09.11.2026 22:20
Demand for intercity bus tickets has increased ahead of the first-term mid-term break starting on November 16. Half of the tickets offered for sale have already sold out, and all of them are expected to be sold within a few days. To meet the demand, daily trips are planned to be increased from 22,000 to 27,000, and terminals are expected to be crowded, especially on November 21-22, when return journeys will take place. Passengers were advised to buy their tickets round-trip early.
As the first-term mid-term break of the 2026-2027 academic year approaches, reservations and ticket sales at bus companies have accelerated. In particular, with university students making travel plans to go to their hometowns, congestion has begun in intercity passenger transport.
HALF OF BUS TICKETS SOLD OUT
Mustafa Yıldırım, Chairman of the All Bus Operators Federation (TOF), stated that interest in bus tickets increased before the mid-term break.
Yıldırım said, "Bus ticket sales intensified as of the evening of Friday, November 13, and there is heavy activity on November 14 and 15. Currently, half of the bus tickets offered for sale have sold out. We predict that all tickets will be sold within a few days."
DAILY NUMBER OF TRIPS WILL RISE TO 27,000
Across Turkey, 343 bus companies carry passengers with approximately 8,000 vehicles.
The number of trips, which is around 22,000 daily in normal periods, rises to as many as 27,000 during busy periods such as holidays and festival periods.
Additional trips are planned during the mid-term break to meet increased passenger demand. Congestion is especially expected on journeys from major cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir to cities in Anatolia.
PAY ATTENTION TO NOVEMBER 21 AND 22 ON THE RETURN
The mid-term break, which will start on November 16, will end on November 20. With students and families starting their return journeys, congestion is expected at bus terminals on Saturday, November 21, and Sunday, November 22.
To avoid difficulty finding tickets on the return, Yıldırım gave passengers the following advice:
"We recommend that our passengers who will choose bus travel during the holiday period in question buy their tickets as round-trip as soon as possible."
WARNING TO BUS DRIVERS
Along with the increase in the number of passengers, warnings were also made about traffic safety.
Yıldırım emphasized that bus drivers setting out on long-distance journeys must be sufficiently rested. He drew attention to the importance of completing the technical checks and periodic maintenance of vehicles before the journey.
SEAT BELT REMINDER FOR PASSENGERS
Citizens who will travel by bus during the mid-term break were asked to wear their seat belts throughout the journey.
Due to the drop in air temperatures, it was stated that, especially on routes where winter conditions may be effective, vehicles must set out with tires suitable for the season and the necessary safety precautions must be taken.