A short bus journey along Turkey’s stunning Aegean coast from the popular city of İzmir, Urla captivates visitors with its world-class vineyards, mouthwatering restaurants and tranquil seaside neighbourhoods. For those who want to enjoy Turkey at a slower pace, this alluring town offers a perfect respite from city life.
Most overseas travellers don’t rent a car in Turkey, meaning they tend to stick to the main cities and well-trodden tourist trails. Thankfully, Urla is very easy to get to by public transport from İzmir. Although the buses between İzmir and Urla can sometimes be tricky to navigate – our own trip in May 2024 proved more complicated than we expected – a little advance planning will help you avoid the mistakes that we made. It’s a straightforward journey, making Urla an ideal addition to any trip to the İzmir region.
Here’s our step-by-step guide for travelling from İzmir to Urla by bus, including our own experience and thoughts on why the journey is absolutely worth it.
Step 1: Take the İzmir Metro to Fahrettin Altay
Your journey from İzmir to Urla starts with the İzmir Metro. Depending on where you are in İzmir, your goal is to reach Fahrettin Altay, which is one of the biggest stations on the M1 metro line – the only line that is currently active.
Fun fact: Fahrettin Altay was once the westernmost station on the M1 line, until the extension to Narlıdere opened in 2024.
If you’re travelling from İzmir city centre, or popular areas such as Alsancak or Konak, the metro is your most reliable and efficient option. It’s clean, affordable and runs regularly throughout the day – from 6 AM to 12 AM.
If you struggle to catch the metro, you can take a taxi or a bus. When we visited, we were on a tight deadline and couldn’t get to a metro station easily, so we decided to take a taxi – this was not very expensive, although it still took 45 minutes to cross İzmir city centre in heavy traffic.
Step 2: Walk from to Fahrettin Altay bus station
Once you arrive at Fahrettin Altay, you will need to make your way to the bus station. If you’ve travelled to Fahrettin Altay using the İzmir Metro, you will need to walk 450 metres from the metro station to the bus station – see below for a map of the route.
It’s pretty straightforward. If in doubt, you can simply follow the crowds – lots of people will be walking from the metro station to the bus station.
Step 3: Catch a Dolmuş or Bus from İzmir to Urla
Once you arrive Fahrettin Altay bus station, you have two options for your journey to Urla – a traditional dolmuş or a modern bus.
Best for: If you only have cash, or you do not have an Izmirim Card.
Dolmuşes are an iconic feature of Turkey’s public transport system. These shared minibuses zip between local towns and are perfect for anyone seeking an authentic experience while travelling in Turkey.
To catch a dolmuş from İzmir to Urla:
- Head to the dolmuş station at Fahrettin Altay, which is next to the main bus station.
- Look for minibuses with “Urla” displayed on a sign in the front windscreen. If in doubt, just ask the driver or a fellow passenger – even a quizzical “Urla?” will get you the answer you need.
The pin on the map above shows where our dolmuş to Urla departed from. It’s just outside the main ESHOT bus station and platforms.
The dolmuşes from İzmir to Urla depart frequently throughout the day. It’s worth noting that the services will often fill up and become ‘standing-room-only’, so don’t wait around – if you see spare seats, hop on the dolmuş and settle in.
Our top tips for travelling by Dolmuş
The dolmuş experience can be confusing if you’ve never travelled on one before. Here’s what we think you need to know:
- Cost: A one-way ticket from İzmir to Urla on a dolmuş will cost around 30 TL per person.
- How to pay: To pay for your dolmuş journey, you will need cash. Pay the cash directly to the driver, usually when the journey has started. Passengers will pass cash forward to the driver, so be ready to pass other travellers’ fares forward – particularly if you’re sat near the front. Don’t worry too much if you get confused – the locals are usually happy to help.
- Pros: The dolmuşes depart frequently (the tend to set off as soon as they’re full). You also have the flexibility to get off wherever it’s safe for the driver to pull over. Finally, it’s a perfect way to experience ‘living like a local’ during your Urla trip.
- Cons: The main downside of a dolmuş is that it can get crowded, especially during peak hours. The minibuses can become particularly hot at the height of summer.
How to catch a modern ‘ESHOT’ bus from İzmir to Urla
Alternatively, you can take the modern ESHOT buses departing from Fahrettin Altay. These buses are generally far more comfortable than the dolmuşes – boasting air conditioning and a more spacious interior. They typically cater to a wider range of passengers, including commuters and students.
