If you like traveling around the Bodrum Peninsula via bus (like we do), and you have a SmartPhone, you’ll be pleased to know that the city bus service has gone mobile with their Kent Card (KentKart) service.

What does this Kent Card (KentKart) App offer?

• You can Top-Up Kent Card
• Check your Kent Card Balance (all you do is enter your Kent Card number and it’ll show you how much credit you have remaining)
• Check Routes
• Find the nearest bus stops to you

Where to Download the Kent Card (KentKart) App

Download from the Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=kentkart.mobile.cordova&hl=tr

Download from the Apple Appstore: https://itunes.apple.com/tr/app/kentkart-mobil/id620440948

App Name: kentkart mobil By KENT KART EGE ELEKTRONIK SANAYI VE TICARET A S

Using the Kent Card (KentKart) App

• The bonus? It’s in English as well as Turkish.
• Enter your telephone number and it’ll send you a access code via text that you need to enter into the app. (You also add your name and email)
• Select ‘Mugla’ to filter the information to our local Bodrum area.

Using the Kent Card App as your Kent Cart

It’s been mentioned that you can use your smartphone as your Kent Card, but I haven’t tried that feature yet.

Kent Cart Top Up Kiosks

There are top-up stations around the peninsula where you can top up your Kent Card. I’ve used the one at the Bodrum bus station and it’s really easy to use.

Just place your card on the card reader:

The kiosk readers your card and lets you know what your card balance is:

Feed your money into the slot. Whatever denomination you feed into the kiosk will get applied to the card (e.g. if you feed in a 20TL note, the entire amount will be applied to that card). You can use 5TL, 10TL, 20TL and 50TL bills

This kiosk is located near the entrance to the bus station (where the barrier is), and adjacent to the Kent Card office:

This office is open from 8am to 12noon and 1pm to 4pm:

There is also a wall of timetables for the City bus schedules for the Bodrum Peninsula:

 

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An excerpt from my Bodrum Peninsula Travel Guide ebook

Muğla Büyükşehir Belediyesi Kent Card

You can travel and pay as-you-go and receive a slightly discounted rate than the dolmuş, but if you buy a loadable transport card it is even cheaper. It costs 5TL to purchase the card and you can top it up in 5TL increments.

These cards and top-ups are available at the main bus stations on the peninsula (e.g. at Deniz Bufe at the Bodrum Bus Station, at Cikis Noktasi at the Turgutreis Bus Station, or the Jade Emlak\Aydem shop by the bus station in Yalıkavak) and at the Old Bitez Belediye building.

Here’s a full list of the location you can reload your Kent Card:

• www.mugla.bel.tr/hizmetler/kent-kart/kent-kart-dolum-noktalari/bodrum

When you board the Muğla Büyükşehir Belediyesi bus, let the driver know your destination and he’ll give you the nod to scan your card. Hold your card onto he scanner and it’ll deduct the fare and show you the balance you have left on your card.

Since moving to the Bodrum Peninsula full-time I’ve become a Muğla Büyükşehir Belediyesi bus convert, not only because of the cheaper fares, but because the buses are roomier and more modern.

Interestingly enough, on the routes I travel most frequently I’ve noticed that the dolmuş timetables are scheduled about 5 minutes prior to the Muğla Büyükşehir Belediyesi bus. I’m not sure if this is just a coincidence, or a conscious attempt to sweep up passengers from the new kids on the block!

Have you used this new KentKard app? Let us know how it’s been working for you.

Additional Notes via The Bodrum Echo

Please note: due to an agreement between Mugla and the Bodrum Chamber of Drivers – they also observe the rigid ‘pick-up territory’ rules where passengers waiting roadside will not be picked up by buses serving another territory/ village. So you may be waiting opposite Midtown or Oasis and have 5-8 buses go past before you are ALLOWED to use one to travel to Bodrum Bus Station.

Click here for more information about Getting Around the Bodrum Peninsula