Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

We have previously drove in 2011 to Cyprus taking the longer route across Europe and down through Turkey, then took the “ferry” across. Now that is another story (the ferry)!!
Back in the UK now, and thinking of driving back home to Cyprus, this time going via Italy. From there use the ferry’s to reach Turkey. Then drive down through Turkey to again take “that ferry” across to Cyprus.
I am aware there is no direct ferry route to Turkey. And know there’s expats out there that have done this journey using the route via Italy, then used the ferry’s to reach Turkey.
Any advice would be gratefully received ie, route taken to which port in Italy, which ferry companies best to use and a possible estimated cost of ferry’s.

Brindisi in Italy then across to Piraeus, port of Athens. It would involve a further ferry to Chios and then another ferry to Cesme in Turkey. Can't tell you the cost.
Alternatively look at the ferry routes from Brindisi to Albania on through Macedoniaand then through
Bulgaria to Turkey.

First time I came I got a ferry from Ancona in Italy to Izmir then down through Turkey. Ferry from Italy not too bad, food OK and sometimes they have entertainment but it is 3 nights if I remember. Sometimes it goes through the Corrinth canal.

Just completed journey via France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey. Took in lots of sites on the way.

Things to watch out for are the Toll roads, make sure you have signed up for them. Insurance, the above are all Europe apart from Turkey where you have to purchase 3rd Party Only at the border, 3 months minimum. Don't forget to get your Turkish E-visa!

You can drive in Europe on UK insurance BUT this is based on the fact you are normally based at your permanent UK address. Sometimes cover is the minimum required i.e third party sometimes it is comp. Read the small print. Some allow up to 90 days so if you are bringing here you need to consider if driving in South on same insurance. Note you may think that how will the insurance company know that you are going one way to Cyprus? If you have a bump and it is a few thousand they probably will not worry but if you damage someone or worse you van be sure they will look at it more closely if they are looking at large third party liabilities so be aware. You would typically be asked for return tickets, proof of planned journey and proof of living in UK. It may be best to go to a specialist insurer such as Adrian Flux.

Albania is a beautiful country as are some of those other states around there but I have just spent a year working there and out biggest risk was driving, honestly if you think they are bad here...

Good luck and PM if I can help further.

Many Thanks to both "Panchocat and "Jonnie" for your valuable input to my inquiry.

Insurance had a hospital stay last year and they wanted copy of the flight booking/ tickets so I fitted into the 40 days holiday insurance
imagine what motor insurance would be like

Panchocat wrote:Brindisi in Italy then across to Piraeus, port of Athens. It would involve a further ferry to Chios and then another ferry to Cesme in Turkey. Can't tell you the cost.
Alternatively look at the ferry routes from Brindisi to Albania on through Macedoniaand then through
Bulgaria to Turkey.

Many thanks for your post. Do you have any details ie which ferry company did you use, and if you still have any contact details.

DaP2410
Brindisi to Albania. Red Star ferries sail 5 times a week, it's a 5 hour crossing.
European Ferries service run 7times a week and the crossing is 7hours approx.
Athens to Chios ferries run by several companies. Blue Star Ferries and Hellenic Seaways being 2 of them.
Chios to Cesme operated by 2 companies The Erturk Lines ferry runs 7 times a week.
The Turyol service runs 3 times a day short crossing about half an hour.
Good luck.

There is also a ferry from Bari (Italy) to Igoumenitsa in Greece which is quite popular. Think there are a couple of companies running this service - some of them go via Corfu.

We did the trip 14 years ago. Drove to Brindisi and took ferry to Cesmi. We did not pre look and it was August. Google it. Wonderful trip through the Corinth Canal.
You can buy car insurance for Turkey on arrival into Cesme.
Once you arrive into the TRNC at Kyrenia, I can assist with you insurance which is much cheaper that paying at the port. I can also assist with car importation.
Best regards
Carol
carol@cansigorta.com

Hi

We drove last year with our two dogs

We got the channel tunnel then drove to Venice
Ferry from Venice to Patra in Greece -36 hours but ok as we had a coin with our shower etc

From Patras we drove to Pireaus where we caught a ferry to Kos - 12 hours

Then a ferry to Bodrum -45 mins

We drove all along the Turkish coast until we got That ferry at Tasucu

We took 10 days and it was fantastic

Would loved to have taken l get but with the dogs we had a 10 day export license

But what an experience !

Im driving from the UK the long way round via Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Albania and Macedonia, Bulgaria and into Turkey, Istanbul to Antalya and on the ferry at Tasacu. Taking 10 days in June

We did that route. I f you can, slip into Montenegro, you will love it !, promise.

We did Ancona to Igoumentsas 2-3 years ago (Anek Lines) which is a day and a half, Lunchtime departure from Ancona, arriving Igoumenitsas morning next day. Easy driving off the ferry, only 1 road out, which then goes across northern Greece, (was being Tolled last time we did this, returning.) crossing into Turkey. Turn right at Kesan. Ferry from Gelibolu to Lapseke, or further down, Eceabat to Cannakale. Depends which route through Turkey you want to take. After Antalya, the road to Tasucu wasn't the best but there was various tunnelling and duelling projects going on, might be a bit easier by now.

Mufflet wrote:We did that route. I f you can, slip into Montenegro, you will love it !, promise.

I went to Montenegro last year on a motorbike on the way to Istanbul, it was pretty

Hi Everyone,

I'm moving to North Cyprus later on in the year and want to drive from the UK via Italy. Then take a ferry to Greece, drive to Turkey and then down to catch the ferry to Famagusta. Any tips, ferry ports and advice would much appreciated.

We got ferry from Ankona Italy to

To ISmartAlarm drove down to Mersin dangerous road for ferry to Girne great trip last ferry October

Should say Ismer

Great stuff, thank you. I think i'm gonna drive down to Brindisi and catch the 9 hour ferry to Greece

Question. If you dont have a uk address or uk license how can you get insurance to drive a uk car from uk to turkey?