Bingol is a city in eastern Anatolia, Turkey, set among the highlands of the upper Euphrates basin, and a rental car is the practical way to reach the surrounding mountain towns and highland routes that public transport covers only thinly. Bingol Airport (BGG) sits a short distance from the city center, a modest regional facility with rental desks operated by local and national companies rather than a single major international brand, and pickup is typically quick given the airport's low passenger volumes.
From Bingol, roads fan out across genuinely mountainous terrain: the highway toward Elazig runs southwest through highland passes, a drive of roughly ninety minutes to two hours depending on conditions, while routes north and east climb toward higher, more remote plateau country with sparser services. Elevations across this part of eastern Anatolia are considerable, and the terrain shifts quickly from river valleys to exposed highland stretches, so it is worth building extra time into any cross-region drive rather than assuming flat-highway pace.
Driving is on the right throughout Turkey, and the region's winters are long and severe by Turkish standards, with snow, ice and reduced visibility common on higher routes from around November through April. Many rental agreements in eastern Anatolia include winter tires during this period, and it is worth confirming this rather than assuming standard equipment suffices. Roads connecting Bingol to neighboring provinces are generally paved and maintained on main routes, but secondary and rural roads can be rougher, with fewer fuel stations the farther you travel from the city. Given the mountain passes and winter conditions typical of this part of Turkey, planning routes around daylight hours and checking weather before setting out makes for a considerably safer trip through the eastern highlands, and topping up fuel whenever a station appears is a wise habit here.