Dolmuş in Turkey

Rules You Should Know!

Taking the dolmuş can be one of the most folk activities to do in Turkey! But what is a dolmuş? Do you know how it works?

In Turkey, a dolmuş is a small collective bus that operates in cities and in the countryside. The dolmuş is one of the most important means of public transport and if you will travel in Turkey and Antalya, you should, for sure, know how to use it, because the dolmuş has its own way of functioning.

Lucky for you, this article will explain, in detail, all the useful information you need to use the dolmuş during your trip to Turkey and in Antalya. Here we go!

Basic Information About the Dolmuş

Dolmuş means “it’s full” in Turkish. The name comes from the fact that a dolmuş does not leave until it has enough passengers. Cars, minibuses, boats, and motorboats can be used as dolmuş.

In the past, a dolmuş was used exclusively in Istanbul to cross the Bosphorus or the Golden Horn. The small motorboats or “kayık”, waited at the piers until there were enough passengers on the ferry, only then did they set off. Today, there are usually set sailing times.

Since 1931, dolmuş traffic has also been on the roads. Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine public transport throughout the country without a dolmuş!

Dolmuş Routes

A Dolmuş travels between two points on a precisely defined route and at a fixed time interval. Passengers can get on and off wherever they want on this route. All you have to do is signal the dolmuş from the roadside and it will stop to pick you up.

If you want to get off, tell the driver and he will stop at the next opportunity.

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Dolmuş Stops

There are no precisely defined stops for a dolmuş except for the initial and final stops. In Antalya, there are about 70 different routes served by the dolmuş. It’s estimated that there are about 1800 “stops” on these routes. If you are in a dolmuş and want to stop it somewhere, you just shout “Inecek var” which means “someone wants to get off” and the driver will stop immediately if nothing prevents it.

The dolmuş also operates between cities, so from Antalya you can go to Akseki, Aksu, Alanya, Finike, Kaş, Kemer, Manavgat, Beldibi, and Belek, and other places, by dolmuş.

Dolmuş Prices

The prices for each route are fixed. Payment is mostly made in cash, which is passed from the passengers to the driver. The driver has a small box on his right next to the gear stick, into which he puts the small change in the appropriate compartments. This enables him to give change even during the journey. No tickets are issued on the dolmuş.

Also, read about taxis in Antalya and our complete guide to renting a car in Antalya.

As an Antalya Tourism Guide for your Antalya Dental Travels, we examined the most interesting places in Antalya and collected the most beautiful sights. While on a dental holiday in Antalya, you can safely find an answer the following question: What to see in Antalya? We welcome your comments and feedback.

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