Esenler Coach Terminal

• In 1980, considerations started to build a new terminus on the European side of Istanbul. Since the Topkapı bus terminus was becoming increasingly crowded.
• In 1987, the construction of the new terminus started.
• In 1994, the terminus entered service.[2] The cost of the structure was $140 million.[1]

The terminus is situated on the European side of İstanbul, in Bayrampaşa district. It occupies 242,000 m² (2,600,000 sq ft), which makes it the largest bus terminus in southeastern Europe and in Turkey. It is the third largest in the world. The terminus has 324 platforms.[2]

There are coaches arriving and departing from almost all cities of Turkey. There are also coaches that service to neighbouring countries and the rest of Europe.

• The structure is multi-storey. There are 450-500 permanent parking lots for buses and over 1,000 temporary ones.
• Average total bus traffic per day is about 15,000 buses.
• The terminus has a capacity of 600,000 passengers a day.
• There are between 3,000-5,000 people that are employed in the terminus.
• Around one million passengers pass through it every day.[2]

• Istanbul Metro line M1 (Yenikapı-Istanbul Atatürk Airport-Kirazlı) at Otogar metro station
• Taxis
• City buses
• Private buses
• Most bus companies have shuttle service by their own minibuses (Turkish: Servis) that transport passengers to other parts of İstanbul.

The bus terminus has been especially criticized for its chaotic and ugly architecture.[2][3] It also has constant bus congestion within itself. The security of the terminus is a constant worry, too.