-in from time to time with Foreign travel advice.

Grand Bazaar Istanbul

çay drinking

Getting there

This transcontinental country joins Asia and Europe and has hundreds of border crossings with its many neighbours. Most land borders are safe to cross with the exception of Syria but read more about borders below.

Borders

Turkey is transcontinental and a formidable power within Europe itself. It has strong trade relationships with the European Union but it isn’t part of the EU or Schengen zone. Meaning a trip to Turkey can recount your 90 days out of the Schengen zone.

Turkey has quite a few neighbours, not surprising as she is pretty large. She borders Greece and Bulgaria to the north. To the east Georgia and Armenia. To the south and east, she borders: Syria, Iraq, Iran and a tiny bit of annexed Azerbaijan called the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Not all of these countries have land border crossings available, and not all of them are safe to travel to.

The borders between Turkey, Bulgaria and Greece (part of the EU) are easy borders to cross with all the usual safety and security that comes with a regular EU standard border crossing for a motorhome or campervan and vehicles. The border of Georgia is also relatively easy to cross with regular security and safety documents for campervans and motorhomes. The land border between Armenia and Turkey has been closed since the ’90s. If you want to overland to Armenia you would have to cross from Georgia or another country in the East. Recently there have been some turbulent times, which have made it more dangerous to visit and caution should be exercised when near the border zones.
The borders of Iran and Iraq can be difficult to cross, so you need to proceed with caution and have all the necessary paperwork which can take a while to gather, if you are thinking of crossing into these countries you will know that you need to be well organised ahead of time, contact your local embassy, have your “carnet de passage” and lots of other things to watch out for. With the ongoing civil way, Syria is extremely dangerous. The Syrian border is practically uncrossable unless you have a very particular reason to do so. The Foreign Office advises against all travel within 10km of the Syrian border. Please keep an eye on escalating situations and changes in the news in different regions by checking The Foreign Travel Advice here.

Border crossings

There are many crossings into Turkey. We used Kapitan Andreevo–Kapıkule, going into Turkey from Bulgaria and Ipsala- Kipi Border crossing driving out of Turkey into Greece.

For a more detailed looked at EXACTLY how to cross the border in your motorhome and campervan read this. The border is relatively simple to cross. You will need to have the following ready:

• Passport/ Visa
• Driver’s License and vehicle registration (V5)
• Green Card Insurance- if you don’t have a green card you will buy Insurance at the border (Read this for more info)
• Cash in Euros or Liras to buy insurance.
• Pet documents if travelling with pets.

We haven’t travelled further east so we don’t have personal experience with border crossings from Turkey to Iran, Iraq or Georgia. We do know that Ioverlander is a great resource and so are overlander groups.

Navigating the roads

HGS Tolls in Turkey

Turkey has chargeable tollways. The high-speed toll system is called:

HGS ( Hızlı Geçiş Sistemi)

It allows vehicles to pass through tolls without having to stop and pay. It is super easy to operate. It is super easy to operate; you can buy an HGS vignette sticker at selected petrol stations, PTT Turkish post offices and across the border at service stations. You fill out a form at the HGS booth and they will give you an HGS sticker to put on your windscreen, you can initially top up with however much you want and then as you drive through Turkey you can top up online or visiting a PTT branch as you go. For more information on HGS check this out.

Park up on the beach in Mugla

Milli Parki | National Park

Parking and overnight parking

Parking in Turkey couldn’t be easier, much like in the rest of Europe you won’t find it hard to find a parking space. Overnight Parking in Turkey is legal and super easy. Turkish attitudes towards overnight parking and wild camping are extremely relaxed and open-minded. We found it to be one of the easiest countries to park overnight in a campervan. You will find that in most areas and regions, overnight parking is completely tolerated but always check local signage before parking up. It’s possible that in some areas like national parks and conservation areas: overnight parking may not be allowed but just always do your own research when you get to a new area to double-check.

If you are parked in the wilderness somewhere rural, it is very common to see shepherds passing by with their flock. Be careful and wary of this, if you are setting out your camping things. The passing shepherds are all so kind and friendly and happy to wave, smile and have a chat with you. Just remember not to get in their way and respect them if they pass you by. We found that parking our campervan in nature was so simple and easy, the abundance of wild parking is incredible. We had absolutely no trouble with wild parking and overnight parking the entire way around Turkey. We stayed for three months in Turkey and wild camped the entire way around the country, we only stayed at campsites a few times. We found it safe, tolerated and really enjoyable. We used park4night and googlesatellite to find most of our spots.

