Istanbul Metro

Istanbul Metro information

• Metro opening hours: from 6:00 to 0:00
• Periodicity: every 5-10 minutes
• Cost: 2.6 to 5 liras depending on the payment method
• Site: www.metro.istanbul/

This is the fastest and quite convenient way to move around the city, but there are few stations and lines useful for tourists. In the future, it is planned to bring the Metro to the two existing airports in Istanbul, and then it will become much more useful.

The metro system as a whole is new, the stations and trains are clean and beautiful, modern. Inside the cars on the scoreboard there is information about stops, everything is duplicated in English. Some metro stations also have Wifi, but you need a local SIM card to connect to it. Not in rush hour, trains run almost empty.

Fare

Payment in the Istanbul Metro is made by contactless cards, passing through turnstiles. At the exit, you do not need to lean the card. There are one-time cards, and cumulative Istanbul Cards. Both can be purchased at the box office (there are almost none left) and in the automatic terminals that are at each station. It is more convenient and profitable to use the accumulative card Istanbul card, which, although it costs 70 lira (1.52 USD, see Turkish currency and Exchange Rate), but pays off after 3-5 trips. In addition, the card is valid for all types of public transport, including even ferries. It is very easy to buy and use it, there is even Russian in the sales and replenishment terminals. Read more about how to buy, top up and use card here.

The fare in the Istanbul Metro does not depend on the length of the route, but note that the lines here operate separately, and the fare on the other line after the transfer is paid again. If you transfer within 2 hours and pay with an Istanbul Kart card, you will receive a discount. The card can pay for the entrance for several people at once at one station, alternately applying it to the reader at the turnstile before each passenger passes.

• The cost of travel on a single ticket: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 trips, respectively, 5 (0.11 USD), 8, 11, 17, 32 lira.
• Fare on the card of Istanbul Kart: 2.6 lira (0.06 USD)
• The cost of retake Within 2 hours on the card Istanbulkart: 1.85 lira (0.04 USD)

Metro lines and stations

In total, there are 6 lines and 79 stations (as of 2019), which are predominantly in non-tourist areas of the city. For orientation, it is best to download maps to your smartphone, or use the official website (www.metro.istanbul) as a route planner. The numerous smartphone apps for Istanbul Metro are completely useless, only featuring the maps in the links above. Also, all metro and other transport lines are on our interactive map of Istanbul.

Here are the branch lines and important stations for tourists:

• M11. The newest high-speed metro line to the new Istanbul airport. It does not go directly to tourist areas, you will need to transfer to the M7 line and then to M2.
• M1A. It can be used to get to/from the old Ataturk airport (Ataturk Havalimani) and the main bus station Esenler (Esenler Otogari, aka Buyuk Otogari or Bayrampasa Otogari). The final station in the city center is Yenikapi, a couple of kilometers from Sultanahmet tourist area. Here you can transfer to other lines.
• M1B. It is possible to reach the main bus station Esenler (Esenler Otogari, aka Buyuk Otogari or Bayrampasa Otogari). The terminus in the city center is the same Yenikapi (Yenikapi).
• M2. Passes through Taksim Square (Taksim), Istiklal Street (sishane station) and Grand Bazaar.
• M3. Useless for tourists.
• M4. From the Asian part of the city in the future it is planned to bring it to the airport Sabiha Gokcen (Sabiha Gokcen Airport).
• M5. The line is in the Asian part of the city, useless for tourists.
• M6. Useless for tourists.

Istanbul Metro map

And here are the Metro schemes of Istanbul, which can be downloaded to your smartphone:

• Istanbul Metro map in jpg format / download
• Istanbul Metro map in pdf format / download
• Map of all transport in Istanbul in jpg format / download
• Map of all transport in Istanbul in pdf format / download

By the way, in the cars themselves and at the stations there are also schemes.