Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020

Night travel by bus

Country forums / Eastern Europe & the Caucasus / Turkey

Hallo to all

Just a small (stupid?) question....

Are there nocturnal buses that would have seats convertible to couchette-like beds? I think this topic has been covered before in this section, but haven't found the post.
Which companies? At which price?
I would like to save time by travelling by night. I would not ask that if I were capable to sleep in other position than horizontal. And having the front seat fully tilted towards me, the passenger at my side leaning over me and so on, does not help at all.(Maybe if heavily drugged...)

Thanks a lot in advance

Where are you going? It would help. "Are there...buses that would have seats convertible to couchette-like beds?" HA. Even the Luxury Buses Varan and Ulusoy don't offer those amenities. There are dozens of bus companies with varying prices. Sometimes the driver will give a good seat to a foreign tourist. Otherwise, it's just straight up seating.

1

I haven't seen these anywhere in Europe. And they'd probably be illegal, since there would be nothing to hold you in case of an accident.

If you need a couchette then its a train I'm afraid. More expensive and (in E Europe) slower than buses, but a lot more comfortable.

2

I use Kamil Koc RAHAT HAT.
The site is in Turkish, but as you can see in the photos, seats are wider and it is more comfortable.
Not all destinations have this model, and you need to ask them where you can go with this bus.

3

I've seen these buses in use in Brazil and Argentina but not Europe.

4

they WERE quite a few in Europe, but I think they are banned by the EU (but TK is not in EU - yet!). lso they were of very limited use, as they could also only be used nighttrips, and thats too little for a good expolitation. In CHINA they are very, very common, also a few in jPN, but are consideed VERY dangerous in the very frequent acidents

5

Sleeping in a sit-up-all-night seat on a bus is not a nice experience!

Check out the train routes, such as Istanbul-Ankara, Istanbul-Konya and Istanbul-Denizli (Pamukkale). These lines have excellent air-conditioned trains with both couchettes and sleepers

Train info, with times, fares and photos of the sleepers and couchette so you can see what they are like are at www.seat61.com/Turkey2.htm</a>

6

Thanks a lot for your fast answers

#1 Trajects are Cappadocia-Antalya (or Konya, yet to decide), Antalya-Denizli. From Izmir/Selçuk to Istambul, I will choose most probably flight, unless I find a ferry.

#3 Yes, I checked, but being all in Turkish does not help me a lot for destinations. Anyway, I will have them in mind, because they look great, quite different to what I am used when travelling by bus.

#4,5 I remember a teacher of mine travelled in such a bus years ago and told me. Also, I myself could see one, but also years ago. Hence the reason of my question. About safety, to be fair, couchettes in trains could have the same problem as buses, in case of accident. Okay, having an accident is more likely with buses.

#6 Yes, I STRONGLY adhere to your affirmation and because that I already checked your -great- web before asking this. I always do before travelling to the ME. (One day -or night- I'll do Aleppo-Damascus by train, or travel the seemingly marvellous Aleppo-Lattakia) The problem is that there are not trains linking Capadoccia with Konya/Antalya, or linking also the towns of the Mediteranean coast. If you want to go from Istambul/Ankara to somewhere, no prob. Else, you are doomed to bus. Same with planes, I am afraid. Anyway, Istambul-Konya is not discarded....

7

"Sleeping in a sit-up-all-night seat on a bus is not a nice experience!"

Oh, you're such a WIMP, maninseat61!

Anyway, they're pullman seats, just like on a plane. I never have any problem with 24 hour journeys. And the train is snail-slow in Turkey.

8

Kamil Koc RAHAT HAT: From Izmir to Istanbul
They have bus services everyday at the following time:
10:00
12:00
13:30
22:00
24:00
It takes about 9-9.5 hours, and it costs 50 YTL.

9

Bustravel is uncomfortable and trains are actually slower than snails; why don't you fly.

10

Hallo to all

#8 Hallo GO, glad to see you again in here. BTW, thanks for all your previous counsels regarding my travels to Iran, Syria and Leb.
I believe that Man_in_seat_61 refers when travelling by night to couchette, which is my only chance to sleep at least around 5 hours when moving.

#9 Noriko, thank you, thank you thank you...

#10 Why do not I fly? Because lack of wings and terrible aerodinamic shape... No, seriously. Price, my friend. If I have any chance to jump into a Capadoccia balloon is by cutting flights to the max. (Or by asking a small credit)

11

OP - the bus system in Turkey far outstrips the rail service.

12