Ski Rental at Turkey's Ski Resorts: A Resort-by-Resort Guide

Renting skis in Turkey can be a quite different experience depending on the resort. At some, renting happens almost entirely inside hotels; at others you can rent in the city and drive up; at others again, rental points are spread across several entrances. This guide sums up how renting works at eight major ski resorts.

Three rental models

The easiest way to understand the resorts is to look at where renting is concentrated:

• Hotel-centred resorts: accommodation is right at the slopes and rental desks are inside the hotels. Kartalkaya and largely Uludağ follow this model.
• City-side resorts: the resort is right next to a city, so you can rent in town and drive up each day. Erciyes and Palandöken belong here.
• Day-trip resorts: close to a big city, so most visitors go home the same day and rental shops peak in the morning and evening. Kartepe is the typical example.

Marmara: Uludağ and Kartepe

Uludağ, on the mountain above Bursa, is Turkey's oldest-established ski resort. Renting is concentrated in the Hotels Zone and inside the hotels. Weekend crowds from Istanbul mean long morning queues; picking up your gear the evening before is the best tactic.

Kartepe, in Kocaeli, is one of the closest resorts to Istanbul. With so many day visitors, checking the shop's opening and return times in advance makes your day easier to plan.

Central and Eastern Anatolia: Erciyes, Palandöken, Sarıkamış

Erciyes, in Kayseri, is a large resort with four entrances (Tekir, Hacılar, Hisarcık and Develi). Deciding which gate you'll start from and renting close to it saves time.

Palandöken is very close to Erzurum city centre and known for cold, dry snow. You can rent at the slope-side hotels or in town; on hard snow edge grip matters, so ask whether the edges have been tuned.

Sarıkamış, in Kars, is known for runs through Scots pine forest. Its powder is a joy but cold; the resort is relatively small, so kids' sizes can run out at peak times.

Black Sea: Kartalkaya and Ilgaz

Kartalkaya, in Bolu, is a hotel-centred resort. Most renting happens in shops inside the hotels; on package stays, ask whether rental is included and what it covers.

Ilgaz is a quiet resort surrounded by forest, well suited to families and beginners. Small sizes may be limited, so if you're coming as a family, send your sizes ahead.

Mediterranean: Davraz

Davraz, in Isparta, sits on a mountain overlooking Lake Eğirdir and is popular with holidaymakers as it's reachable from Antalya. Many visitors are first-timers, so it's worth asking whether there is a lessons-plus-rental package.

Whichever resort you choose

Whatever the rental model, some rules apply everywhere: have your height, weight and foot measurement ready, choose boots first, check the gear at pick-up and know the return time. You'll find all of that in our step-by-step guide to renting skis and our pick-up checklist.

Each resort's own page lists its rental shops and resort-specific tips. To see all resorts together, visit our rental shops page.