[Tilli]

When you book your ticket with Elbirlik from Kus to Izmir what do you ask for ticket wise please?
I know you can get a ticket that takes you to the bus terminal in Izmir and another that is all inclusive of both the bus ticket AND the dolmus into Izmir itself.
The only time I have done this journey, I was met my Turkish friends so didn't have to worry about the dolmus part of things.
Does anyone know, once you get to Izmir how you find the right dolmus into the city? Is it far from where the bus drops you in the terminal and how do we recognise that dolmus?
What do you ask for and what dolmus do you get? What area of Izmir will the dolmus bring you to and then, how do you know what dolmus to get back to the bus terminal for the bus back to Kusadasi.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as we would like to do this trip this time without our Turkish friends feeling compelled to meet us at the Izmir bus terminal and we also want to surprise them.
Any guidance would help please.

[Mella]

I can't help you with the Kusadasi to Izmir bit, because I went from Selcuk to Izmir..only 6 YTL for a ticket - How great is that!

The first time I went to Izmir I was alone with my friend who was also an Izmir n00b. We didn't have a clue where we were going and nobody in Izmir seems to speak any English, so it was a brilliant little adventure.

When we arrived in the bus terminal, we made our way to where the taxi's and dolmuses are and we tried to figure out a way to get to the center of Izmir...AKA the shops! You will find the dolmuses downstairs, it looks like this:



You should be able to see where the dolmus goes because it has a wee white sign on the top stating which part of Izmir it's heading for, failing that you can go up to one of the dolmus men and just say which part of Izmir you want to go to and he should point out which dolmus you'll need to take to get there.

We couldn't see the right dolmus and we had a taxi man trying to make us get in his taxi for some ridiculous price which we politely declined and a few minutes later we managed to find the WONDERFUL invention that is - The Taxi Dolmus! Better than a taxi OR a dolmus! It's basically just a normal yellow taxi that you share with whoever else is standing in the queue and it will take you to Konak, Alsacak, Bornova etc...wherever you want to go for some small fee like 4 ytl (it might have been less actually!) but it's much quicker than a dolmus and less crowded, plus not as expensive as a proper taxi.

I can't help you with the way back because our beloved taxi dolmus didn't go back to the bus terminal and stopped in Alsancak so we haggeled a bit with a taxi place and got a (fairly cheap) taxi back to the bus terminal. God, I love Izmir. I know this post wasn't of great help but it was nice to relive that day, have a great time Tilli.

[Tilli]

Thanks again Carmella. Yes, I'm looking forward to it but just don't want to spend the day, getting lost and then having a problem trying to get back to the bus terminal.
But at least I now know to head downstairs and keep my eyes peeled.
Once I get to Alcanjak or Konak, I will get my bearings. After that, getting back to the bus terminal will definately be an adventure lol
Worth a try though
Thanks again.
Love Tilli

[Hephaestion]

Hey Tilli!

Dolmus no.2 takes you to the Kus Bus station

At the Elbirlik ticket office just tell the him where you want to go Basmane, Konak or Alsancak and your ticket will include the shuttle from Izmir Bus Station.

As soon as you step off the bus at Izmir Bus Station just follow the crowd of people. You basically turn left and head down a ramp that takes you from top level to ground level where all the shuttle busses are waiting. They wait at least 10 mins after your arrival. The one to Konak has an Elbirlik sticker (among many other bus operators) But just scream Alsancak or Konak and you will be directed to the shuttle no worries. Make sure you take your seat on the shuttle fairly snappish as they do seem to pack them and it is not altogether comfortable standing up as I have found out.
The shuttle is very quick - 15 mins and you are in the City Center.

At Basmane you are dropped off by that large roundabout with the globe fountain. The bus ticket office is located there so you can purchase your return fare upon arrival. There are yellow cabs all around so you can take a cab from there. We pay no more than 5 ytl to Alsancak. Much better value than in Kusadasi.


Great trip report Mella!!! I did the cab dolmus once and happened too share it with a gay Canadian (Turkish Ex-pat). Boy do North Americans know how to talk!!! Anyway what a great concept if only we had the same thing here!

[joy]

Hi Tilli, as Chris above said thats how i did it and the beauty of getting the shuttle back to Izmir bus station is if the shuttle is late the Izmir -Kusadasi bus waits till it arrives.
All co ordinated brilliantly...as Chris said wish we had such great public transport.
Enjoy you trip and holiday Tilli.

[Tilli]

Thank you Carmella, Chris and Joy.
All instructions noted.
If you never hear from me again, you can assume I am wandering around Izmir in a daze, but hell, there are a lot worse places to get lost!
Looking forward to it now. Only 11 days to go....

[BLUEEYES934]

Does the bus also go to the airport from the main terminal in Izmir - does anyone know how long it takes. Got this bus a coulpe of times from Kus and it was great but always got picked up at the other end.