Uskudar Car Rental

Uskudar is one of the oldest settlements on Istanbul's Asian side, facing the European shore where the Bosphorus opens into the Sea of Marmara. Its 33 neighbourhoods run from Salacak and Selimiye along the water to Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, Cengelkoy and Kandilli, and inland to Altunizade, Kisikli and Camlica. Kadikoy, Atasehir, Umraniye and Beykoz are its neighbours, and the Harem pier and bus terminal are within its boundaries.

Marmaray, the M5 metro, the ferry piers, the Metrobus and the Asian end of the 15 July Martyrs Bridge make Uskudar one of the main crossing points between the two continents. Uskudar car rental is handy for exploring the Asian shore of the Bosphorus on your own schedule, getting between the hospitals and offices of Altunizade and Acibadem, reaching Sabiha Gokcen with luggage, or driving out to Sile and Polonezkoy. If you are only spending time around the square and the waterfront, public transport will usually be enough.

For Uskudar car rental, Otorento brings together offers from independent rental suppliers in the district and nearby. You can compare economy, automatic, SUV and large-boot cars by mileage allowance, fuel policy, deposit and how the car is handed over; prices and availability depend on the dates, the car group and the supplier. A compact car is easiest in the narrow shore streets of Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi and Cengelkoy.

Location and getting around

Approximate road distances from Uskudar square. Drive times are for light traffic and stretch considerably in the morning and evening.

Marmaray and M5: from Uskudar station, Marmaray runs under the Bosphorus to Sirkeci in a single stop, and in the other direction via Ayrilik Cesmesi, Sogutlucesme and Bostanci to Gebze. The M5 metro starts in Uskudar, connects with the Metrobus at Altunizade and continues through Umraniye and Cekmekoy to Sultanbeyli.

Ferries: boats leave Uskudar for Karakoy, Eminonu and Besiktas, but for foot passengers only. To cross by sea with a car, use the Harem-Sirkeci car ferry from neighbouring Harem.

Bridges and tunnel: the 15 July Martyrs Bridge lands in Beylerbeyi and is the shortest crossing to Besiktas, Sisli and Taksim. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge further north starts at Kavacik in Beykoz and leads via the TEM motorway to Levent and Maslak. The Asian entrance of the Eurasia Tunnel is at Haydarpasa, just south of Harem, and is the shortest road into the Old City.

Tolls: bridges and the tunnel are tolled through HGS. Rental cars normally carry an HGS tag, and the supplier bills the crossings after the rental, as set out in its terms.

Picking up your car

The handover point is decided by the supplier you book: a rental office, a car park or delivery to your address. Otorento has no desk of its own; the exact place and contact details are in your booking confirmation. If you are arriving by coach at Harem or by Marmaray at Uskudar, send the supplier your arrival time and agree the meeting point in advance.

• Documents: your driving licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver's name, usually needed for the deposit. Each supplier's conditions are shown before booking.

• Foreign licences: a licence issued abroad is valid for driving in Turkey for up to six months from your entry date. Check your supplier's terms in case an International Driving Permit is also requested.

• Crossing to Europe: if you will drive to the European side on day one, ask at pick-up how bridge and tunnel tolls are charged at the end of the rental.

• Drop-off elsewhere: some suppliers let you return the car at Sabiha Gokcen, often for an extra fee.

Every Uskudar car rental booked on Otorento includes free cancellation and 24/7 support.

Places to visit by car

• Beylerbeyi and Cengelkoy: Beylerbeyi Palace and waterside breakfast spots on the Bosphorus, approx. 4-5 km.

• Big Camlica Hill: a view over both sides of the city, approx. 7 km.

• Anadolu Hisari: the old fortress by the Goksu stream on the Beykoz border, approx. 10 km along the Bosphorus road.

• Polonezkoy: a village surrounded by forest, a favourite for weekend breakfasts, approx. 26 km.

• Sile: beaches on the Black Sea coast, approx. 70 km.

Driving and parking tips

• Remember to keep right. The square and the pier area are busy all day with buses, minibuses and pedestrians; after collecting the car, head straight out along the coastal road rather than stopping there.

• The shore road through Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi and Cengelkoy is narrow and slows on weekend mornings with breakfast traffic; kerbside parking is very limited.

• The approaches to the 15 July Martyrs Bridge and the area around Altunizade are the most congested spots at rush hour; cross early or take Marmaray instead.

• On foggy mornings, ferries and the Harem-Sirkeci car ferry may be cancelled, putting extra traffic on the bridges and the tunnel.

Nearby locations

Compare car hire at nearby Harem Bus Terminal and in Kadikoy, across the Bosphorus in Besiktas, or at Sabiha Gokcen Airport.