Besiktas Car Rental

Besiktas is a central district on the European shore of the Bosphorus. It runs from Dolmabahce Palace past Ortakoy and Arnavutkoy to Bebek, and inland it takes in the business and residential areas of Levent, Etiler and Gayrettepe. Sisli and Kagithane lie to the west, Beyoglu to the south-west and Sariyer to the north.

Besiktas car rental suits business travellers moving between meetings in Levent and Maslak, visitors who want to drive the Bosphorus shore at their own pace, and anyone heading to Istanbul Airport with luggage. If your days are spent around the Besiktas market, Ortakoy and Dolmabahce, ferries, the metro and walking will usually do; a car pays off once you leave the district or head up the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea.

Otorento compares cars from independent rental suppliers in and around Besiktas. You can set economy, automatic, SUV and large-boot cars side by side and check the mileage allowance, fuel policy, deposit and pick-up method. Prices and availability depend on your dates, the car group and the supplier. A compact car is easier in the narrow streets of the market, Ortakoy and Bebek; a larger saloon or SUV is more comfortable for an airport run or a family trip.

Location and getting around

Approximate road distances from Besiktas square. Drive times are for light traffic and grow noticeably in the morning and evening rush.

Metro: the M2 stops at Gayrettepe and Levent in the inland part of the district. From Gayrettepe, the M11 runs straight to Istanbul Airport without a change, which is worth knowing if you would rather not drive at rush hour. At Levent you can change to the short M6 towards Bogazici University.

Tram and ferries: the T1 tram starts at Kabatas, just south of the district boundary and a short walk from Dolmabahce, and runs via Karakoy and Eminonu to Sultanahmet. Ferries from the Besiktas piers cross to Uskudar and Kadikoy; they carry foot passengers only.

By road: Barbaros Boulevard climbs from the shore to Zincirlikuyu, where it meets Buyukdere Avenue, the links to the TEM motorway and the approach to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge, whose European end is at Ortakoy. The coastal road that starts as Ciragan Avenue follows the water through Ortakoy, Kurucesme, Arnavutkoy and Bebek all the way to Sariyer. For Uskudar, Kadikoy and Altunizade the 15 July Martyrs Bridge is the shortest crossing; for Kavacik, Umraniye or Sabiha Gokcen you can also take the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge via Levent and the TEM, so compare live traffic on both before setting off.

Tolls: the Bosphorus bridges and motorways are paid electronically through HGS. Rental cars normally carry an HGS tag and the supplier charges the tolls after the rental.

Picking up your car

Otorento has no desk in Besiktas: the supplier you choose sets the pick-up point, which may be a rental office, a car park or delivery to your hotel or office. The exact address and a contact number are in your booking confirmation. When comparing Besiktas car rental offers, check how close the pick-up point is to where you are staying; stopping even briefly is hard along the shore and around the market, so be on time for the handover.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver's name, which is usually used for the deposit. Deposit and age conditions vary by supplier and are shown before you book.

• Foreign licence: visitors may drive in Turkey on a licence issued abroad for up to six months after entry. Check your supplier's terms in case it also expects an International Driving Permit.

• Returning: if you fly out, see whether the supplier lets you drop the car at Istanbul Airport rather than in Besiktas.

Every Besiktas car rental booked through Otorento comes with free cancellation and 24/7 support.

Places to visit by car

• Ortakoy and Bebek: waterfront squares, cafes and a promenade along the Bosphorus, approx. 2-6 km.

• Rumeli Hisari: the Ottoman fortress on the European shore, approx. 8 km along the coastal road.

• Sariyer: fish restaurants and the northern Bosphorus villages, approx. 18 km.

• Belgrad Forest: walking trails and picnic areas close to the city, approx. 20 km.

• Kilyos: Black Sea beaches popular in summer, approx. 30 km.

Driving and parking tips

• Traffic keeps to the right. Barbaros Boulevard, the Zincirlikuyu junction and the bridge approach are the slowest roads in the district in the morning and evening; plan airport trips outside these hours or take the M11.

• The coastal road between Ortakoy and Bebek slows to a crawl on weekend afternoons and there is almost no kerbside parking, so use a paid car park.

• Streets around the Besiktas market, Akaretler and Abbasaga are narrow and steep; a compact car makes life easier.

• On match days at the Besiktas Stadium in Dolmabahce, expect traffic and road arrangements around Dolmabahce, Kabatas and Barbaros Boulevard.

• On New Year's Eve parts of Ciragan Avenue around Ortakoy may be closed; check the diversions announced by the police.

Nearby locations

Compare car hire next door in Taksim and Beyoglu, across the Bosphorus in Uskudar, or collect at Istanbul Airport.