Hi
I'm thinking of going to turkish GP this year, would want (I suppose?) to stay in Istanbul. Have seen various horror stories about how long it takes to drive to the circuit, and would rather not rent a car anyway.

Anyone any experience of getting there? The public transport info I can find seems a bit sketchy, and doesn't really show whether I'd end up having to wait hours to get out of there! It looks like there are tours which arrange a hotel and transfers, but I can get a hotel myself anyway - and the tours don't seem to offer transfers for the friday, and I'd want to do all 3 days. I don't mind paying a for circuit transfers if it avoids 4 hours on a crowded bus!

any help gratefully received..

thanks
anton

I went last year. Hiring a car is the way to go. They do drive pretty crazy and fast on their freeways. Don't know of any buses that go out there??? Just be prepared for the massive trafiic jam getting back across the bridge back to town in the afternoon. (on the friday it took me 3 hours to get back, when it's only a 45 min drive...)

The bus service from the centre of Istanbul is excellent and costs just a few Lira each way (about six Lira IIRC) There are six different routes but the two main ones are from Sultanahmet and Taksim Square.

They run every 10-15 minutes, more often on Sunday, to the track from early morning all days and they return on a fill them and send them basis. It only takes an hour each way (from Taksim) as the buses don't have to queue for the bridges. I was sitting in a cafe back in town 90 minutes after the chequered flag.

thanks for the tips!

Hi Anton,

Some stories you heard might not be wrong. It is quite far from the city. As iainw said, there are busses from everywhere, but they might be crowded. Although this is not a problem when you go to the race, it certainly becomes one when you go back afterwards. (It was a torture in the heat of August, but this year the race will be held in june, which means more mild weather conditions.) But busses are cheap when you compare it to rented car. Your choice will be between economy and comfort.