Key points
- Rent in Istanbul and take the equipment with you by car, ferry, train or plane.
- Delivery and collection happen only at a hotel or residence in Istanbul, not at an airport or in another city.
- A folding manual wheelchair is the easiest option to take on ferries, trains, flights and in car boots.
In this guide 9 sections
How wheelchair rental for Turkey works
Istanbul Wheelchair is an Istanbul-based rental company. We have no branches in other Turkish cities and do not deliver to or collect from Bursa, Cappadocia or anywhere else outside Istanbul. What you can do is rent in Istanbul and take the equipment with you on the rest of your trip.
Equipment may travel with you to other cities in Turkey, but collection must be arranged at a hotel or residence in Istanbul. We do not collect equipment in other cities or at airports.
- Delivery at your hotel or home in Istanbul at the start of the rental.
- Take the equipment with you by car, ferry, train or plane.
- Collection at a hotel or residence in Istanbul at the end; not at an airport or in another city.
- If your trip ends outside Istanbul, ask about buying instead of renting.
Choosing equipment for a multi-city trip
A folding manual wheelchair is the easiest option to take on ferries, trains, flights and in car boots. Electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters are heavier, need charging at every stop and may need airline approval for their batteries. Send us your full itinerary so we can suggest a suitable model.
Bursa
Bursa is reached from Istanbul by road via the Osmangazi Bridge across the Gulf of İzmit, or by fast ferry across the Sea of Marmara to the piers on the Bursa coast such as Mudanya. Ask the ferry operator about wheelchair boarding before you travel, as access can depend on the vessel and the pier.
In the city, the historic centre around the Grand Mosque and the old bazaars is busy and partly sloping. The Uludağ cable car climbs from the city to the mountain; check boarding arrangements with the operator before you go.
Yalova
Yalova is one of the shortest trips from Istanbul: fast ferries cross from Istanbul to Yalova pier, and the road route also uses the Osmangazi Bridge. Many visitors go for the thermal springs at Termal; ask the hotel or spa about step-free access to pools and changing rooms.
Kocaeli (İzmit)
Kocaeli lies east of Istanbul along the motorway towards Ankara, and İzmit is its main city. High-speed trains between Istanbul and Ankara stop at İzmit; check station lifts and request assistance from the rail operator in advance. If you are driving, make sure the folded equipment fits your vehicle with your luggage.
Sakarya (Adapazarı) and Sapanca
Further east, Adapazarı is the centre of Sakarya province, and Sapanca Lake is a popular stop for visitors. Lakeside walkways vary: some sections are paved, while picnic areas and bungalow resorts often have gravel or grass paths that are hard going in a small-wheeled chair.
Düzce
Düzce is further along the same motorway towards Bolu. Most visitors come for nature and the Black Sea coast at Akçakoca, where paths to beaches and waterfalls can be unpaved or steep. Check routes in advance and plan for a companion to push on rough ground.
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a long road journey from Istanbul, so most visitors take a domestic flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir Kapadokya airport and then a road transfer. Book airline assistance for both flights and give the airline the weight and folded dimensions of the rental chair.
Göreme and the nearby villages have cobbled lanes, steep slopes and cave hotels reached by steps, and the valley trails are unpaved. Ask your hotel about step-free rooms before you book, and check with balloon and tour operators whether they can accommodate a wheelchair user.
Before you leave Istanbul
A little planning avoids problems far from the handover address:
- send us your full itinerary, including the date you will be back in Istanbul for collection;
- check charging access at every hotel if you take powered equipment;
- keep our contact details with you and tell us early if you need to extend the rental;
- plan your last night in Istanbul, at a hotel or residence where we can collect.