However: Catching an ESHOT bus requires you to have either:
- An Izmirim Card (otherwise known as an İzmirim Kart), which you must load with sufficient credit before boarding, OR
- A Bilet35, which is a single-use ticket that is valid for 3, 5 or 10 trips
You cannot buy an Izmirim Card or a Bilet35 from the bus driver – you must have one before you board. Furthermore, you cannot buy a ticket with cash. We found this out the hard way; read on for a full breakdown of our experience.
There are two ESHOT buses that are ideal for travelling from Fahrettin Altay to Urla. These are:
- The 984, which runs every 25-30 minutes, takes just over 90 minutes and has over 85 stops.
- The 684, which is an ‘express’ bus and also runs every 30 minutes. It has just 17 stops.
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Dolmuş or ESHOT bus: Our Recommendation
If, like us, you are only travelling through İzmir en-route to another destination, we would recommend catching a dolmuş. It’s much easier to pay with cash than to try and get hold of an Izmirim Card or a Bilet35. When we visited, the IT systems were down, and we could not buy the card from a ticket booth or the machines. The dolmuş, by comparison, was super easy and an even more enjoyable experience overall.
However, if you already have an Izmirim Card or a Bilet35, you may find the ESHOT bus to be a more comfortable experience.
How to buy and top up an Izmirim Card
For anyone who wants to catch the ESHOT bus from İzmir to Urla, here’s our guide to buying and topping up an Izmirim Card. The card is key to most public transport in İzmir options, whether you want to travel by metro, bus, ferry or even the tram. Here’s how to get one and ensure it’s ready for your trip to Urla:
Where to buy an Izmirim Card
1: Card Application Centers:
You can buy a physical Izmirim Card from any of the 9 ‘Card Application Centers’ dotted around İzmir. Some of these application centers are located at Metro stations – including one at Fahrettin Altay.
The İzmirim Kart website has a full list of Card Application Centers, including links to maps.
2: Mobile App:
Alternatively, you can purchase a digital Izmirim Card via the İzmirim Kart app, which is available on both Android and Apple. However, please note that you can only buy the Izmirim Card on the app if you have a Turkish phone number to activate your account.
For most international travellers, the physical card (or the Bilet35) will be a better option.
How much does the Izmirim Card cost?
The physical card costs around 75 TL to purchase. You must then top up the balance before you can use the card to travel. You can top up your Izmirim Card using the machines that are at most metro stations and bus stops – but please note that many of these machines only accept cash.
We recommend loading at least 100 TL onto your Izmirim Card to cover multiple journeys. A one-way trip to Urla will cost around 40 TL.
Three reasons why it’s worth visiting Urla from İzmir
From wine tasting to al-fresco dining overlooking the sparkling waters of the Aegean, here are three of our top reasons to add Urla to your travel plans.
1) Explore some of Turkey’s best vineyards
Urla is at the heart of a burgeoning wine scene in Turkey. With boutique vineyards dotting the region, you can enjoy tastings of exceptional local wines while soaking in the scenic surroundings. Don’t miss Urla Şarapçılık, one of the most renowned wineries in the area.
2) Eat at some of Turkey’s best restaurants
Urla boasts some of Turkey’s best restaurants, combining fresh, local ingredients with creative flair. Whether you’re craving seafood by the waterfront or a Michelin-star experience, Urla delivers. Make sure to book ahead for the most popular restaurants, as tables fill up fast – especially on weekends.
3) Relax on the waterfront
Whilst the main town is a short drive from the sea, Urla İskele is a small port village that is very much an extension of the Urla experience. Stroll along the promenade, admire fishing boats bobbing gently in the harbour, or settle into a cafe with a cup of Turkish tea. For lunch, we recommend grabbing an outdoor table at Fırın Vourla. It’s the perfect escape from the bustle of İzmir.
A note on our experience of travelling from İzmir to Urla by bus
Our experience of getting from İzmir to Urla by bus was a little more stressful than we hoped. That’s why we’ve written this blog post – so you can learn from our mistakes. Here’s what happened.
Getting from İzmir Şehirlerarası Bus Terminal to Fahrettin Altay
Our long-distance coach from Denizli arrived at Izmir Şehirlerarası Bus Terminal, which is on the opposite side of the city from Fahrettin Altay.