Regions, routes and road trips

Hiring a campervan or motorhome

If you don’t have your campervan or motorhome with you, you can hire one to travel around Turkey quite easily, see the requirements from above for what you will need. Here are some Rental companies:

Campervanturkey

Campanda

Letsgocamper

Camperbug

Avis

The Turkish outdoors

When going off for a hike outdoors, be careful and aware that local signage of routes and trails may not be clearly marked and come prepared with hiking GPS trail apps like alltrails and what3wordsexact locator for safety. If you are thinking of going on a long-distance hike or up one of the high mountains, for safety we recommend getting a guide. For what you get in Turkey with guides, they are usually very well and reasonably priced as well as local and have great knowledge and intel of the area.

It has to be said that Turkey does have its fair share of litter problems. The government is slowly trying to get on top of this, however, it is a long and slow process. Don’t be surprised to come across areas where there are high levels of litter. That being said you should have an open mind and try to see beyond the problem when visiting the country. Don’t let the level of rubbish hinder your overall enjoyment of these amazing places. Try to leave it better by picking up rubbish on your hikes and if you are wild camping and parking up.

Wild camping in Turkey

Wild camping is legal in Turkey. People do it all the time and it’s completely tolerated. You will find people are hospitable and welcoming. Do what you would everywhere when wild camping though; be responsible, leave no trace and stay off private land and no wild camping areas. Always check an area when you arrive; quite often wild camping is not allowed near ancient and archaeological sites and in national parks. Stay clear of these and private property and you will be fine. Some areas along the Mediterranean coast and Aegean coast can be quite restrictive for wild camping so if you are venturing to these areas try to use campsites or travel in the low season. Campfires and outdoor BBQing are pretty common. Taking a walk in nature you will often see remnants of a fire that has been prepared with new wood for the next person to use. Be careful starting fires in forested and wooded areas and national parks.

Turkish campsites

You will find quite a large range of campsites in Turkey. Campsites are usually available in every municipal area and in all regions of Turkey. Campsites range from resort-style facilities to minimalist and rustic. Overall we stayed at a few campsites along the Mediterranean coast that were rustic and great for what we needed. We did notice that many campsites and aires used solar showers so be wary when travelling in winter, if there are periods without sun you may be having a cold shower. Campsites are very affordable and can easily find one that costs around €10 a night depending on the area. In areas like Istanbul, Antalya, Fethiye, Kas, Bodrum and Marmaris the going rate is much higher.

If you are travelling over the summer, we recommend booking ahead of time as it gets extremely busy and you don’t want to be disappointed. You can book campsites here.

Campervan and Motorhome Aires Turkey

Aires in Turkey ranges from privately owned facilities to free municipal “Karavan Kamping” sites. Kamping Sites are open to caravans, motorhomes and campervans. They are located all around Turkey. They are either free or paid for at a minimal cost. You will usually have access to a shower, dumping of black and grey water, bins and filling up on water. Municipal aires are usually simple but safe and on the outskirts of the city, and are located in a city that could use some extra tourism and development. We stayed in two Aires in Turkey one in Gaziantep in the South East and one in Tarsus on the coast. We were blown away by both. They really exceeded our expectations and the Gazanthep Aire was honestly like a 5-star resort. The municipal Karavan Kampings aires are usually free for up to three days and then paid for a small fee thereafter. We found that the Three-day stay was the perfect amount of time to get the van cleaned, reorganised, stocked up and serviced up and to be able to check out the sights too.

Look for the words “Kamp Alani, Karavan parki or Belediyesi Karavan Parki.” Here are a few of the Aires and Municipal Karavan Kamping sites

Afyon Karavan ve Kamp Alanı, Afyonkarahisar, Sadikbey

Karacabey Yeniköy Karavan ve Kamp Alanı, Bursa

Gaziantep Karavan Parki, Gaziantep

Manavgat Belediyesi Kamp Alani, Manavgat

Tarsus Belediyesi Karavan Parkı, Tarsus 

Hiking in Mount Chimaera

Shopping, supplies and amenities

You can imagine what shopping is like in a country that is renowned for its bazaars. Shopping is a solid pastime in Turkey. You will be able to buy whatever you need. Shopping malls, grocery stores and markets are all well stocked.

For groceries: Some of the popular supermarket chains are Migros, A101, Bim, Sok and CarrefourSA. We found the best all-rounder supermarket to be Migros. The Migros chain comes in all sizes; from small stores to giant supercentres. You can buy a Migros card at the checkout and earn points and get discounts every time you shop. Where ever you can try to shop at local markets for produce, quite often it is direct from farmers and usually more affordable.

