Mersin Car Rental

Mersin is a Mediterranean province that stretches along the coast from the Adana border in the east to Antalya province in the west. The city itself is made up of four central districts, Akdeniz, Mezitli, Toroslar and Yenisehir, while Tarsus lies to the east and Erdemli, Silifke and Anamur are strung out far to the west. It is one of Turkey's main port cities and a summer holiday coast, and most of what is worth seeing lies outside the centre.

That makes Mersin car rental a practical choice for many visitors. Business travellers can fit several meetings at the port, the free zone and the industrial areas into one day. Families with a summer flat in Kizkalesi or Silifke, travellers following the coast to Anamur, and anyone combining Tarsus and Adana in one trip will find a car more flexible than buses. A compact car is enough for town; for a family holiday with luggage or long coastal drives, a saloon or SUV is more comfortable.

A car also lets you plan around food. Tantuni, cezerye, kerebic pastries and Silifke yoghurt are local specialities, and stopping in Erdemli or Silifke for lunch before an afternoon at a castle or beach is hard to arrange on public transport. In winter the coast is quieter and the cultural sights between Mersin and Tarsus are easier to enjoy at a slower pace.

Otorento compares offers from independent rental suppliers in Mersin side by side, with gearbox, fuel policy, mileage limit and deposit terms. Prices and availability vary by date, car group and supplier, and every supplier offers free cancellation and 24/7 support.

Location and getting around

Mersin's airport is Cukurova International Airport, inside the province in Tarsus district. Distances below are from Mersin city centre by road; on summer weekends, journeys towards the western coast take longer.

A toll motorway runs along the north of the city and links Mersin with Tarsus, Adana and on to Gaziantep; drivers heading for Ankara or Cappadocia leave it near Tarsus for the Pozanti motorway. To the west, the D400 coastal road connects Erdemli, Silifke and Anamur. The 52 km Cesmeli-Kizkalesi motorway, opened on 19 October 2026, offers an alternative to the summer queues on the coast road between Erdemli and Kizkalesi. Tolls are paid electronically through HGS; rental cars usually carry a tag, and the supplier bills tolls after the rental.

In town, the main traffic flows east-west along boulevards parallel to the sea, and you head north into Toroslar and upper Yenisehir to join the motorway. The intercity bus terminal is in Toroslar, the port and railway station are in the centre, and the marina is to the west in Yenisehir.

Picking up your car

The handover point depends on the supplier: some use an office in the city centre, others meet you at an agreed address, hotel or the bus terminal. The exact address and phone number are in your booking confirmation. If you are flying in, choose Cukurova Airport as your pick-up location and add your flight number.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and the payment card named in the booking. A foreign licence can be used for up to six months after arrival in Turkey; check your supplier's licence requirements before travelling.

• Deposit: usually held on a credit card in the main driver's name. Amount, minimum age and years of licence held vary by car group and are listed before booking.

• Meeting at the bus terminal: confirm the exact waiting point with the supplier in advance.

• One-way rentals: to leave the car in Adana or at another airport, check whether the option and any extra fee appear in the search.

Whichever Mersin car rental supplier you choose, have existing scratches written on the handover form and photograph the fuel gauge before you drive off.

Places to visit by car

• Tarsus: Cleopatra's Gate, St Paul's Well and old Tarsus houses, an easy half-day trip; approx. 28 km.

• Kizkalesi: the "Maiden's Castle" standing on an islet just offshore, and a long sandy beach; approx. 60 km.

• Heaven and Hell sinkholes and Narlikuyu: two huge natural sinkholes and a small cove, easy to combine with Kizkalesi; approx. 64 km.

• Silifke: the Goksu Delta, Silifke Castle and the Tasucu area; approx. 84 km.

• Mut: the starting point for the Yerkopru waterfall and the inland valleys of the Taurus foothills; approx. 156 km.

• Anamur: Mamure Castle and the ancient city of Anemurium, worth an overnight stay; approx. 207 km.

Driving and parking tips

• On summer Friday evenings and Sunday returns, the Mersin-Erdemli-Kizkalesi coast road is very busy; the new motorway can save time towards Kizkalesi and Silifke.

• The D400 from Silifke to Anamur winds between the mountains and the sea and takes longer than the distance suggests. Drive it in daylight and fill up in Silifke.

• Street parking is scarce around the bazaar and port; use paid car parks and watch for no-parking signs.

• Beach car parks in Kizkalesi, Narlikuyu and Erdemli fill up early on summer weekends. An early start helps with both parking and the heat.

Planning a long coastal route? When you compare Mersin car hire offers, check the daily mileage limit and fuel policy; unlimited mileage is worth having for a trip to Anamur and back.

Nearby locations

Flying in? Compare Cukurova Airport. For trips further afield, see Hatay Airport, Gaziantep Airport and, at the western end of the coast, Gazipasa-Alanya Airport.