With Kızkalesi, the Heaven and Hell sinkholes and the historic buildings in Tarsus, it is a stop on Mediterranean culture and seaside tours; the Port of Mersin also brings a lot of business travel.
Istanbul – Mersin distance and journey time
| From the European Side (Şişli/Mecidiyeköy) | 928 km |
|---|---|
| From the Asian Side (Kadıköy) | 924 km |
| Driving time by car | about 9 hours |
| Driving time by minibus / coach | about 10 h 15 min |
| Journey including compulsory breaks | about 11 h 45 min |
| Driver plan | two drivers or an overnight stop |
As the driving time exceeds a single driver’s legal daily limit of 9 hours, the journey is planned with two drivers or with an overnight stop on the way; at least 2 compulsory breaks are taken in total. Under the regulations, drivers of passenger vehicles may not drive for more than 4.5 hours without a break or more than 9 hours in total within 24 hours; after 4.5 hours of driving, a break of at least 45 minutes is taken. Because of the speed limits for coaches and minibuses of 100 km/h on motorways and 90 km/h on dual carriageways, journey times are longer than by car.
Distances to popular districts of Mersin
| District | Highlights | Distance | Time incl. breaks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silifke | Kızkalesi and the Göksu Delta | 1,009 km | 12 h 45 min |
| Tarsus | St Paul’s Well and the Waterfall | 897 km | 11 h 30 min |
Day trip or overnight stay?
As the return driving time exceeds the driver’s legal daily limit of 9 hours, a programme with at least one overnight stay is recommended instead of a day trip. On overnight tours, the vehicle and driver can stay with your group throughout the programme.
Departure points
Our vehicle picks up your group from any of Istanbul’s 39 districts, from several points if needed. When departing from outlying districts such as Silivri, Çatalca, Şile or Tuzla, the distance may differ by a few dozen kilometres; the quote is prepared according to your departure address. Istanbul districts and other provinces
Frequently planned routes
- Istanbul – Mersin one-way or return
- Istanbul – Silifke (Mersin)
- Istanbul – Tarsus (Mersin)
- Mersin overnight group tour (vehicle and driver throughout the programme)
Frequently asked questions
How many hours does it take from Istanbul to Mersin by minibus or coach?
Can a group day trip from Istanbul to Mersin be organised?
How long does it take from Istanbul to Silifke by minibus?
How is the price for a journey to Mersin determined?
Distances and travel times are approximate values calculated with OpenStreetMap data; actual times vary with the pick-up address, traffic, weather and breaks.