Buying Alcohol 
Turkey is a secular country with the majority of the population being islamic, because it is secular there is no ban on the buying and consuming of alcohol. You can buy alcohol from licensed shops, markets, supermarkets between the hours 6am-10pm and there are no restrictions on bars and restaurants. There is however high taxes on alcohol and it can be quite expensive.

Buying Pork Products
Buying pork isn’t forbidden but it is quite hard to find. You may be able to buy pork products at specialist retailers or in hotels and restaurants catered towards tourists, but it isn’t common.

Price of van life in Turkey

Public toilets

There are types of toilets in Turkey: The western-style sit-down toilet and the squat toilet. Most bathrooms offer a choice, well there is usually at least one sit-down style toilet to use. There are many service stations and petrol stops along motorways and highways, usually, they have WC facilities. Restaurants, shopping centres and fast food restaurants never disappoint either. Although I don’t recommend taking your cassette into a fast food restaurant toilet, that would be insane. Try Park4night, Pee.Place and Flush app to help you find a loo near you.

Free water taps

Public water taps are very common in Turkey  For the most part, water in Turkey is clean and drinkable. You will be very well served as public taps are available all over the place from the city centres, and village wells to really remote springs. We found it really easy to top up water whilst travelling around and were surprised at how many taps there were. Taps are also available outside mosques, probably not suitable to fill up your entire tank from but you could definitely ask to fill up a bottle or two of water if you get stuck. Find tap and water map are two convenient water tap finders.

Van life on the Euphrates River

National Park

Grey and black waste disposal

Black and grey water disposals are available at campsites or municipal karavan parks. You may be able to find a few big services and petrol stations that have large drains you can drain your grey water in. For black water waste, you can empty that into a public toilet.

Petrol stations

Petrol stations are everywhere in Turkey. The stations are all full-service stations with attendants. as well as getting an attendant they will quite often ask if you want a cup of cay (tea) and or clean your windows for you for free.

You can use my Viamichelin to find your nearest pump, you can also use that app to locate the nearest LPG station to top up your tank.

The current price of petrol in Turkey is around €1.04 per litre (at the time of writing this). You can use this mileage calculator to plan your trip.

Cellular networks and wifi

There are a few options to go for when travelling through Turkey you can use the Esim at holafly, they have really great accessibility for travel in general and fair prices. The most popular providers are Turkcell and Turk Telekom. Both will give you a sim card which lasts for 3 months. (Although you will have to top it up if you run out of data)

We found Turkcell had better coverage but Turk Telekom had better prices. You can easily top up your data usage at any store or online through the app with Turkcell.

Essential safety tips

The emergency number in Turkey is 112. If you are a traveller from Europe or the UK you are not covered under the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) This means you should invest in travel insurance to cover the duration of your stay. If you are in need of urgent medical help you will be taken to a public or private hospital and billed later for it. The Jandamar are a large military police force in Turkey in charge of public safety, security and order. You will see them a lot on your travels around Turkey. It is common to see checkpoints along motorways, especially if you are driving along a border.

We got stuck in the mud on the side of a hill in the snow and called 112 after a few hours of trying to get ourselves out, the operators put us through to the local Jandamar who came to our assistance.

Here are a few Safety tips to consider:

• If you are travelling during adverse weather or in the winter invest in the right equipment; snow chains or all-terrain tyres
• Download what3words app so you can pinpoint exactly where you are in emergency situations
• Try to learn the basics of the language, at the very least “yes, no and thank you” so you can try to speak to people.

Jandamar rescuing us from the mud.

Travelling with pets in Turkey

Travelling in Turkey with pets is much like the rest of the European Continent. You will need the following to bring your pets into Turkey:

• A pet passport or animal health certificate
• Microchipped
• Fully vaccinated against rabies
• Up-to-date on treatments

The standards of vets in Turkey are extremely high and the prices are extremely affordable. We visited vets many times in Turkey and found the service and affordability to be fantastic. If your pets get ill whilst travelling they will be in good hands.

The most important thing to mention about Turkey is its stray population. Especially Cats, there are so many it’s unbelievable. However, don’t think of them as strays but think of them as more like neighbourhood cats. They are almost always well-fed and looked after by residents and townspeople. Just be careful if you travel with cats and let them off leash, as they may pick up viruses or fleas from the strays.

Stray dogs are very common too in Turkey, so have your wits about you if you are travelling with your dog. People love animals in Turkey and are actually really accommodating towards your pets and you will notice that there are no regulations about taking your pets anywhere, you can take them pretty much everywhere with you.

Our Van Cats

Rocky enjoying Lake Salda

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