Turkey - Cycling Destination

Turkey is making great strides as a cycling country. With the Tour of Türkiye and the Tour of Antalya, investment is being made in cycling, and more and more routes, bike-friendly hotels, and rental companies are opening up for the average cyclist as well. The country is huge and diverse: from the Aegean coast around Izmir and the Turkish Riviera near Antalya to the lunar landscape of Cappadocia. In spring and autumn it is great to cycle there, and in winter the southern coast is an alternative to Spain.

Regions

Izmir and the Aegean coast. Our first guide: the EuroVelo 8 along the coast, gravel around Seferihisar, Ephesus and Pergamon along the way, and the finish of the Tour of Türkiye.
Antalya and the Turkish Riviera. The ultimate cycling destination in Turkey, with routes along the Lycian coast around Kemer, a ski resort in the mountains behind it and the Babadağ near Ölüdeniz: 18.2 kilometers with 1,866 meters of elevation gain, an average of 10.4 percent. Even the pros took over an hour and a half in the Tour of Türkiye.
Cappadocia. Famous for the hot air balloons above an almost otherworldly landscape, and beautiful for gravel.
Istanbul. Not the first place you’d think of, but along the Bosporus there are bike paths on both sides, and in the forest above the city you can ride around in a leisurely way.

Antalya and the Turkish Riviera

Around Antalya Many professional teams train in the winter. The reason: short flights, lots of sunshine, good hotels that are adapted for cyclists and the Taurus Mountains directly behind the coast. You drive from flat coastal roads past ancient Greek and Roman cities like Side and Perge up into the mountains, with climbing up to over 1,500 meters.

Izmir and the Aegean coast

On the west coast lies Izmir, With peninsulas, olive groves, wine villages and the ruins of Ephesus. Spring and autumn are ideal here; in summer it is warm, in winter cooler than in Antalya.

Practical

SeasonIn Antalya you can cycle from October to May; the summer is too hot. The best times to visit the Aegean coast are April to June and September to November.
TrafficCoastal roads can be busy. Many bike hotels have routes that avoid the crowds.
MoneyThe Turkish lira. Cash is accepted in cities and hotels; take cash with you in the villages.

Read also ours overview of winter sun destinations outside Spain, With Turkey, Cyprus, Crete and North Africa.

When are you leaving?

Spring (March to June) and autumn (September to November) are ideal. In the summer it is very hot on the coast; go inland instead. In the winter it is cold in the interior and in the mountains, with snow around Ankara and above Antalya, but on the southern coast it is mild enough for a winter stay.

Sustainability

Turkey is a flight destination from the Netherlands and Belgium. By train, it’s a two-day journey with many transfers. The country is investing heavily in sustainable tourism: more and more hotels are receiving the government’s sustainability label. Via GoTürkiye you can also find a list of Bike Friendly hotels.

How do you get there?

Direct flights from Schiphol go to places like Istanbul, Izmir and Antalya, and in the season also from Eindhoven and Rotterdam. You can either bring your bike or rent it on the spot. Read our guide here. Flying with your bike.

This is how we calculate: We calculate distances and travel times starting from Utrecht. Our flights always depart from Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport or Eindhoven Airport. Want to know how to travel from your place of residence the best way? Let us know, We are happy to help you. After all, we built this site together.

Are you flying? Read our guide Flying with your bike: Which airline, what the cost is and how to pack your bike.