Thirty minutes from ESB to Kızılay gives you a whole region
A rental car from Esenboğa (ESB) puts central Ankara about 30–40 minutes away in normal traffic and makes side trips to spots like Beypazarı or Gölbaşı much easier than trying to string together bus timetables. Desks for the major brands and several local agencies sit in the arrivals hall at ESB, with their parking areas a short signed walk from the terminal doors.
Most airport counters track arriving flights and stay open late into the evening, often until the last landing around 01:00, but smaller local outfits may close closer to 23:00, so check your exact pickup time when you book. Daily rates at ESB usually run higher than in-town branches by roughly 10–20%, but you save the 30–40 minute taxi or shuttle ride out to an off-airport lot.
For weekend trips, a Yelp reviewer mentions grabbing a car at ESB on a Friday night, driving to Beypazarı on Saturday, then dropping it back at the airport on Sunday, saying that returning the car at ESB was “much easier than trying to park in Kızılay.” That pattern works well if you want to skip Ankara city traffic completely and use the airport as your in-and-out driving base.
Local forums say fuel on the airport road can be a few kuruş more per liter than in town, so regulars refuel in Ankara before the last 15–20 km back to ESB. On the D140 approach into the city, Ankara drivers complain about aggressive lane changes near the ring road, and they tell newcomers to sit in the right lane until they are comfortable with the flow.
How to use ESB car rentals step by step
- 1. Book ahead: Reserve online with a major or reputable local agency and choose pickup at “Esenboğa Havalimanı,” double‑checking 24/7 or late-night hours if your flight lands after 22:00.
- 2. On arrival: After baggage claim, follow “Car Rental / Araç Kiralama” signs in the arrivals hall and go to the specific counter name on your voucher.
- 3. Paperwork and payment: Present passport, driver’s license (plus IDP if your license is non‑Latin), and a credit card with enough limit for the deposit, which can easily be 3,000–8,000 TRY.
- 4. Inspect the car: Before leaving the ESB lot, regulars photograph every panel, the roof, wheels, and under-bumper areas to avoid later disputes about small scratches, especially with smaller agencies.
- 5. Drive into town: Use D140 toward Ankara, keep to the right lane near the city where lane‑changing gets aggressive, and expect 30–40 minutes to Kızılay when traffic is light.
- 6. Refuel smart: On your last day, top up at a city fuel station 15–20 km before ESB instead of the more expensive pumps near the terminal.
- 7. Return the car: Follow “Rent a Car Return” signs back to the same company lot, take final photos during handover, and get a printed or emailed return report before you walk to departures.
Tip: If your schedule allows, aim to leave or enter Ankara outside the 08:00–09:30 and 17:00–19:00 peaks; the same ESB–Kızılay run can jump from 35 minutes to almost an hour in rush hour.