Getting around Tokat
Tokat is a compact inland city in Turkey's mid-Black Sea region, and getting around it is refreshingly simple. There is no metro or tram network here, and no rail service for visitors to speak of — the practical options are walking, dolmuş minibuses, city buses and taxis. The good news is that most of what a visitor wants to see sits close together, so you can cover a lot of it on foot.
Walking
Walking is the most practical way to get around central Tokat. The historic core around the castle and the Sulusokak area is compact and pedestrian-friendly, with shops, restaurants and attractions concentrated in the same small area. The city's main north–south spine, Gaziosmanpaşa Bulvarı — almost always shortened to "GOP" — is where most sights and amenities are found, either on the avenue itself or just off it.
Two cautions are worth remembering. First, the modern districts outside the historic core are much less pedestrian-oriented, so expect longer, less pleasant walks if your hotel is out there. Second, if you arrive by car into Sulusokak, the old east–west road, be prepared: it is fiendishly narrow and difficult to park. Ask your hotel for directions rather than improvising.
Dolmuşes and city buses
Public transit within Tokat is limited and mainly consists of buses serving the major routes, above all GOP Caddesi. Dolmuş minibuses are the workhorse of local movement: they cover key routes at low cost and ply along the main avenue, which is useful if you are coming from the bus station or staying at an outlying hotel. Taxis run the same corridor.
For most visitors, walking beats waiting for public transport inside the centre. Think of the dolmuş and bus network as a way to bridge the gap between the centre and the edges of town rather than as a way to sightsee.
One routing detail matters for day trips: dolmuşes heading to Pazar, the gateway for Ballıca Cave, depart from the otogar area rather than the city centre, so plan to get yourself to the bus station first.
Taxis
Taxis in Tokat are metered and readily available, and they wait on the forecourt of the bus station. They are the simplest option for short hops along GOP when you are carrying luggage or arriving late, and they are the standard way to reach the airport.
Arriving by bus
Intercity bus is generally described as the most comfortable and affordable way to reach Tokat. Services connect the city with Istanbul, Ankara, Samsun, Sivas and Amasya, among other places, and tickets can be booked through online platforms such as obilet.com and enuygun.com or bought at otogar ticket windows. In summer, book at least a day ahead — seats fill quickly. For day trips to Niksar or Amasya, early-morning departures give you the most flexibility.
Tokat's otogar sits on the western edge of town on Gaziosmanpaşa Bulvarı, near the junction with the D180. It is old and worn but fairly central by Turkish standards — many bus stations have been banished to city fringes, so enjoy the convenience while it lasts. Taxis wait outside, and dolmuşes to Pazar leave from here too.
Arriving by plane
Tokat Airport (TKJ) handles domestic flights and sits west of the city centre on the D180. Turkish Airlines flies daily from Istanbul, and its subsidiary Ajet flies from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen several days a week. The terminal was rebuilt in recent years and is oversized for its limited traffic, with limited parking — if you are arriving with luggage, a taxi drop-off is the sensible choice.
To get from the airport into the city you have two options: a taxi, or a dolmuş. The dolmuş is by far the cheaper of the two; the taxi is the more comfortable and direct, particularly with bags. Either way, the run into town is short enough that you will be at your hotel before you know it.
Cycling
Cycling is not a realistic primary way to get around Tokat. Infrastructure is limited, the terrain is hilly and mountainous, and the existing bike paths do not support cycling as a serious mode of transport. Leave the bike at home and rely on your feet instead.