Eskisehir Car Rental

Eskisehir is a university city in northwest Central Anatolia, built on both banks of the Porsuk river. Its centre is split between two districts: Odunpazari, with its restored Ottoman houses, museums and the Kursunlu Complex, and Tepebasi, with the riverside cafes, the Adalar area and Sazova Park. Being on the high-speed rail line makes Eskisehir an easy weekend stop from Istanbul, Ankara and Konya.

Three universities, Anadolu, Eskisehir Osmangazi and Eskisehir Technical University, give the city a young population, and it gets noticeably busier at the start of each semester in September and February and during graduation weeks. Expect higher demand for rental cars in those weeks and around public holidays.

The centre is easy to explore by tram and on foot, so if you only plan to see Odunpazari and the riverside, you may not need a car. Eskisehir car rental comes into its own for the countryside: the Phrygian Valley, Seyitgazi and Sivrihisar, multi-stop visits to campuses or hospitals, or travelling on to Kutahya, Bilecik or Ankara.

Otorento does not rent cars itself; it lists offers from independent suppliers in Eskisehir and books the one you choose. Results show small cars, automatics and SUVs with the daily rate, mileage allowance, deposit and fuel policy. Availability and prices change with dates, car group and supplier, and every supplier offers free cancellation and 24/7 support.

Location and getting around

Distances are rounded road distances from Odunpazari; times assume clear roads and grow with traffic, snow or fog.

By train: Eskisehir station is in the city centre and is served by high-speed trains to Ankara, Istanbul and Konya. The nearest tram stop is Ismet Inonu, with lines to Anadolu University and the centre.

By bus and tram: the intercity bus terminal is east of the centre. Several tram lines start there, including Otogar-SSK and Otogar-Osmangazi University. Trams and city buses use the Eskart travel card.

By road: the city lies on the D200, which runs from Bursa via Inegol to Eskisehir and on via Polatli to Ankara. Bilecik and Istanbul are reached to the northwest, Kutahya and Afyonkarahisar to the southwest, and the Phrygian Valley via Seyitgazi to the south. City traffic generally flows well, with peaks in the morning and evening around the universities and along the tram corridors.

Picking up your car

The rental supplier decides where you meet: some use their own office, others an agreed meeting point or address. Your Eskisehir car rental confirmation shows the exact address and phone number. When you search, think about how you arrive: a pick-up near the bus terminal if you come by coach, near the station if by train, or around Odunpazari or Tepebasi if you are staying centrally.

• Documents: your driving licence and passport. A foreign licence can be used for up to six months after entering Turkey; check your supplier's licence rules before you travel.

• Deposit: whether a credit card is required and how much is held varies by supplier, and is shown on the booking screen.

• Train arrival: note your train time in the booking so the supplier knows if it runs late.

• One-way: to drop the car in Ankara, Bursa or Istanbul, change the return city in the search to see which suppliers offer it and the one-way fee.

For a day trip to Ankara, the high-speed train is often more practical than 230-plus km by road. Staying for a whole semester? Longer-term offers also appear in the results; read the included mileage and maintenance terms as carefully as the deposit.

Places to visit by car

• Odunpazari: restored Ottoman houses, the Odunpazari Modern Museum, meerschaum workshops and the Kursunlu Complex, all within one walk; leave the car in a nearby car park.

• Sazova Park: a large park with a fairy-tale castle, popular with families; approx. 8 km.

• Seyitgazi: the town of the Seyit Battal Gazi Complex, a natural first stop on a Phrygian Valley trip; approx. 41 km.

• Phrygian Valley and the Midas Monument: the rock-cut Phrygian monument at Yazilikaya in Han district, with more rock monuments nearby, makes a full day; approx. 71 km.

• Sivrihisar: known for its wooden-columned Grand Mosque, on the UNESCO World Heritage List, on the road to Ankara; approx. 98 km.

• Kutahya: a castle town famous for its tile workshops; approx. 79 km.

Driving and parking tips

• Trams share the main streets with cars. Never stop on the tram tracks and watch the tram signals at junctions.

• Odunpazari's streets are narrow and sloping, and the riverside and Adalar fill with pedestrians in the evening; park nearby and walk.

• Sazova Park and Kentpark get crowded at weekends and in school holidays; arrive early for a parking space.

• Winters bring snow and night-time ice. Check the forecast before rural drives and ask the supplier whether the car has winter tyres.

• The Phrygian Valley route covers several villages and rock monuments. Set off with a full tank, plan to return in daylight, and check your rental terms before driving on unsurfaced roads.

Nearby locations

Continuing your Eskisehir car hire trip, or starting it elsewhere? Heading west, compare Bursa or Bursa Yenisehir Airport. Going east to the capital, see Ankara High-Speed Train Station or Ankara Airport.