When we got off the coach, our first task was to figure out how to get from the bus terminal to Fahrettin Altay. The terminal is—to put it mildly—a bit of a maze, with different levels and dozens of platforms. We tried asking for directions at a few ticket booths, but nobody knew where to catch the local bus to the nearest metro station.
Eventually, we cut our losses and started looking for the taxi rank. It took us a while, but we spotted it across a car park, just outside the main entrance to the bus station. We showed the driver a map with our destination, and within a couple of minutes, we were tearing down the main road into central İzmir.
Crossing the busy city centre was a slog – traffic here is notoriously bad. 45 minutes after leaving İzmir bus station, our driver pulled up near the entrance to Fahrettin Altay’s ESHOT bus platforms. We could see crowds of people waiting patiently and a handful of modern buses waiting to depart. It looked promising.
It didn’t take long to spot the 984 bus to Urla. A long queue had formed, with students, elderly couples, and workers ready to head home at the end of a long day. We shuffled along with the crowd before boarding the bus. It looked like everyone was tapping their cards, which lured us into a false sense of security – we hadn’t done our research into the Izmirim Card system.
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Searching for an Izmirim Card
We asked for two tickets to Urla, and I placed my Monzo card on the scanner. No luck – an error message. I quickly swapped to my other Mastercard. Still no luck. We asked the driver if we could pay with cash. He shook his head. Card only. We had been scuppered.
Eventually, we spotted an information booth further down the platform. With misplaced optimism, we approached the woman in the window and asked if we could buy two tickets to Urla. “No,” she said with ill-disguised disdain as she quickly wound down the blind and disappeared out of view. It seemed like someone was having a bad day.
Thankfully, her colleague at the next window was more helpful. He told us we had to buy an Izmirim Card to use the buses. I immediately got flashbacks to trying to navigate Istanbul’s public transport system with the equally frustrating Istanbul card. Unfortunately, the ticket office at the bus station could not sell us Izmirim cards. Nor could you buy Izmir cards from the ticket machines at the bus station. Of course, we now know that you can also buy the Bilet35 – but it looks like that wouldn’t have been possible at the time, either.
The apologetic gentleman advised us to go to the nearby metro station, where we would be able to buy our Izmir cards. Feeling increasingly frustrated at how hard it was to buy a simple bus ticket, we marched out of the bus station and made the five-minute walk to the metro station.
Losing all hope with broken ticket machines
Descending the busy escalators, we spotted a handful of ticket machines in the corner of a large beige atrium. Next to the machines, a row of ticket offices lined up. Each ticket office looked distinctly closed, with its blinds firmly down.
We spotted a dusty ticket machine in the corner and, full of hope, went to see if it sold the cards. It didn’t – in fact, the machine didn’t appear to be working at all. Slightly exasperated at this point, we managed to find a member of staff, who told us that the whole IT system was broken and that we’d have to go back to the bus station.
We lugged our rucksacks back up the escalators and returned to the bus station. All the ticket booths were now fully closed, and it looked like we would be forced to take a taxi the whole way to Urla.
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Stumbling upon a dolmuş
Thankfully, in a last-minute twist of fate, we spotted a rickety old dolmuş just outside the main bus station building displaying ‘Urla’ on a faded paper sign in its front window. There was nobody else on it, but we asked the driver and he waved us on – we were saved!
Within about 20 minutes, the dolmuş had filled up, and we began the bumpy journey to Urla, clasping our rucksacks in our laps as more people crammed on. The dolmuş began to empty out as we approached the outskirts of Urla, and around an hour after leaving İzmir we found ourselves at Urla bus station sweaty and tired, but grateful for our adventure on the İzmir-Urla dolmuş.
We had learnt our lesson – next time we’re in İzmir, our very first act will be to track down an Izmirim Card.
İzmir to Urla: Our Final Thoughts
Navigating public transport in an unfamiliar city always comes with its challenges, and İzmir is certainly no exception. However, if you can arm yourself with an Izmirim Card – or track down a dolmuş – you’ll be well-prepared to make the journey from İzmir to Urla hassle-free. Regardless of how straightforward (or not!) your route is, one thing is for sure – Urla is a destination you’ll be glad you made the effort to visit.