A car rental can give you the freedom to explore as much or as little of the city as you want. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before renting a car in Istanbul. First, the traffic can be very congested, especially during rush hour. Second, parking can be difficult to find and is often expensive.

It's best to avoid driving in big cities such as Istanbul and Ankara as traffic can be very chaotic. In central and eastern Anatolia, the roads are often in bad condition due to heavy traffic and harsh weather conditions. If you're driving at night, or in rural areas, watch out for livestock and unlit farm vehicles.

Good to know when renting in Istanbul Renters with licenses using non-Roman alphabets like Arabic or Cyrillic also need an international driving permit. The minimum age for rental in Turkey is 21 with a license held for 2 years.