Taksim Car Rental

Taksim Square, in the Beyoglu district on the European side, is the hotel and nightlife heart of modern Istanbul. Istiklal Avenue, a long pedestrian shopping street, runs from the square towards Tunel, and the Republic Monument by the Italian sculptor Pietro Canonica has stood in the middle since 1928. The Ataturk Cultural Centre reopened after renovation in 2021, the same year the Taksim Mosque opened on the square. The name comes from the Ottoman water distribution point (maksem) that once stood here.

Taksim itself is a place to explore on foot, so Taksim car rental is less about the square and more about what lies beyond it: day trips along the Bosphorus, the Black Sea beaches, a transfer to either airport with luggage, or a drive across to the Asian side. A sensible plan is to see Beyoglu without a car and collect one on the day you leave the centre.

For Taksim car rental, Otorento lets you compare cars from independent rental suppliers in and around the square. Look at the car group, gearbox, mileage allowance, fuel policy, deposit and where the supplier hands over the car; prices and availability vary by date and supplier.

Location and getting around

Approximate road distances from Taksim Square. Drive times are for light traffic; in the evening rush they can be considerably longer.

Public transport: Taksim is a stop on the M2 metro (north to Levent and Haciosman, south to Sishane and Yenikapi). The F1 funicular runs down to Kabatas in about two minutes, where you can change to the T1 tram for Sultanahmet or catch a ferry. A nostalgic tram runs the length of Istiklal Avenue to Tunel.

By road: Tarlabasi Boulevard leads west towards Unkapani and the Golden Horn bridges into the Old City. The coastal road from Kabatas follows the Bosphorus through Besiktas towards Sariyer. To reach the Asian side, use the 15 July Martyrs Bridge or the Eurasia Tunnel; for Istanbul Airport, head north via Levent or Kagithane to the ring road.

Tolls: Bosphorus bridges, the Eurasia Tunnel and motorways are tolled and paid with HGS, an electronic tag. Rental cars usually come with one, and the supplier passes the toll charges on after you return the car.

Picking up your car

Otorento has no office in Taksim: the pick-up point is set by the supplier you choose and could be a rental office, a car park nearby or delivery to your hotel. The address and a phone number are in your booking confirmation. Many hotels around Istiklal, Cihangir and Galata are on streets with restricted access, so ask in advance whether the car can be brought to the door or whether you should meet at a main road.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver's name, which is normally used for the deposit. The supplier's conditions appear before you confirm.

• Licence rules: foreign visitors may drive in Turkey on their own licence for up to six months from entry. Check the supplier's terms for minimum age, years held and whether an International Driving Permit is expected.

• Return: if you are flying out, check whether the supplier allows you to return the car at Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen instead of Taksim.

Free cancellation and 24/7 support come with every Taksim car rental booking, whichever supplier provides the car.

Places to visit by car

• Balat and Fener: colourful houses and old streets on the Golden Horn, approx. 5 km; park at the edge and walk in.

• Sariyer and the Bosphorus villages: follow the shore road north along the Bosphorus, approx. 21 km.

• Belgrad Forest: shaded walking trails and picnic spots, approx. 23 km.

• Polonezkoy: a forest village across the Bosphorus, approx. 30 km.

• Kilyos: the nearest Black Sea beaches to the centre, approx. 34 km.

Driving and parking tips

• Remember that traffic keeps to the right. Istiklal Avenue is closed to cars, and the streets of Cihangir, Galata and Cukurcuma are narrow and steep, so stick to the main roads and choose a compact car.

• Use a paid car park rather than hunting for a space on the street; short stops are difficult around the square.

• Roads leading up to Taksim may be closed on New Year's Eve, 1 May and during large events; check the announced diversions before setting out.

• Tarlabasi Boulevard and the Golden Horn bridges are busy in the evening, so leave early if you are driving to the Old City.

Nearby locations

Compare car hire across the rest of the district at Beyoglu, or in neighbouring Besiktas. For the Old City, see Sultanahmet and Fatih.