Taxi service in Turkey is very developed, because millions of tourists come here every year, who need a comfortable way to get around the city. If you understand all the nuances of using a taxi, you can quickly and relatively inexpensively get to your destination. We tell you about the features of calling a car at resorts, the "tricks" of local drivers and tariffs in our article.

Features of a Turkish taxi

An official Turkish taxi is a compact yellow car with checkers (the only exception may be transfers from the hotel). Therefore, if someone just comes up to you on the street and offers you a ride, refuse! Most likely, these are scammers, no matter how friendly they behave. You shouldn't "catch" a car on the street either, there are several proven ways to order a taxi in Turkey:

Select a car in the parking lot with a "Taksi" sign;

Use the call button installed on poles in the city;

By phone - if you do not know English or Turkish, ask the hotel administrator to order a taxi for you.

You should be prepared for the fact that Turkish taxi drivers are not known for their careful driving style. They violate traffic rules and rarely use seat belts. By ordering a car from an official service, and not from a private driver, you will know where to go in the event of an accident or file a complaint against a careless driver. Download a translator to your phone in advance, not everyone knows English and Russian.

About tariffs

When ordering a car, find out in advance how much a taxi costs in Turkey, so that the bill presented by the driver at the end of the trip does not become an unpleasant surprise for you. Prices vary depending on the city. The cost includes boarding and payment for the distance. The basic tariff is 3-3.5 Turkish lira + each kilometer traveled - another 2 lira. Also take into account the downtime. If in Izmir it will cost 18 lira per hour, then in Antalya it is already 45 lira. The cost of a taxi in Turkey from the airport is usually fixed.

Prices are approximate, they may differ for each taxi service, especially during the high season. You can check the fare at the taxi rank, online, on the company's website, or in the app.

"Tricks" of local drivers

All cars must be equipped with a taximeter, but this does not mean that drivers always use it. If your taxi driver does not start the meter or tries to haggle at the beginning of the trip, be persistent and ask him to turn it on.

The "tricks" do not end there. Wanting to earn some extra money, the driver can drive you around the city for a long time, "building" the longest route. If you encounter this, make it clear that you will not pay. Carefully watch the road and the navigator's instructions.

Before paying for the trip, carefully count the money and say out loud how much you are giving the taxi driver. Fraudsters cleverly change bills and, taking advantage of foreigners' ignorance, demand more.

Drivers can tell incredible stories - about a broken or unreset meter, about no change, and even that the indicated fare is the price for only one passenger. Do not be fooled, but rather discuss all the details before getting into the car.

Memo for tourists

If a car in poor condition arrives at the call, you can refuse the order and call another taxi;

It is not customary to tip drivers, but you can round up the amount. For example, if the trip costs 16.7 lira, pay 17;

Turkey is a Muslim country, where there is a special attitude towards the female sex. It is important to know that it is not customary for girls to sit in the front seat next to the driver;

The luggage compartment has limited dimensions, since in large cities many taxis run on liquefied natural gas. Most of the trunk space is occupied by a large LNG tank;

Before getting into the car, write down or take a photo of its license plate. Alternatively, you can use an official transfer from your hotel or restaurant, or public transport. If you are careful, calling a taxi in Turkey will allow you to learn more about the new country. This is a great opportunity to communicate with locals, learn about interesting sights and establishments.