Car & Van Hire - Gaziantep

Gaziantep has been home to various civilisations over the centuries, and they've all left their mark on the city in some way. One of the most interesting places to see this is the Mosaic Museum, the largest of its kind in the world. Many of the mosaics here come from Zeugma, a UNESCO World Heritage Site originally occupied by the Ancient Greeks. The hilltop Gaziantep Castle is also worth visiting. Built by the Hittites, it has been a key part of the city's defences for centuries.

Another ancient fortress can be seen at Rumkale. Standing proudly above the Euphrates River, this fort has occupied a strategic location since ancient times. It cannot be accessed, but it makes a beautiful backdrop for photos! You can take a boat trip around Rumkale to admire some of the surrounding area, which features dramatic cliffs that plunge into the water.

Gaziantep is known as the culinary capital of Turkey, making it a paradise for foodies. Top of the list is baklava. While you'll find this sweet treat across Turkey and the Middle East, baklava in Gaziantep is extra special due to the high-quality pistachios grown in the area. Katmer, a sweet breakfast pastry, also uses pistachios as its star ingredient. Other specialities include beyran, a spicy soup of lamb and rice, and patlican, a lamb and aubergine kebab.

Around Gaziantep, you will find dozens of interesting historical sites and museums. Car rental in Gaziantep also lets you explore the surrounding region. One of the best spots for a day trip is Urfa, known as the City of Prophets. It is said to be the hometown of Abraham and has been home to sacred figures in Islam, Judaism and Christianity. Today it continues to be an important centre for pilgrimages and has beautiful religious architecture. This is regarded as one of the holiest cities in Turkey. It is well worth visiting, particularly for its wealth of museums, but visitors are advised to dress modestly and respectfully.

Car or van rental in Gaziantep is also a great way to discover Mount Nemrut. Towering 2,206 m above sea level, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its enormous stone statues. Once, they depicted gods of the ancient Greek and Iranian civilisations. Today, the heads of the statues are scattered around the top of the mountain. The beheaded statues surround a royal tomb, and there are a number of trails to explore.

Gaziantep is a large city, so some level of rush hour traffic is inevitable. The Turkish government has worked to improve traffic flow here and in other big cities. Sadly, their efforts have been undermined by earthquake damage, as Gaziantep sits on a faultline. To avoid rush hour, plan your daily driving. Traffic usually runs toward the city centre in the morning, peaking at 08:00, and in the opposite direction in the evening, with a peak at around 17:30.

When parking in Gaziantep, you should be prepared to pay in cash. Some on-street parking is available, though it can be frustrating to find a spot! There are no parking meters. Instead, you will need to pay an attendant. It is standard for someone to approach you as you park in order to take your payment. If you prefer the convenience of a large car park, there are several to be found around the city centre. Known as "Oto Parks", these often feature a huge number of cars crammed tightly together, with very little space in between. If you are uncomfortable parking in such a narrow spot, give your keys to the parking attendant.

Take care when stopping at traffic lights in Turkey. The traffic lights are usually set at an unusual distance from the line that marks the junction. This means that if you pull all the way up to the line, you will not be able to see the lights, and you can't tell when they change colour.

Gaziantep and the surrounding area experience snow for around 2 – 3 months each winter. The snowy season generally starts in mid-late December, continuing until early March. It is at its deepest in February. If you are visiting during these months, be prepared to drive in snowy conditions, and plan your route between cities carefully. You will find it easier to stick to the highways, as they are treated with grit far more frequently than other country roads.

You will need to ensure your car is fitted with an HGS device, which usually takes the form of a sticker with an electronic chip. This is used to pay tolls across Turkey. When you are driving outside Gaziantep, the nearest toll road is the Otoyol 54, but there are many more. There is no way to pay tolls other than with an HGS device. If you pass a tollbooth without one, you can expect a substantial fine.