When you Arrive in Ankara
It will cost around 650 TL (Turkish Lira) to take a taxi from Esenboğa airport straight to Bilkent University. You can also use BelkoAir/Havaş* shuttle buses, which provide transportation between the city center and Esenboğa airport. The BelkoAir/Havaş service charges 70 TL from Esenboğa airport to AŞTİ, the Ankara bus station (located around 10 minutes away from campus).
* For more information on BelkoAir, you can visit http://www.belkoair.com/en
You need to take a taxi after your arrival at the AŞTİ Terminal to get to Bilkent University. It will cost around 250 TL from AŞTİ to Bilkent University. Please make sure that you have enough amount of TL with you as you have to pay in cash.
Urban Transportation
City Bus Transportation
EGO (Elektrik-Gaz-Otobüs) is the acronym for public bus transportation in Ankara. You can purchase single and multiple use bus cards at most newspaper kiosks, at EGO booths, and at Metro and Ankaray stations. Private “Halk” buses also provide transportation. EGO cards are not accepted on these buses. Tickets are purchased onboard from a conductor seated near the entrance. For routes and rates, see www.ego.gov.tr.
Metro and Ankaray
Ankara has a very clean, efficient underground rail system. There are two lines – Ankaray and Metro. You can use the same EGO payment card that you use on city run buses. For Metro and Ankaray routes and rates, visit the website www.ego.gov.tr.
Train
A city commuter train runs between Sincan at the far west of Ankara and Kayaş to the east. Tickets can be purchased at train platforms. The easiest station to get to is Yenişehir at Sıhhiye, just a short walk from where the city shuttle bus lets you off. Heading east, the train will go through the Main train station where you can transfer to long haul trains.
Intercity Travel
Bus
Ankara Şehirlerarası Terminal İşletmesi – Ankara Intercity Bus Terminal (AŞTİ) is located on Mevlana Boulevard (known as Konya Road). There, you will find buses with service to virtually every location in Turkey. Bus transportation is an efficient and affordable way to travel. All bus companies are privately owned, and may have varying service schedules. It is best to make a reservation in advance for your trip. Please note that a single person is generally seated next to a passenger of the same sex.
AŞTİ is at the end of the Ankaray underground system line. The following intercity bus companies have branch offices on Campus for reservations and ticket purchasing. They offer special discounts for Bilkenters when you show ID.
Train
Traveling by train (TCDD-Turkish State Railways) can be enjoyable and inexpensive, although there are not as many routes available as there are with buses. Train tickets are sold at many travel agencies and at the main station (İstasyon or Gar). Special rates are offered to teachers. You may benefit from this discount if you show your ID. The best way to get to the train station is to take the Sıhhiye bus (either SD or SM) from the University campus. Get off at the last stop by the Sıhhiye Bridge and take a dolmuş or a taxi. Even though the main train station is within walking distance, it might be difficult to do so with luggage. For more detailed information, visit the Turkish State Railway’s website at www.tcdd.gov.tr.
Bilkent Transportation Services
To/From Downtown Ankara
There is a free shuttle service from both the Main and East Campuses to two convenient locations, Sıhhiye and Tunus, in downtown Ankara (with hourly service daily, including evenings and weekends).
The downtown bus service is free with your Bilkent student or personnel ID.
Route signs on buses:
TM = Tunus-Merkez (Tunus-Main Campus)
TD = Tunus-Doğu (Tunus-East Campus)
SM = Sıhhiye-Merkez (Sıhhiye-Main Campus)
SD = Sıhhiye-Doğu (Sıhhiye-East Campus)
Main Campus Bus Service (Ring)
(Main Campus Ring)
There is also a free shuttle bus service with a route running the length of the Main Campus, starting from the faculty housing area and continuing past the classroom buildings up to the student dormitories. The buses run at 20-minute intervals, and stop at points along the route marked with a sign reading “RING.”
Inter-Campus Bus Service (Ring)
(Main Campus – East Campus)
An additional free shuttle service connects Main and East campuses, with buses running every 20 minutes.
Note: Most students walk to class from the dormitories. It can be easier and faster than other forms of transportation at times, and is a pleasant way to get to know the campus.