Transportation of Istanbul, what to move

Types of transport in Istanbul

In Istanbul, public transport is well developed, which allows you to move around the city relatively inexpensively even over long distances, for example, to the airport or suburbs. You can travel by taxi, buses, trams, minibuses, Metro, Suburban trains, ferries, funiculars and cable cars, Metrobuses. Especially useful for tourists are the tram line T1, and ferries.

But, objectively speaking, public transport in Istanbul is not very simple for tourists: the schemes are confusing and there are few of them, with one-time trips or ignorance, you can easily overpay. Therefore, ideally, it is better to use it at a minimum, and plan your movements in advance. To make life easier, you can use the Route Planner on Google Maps (it works very well), or install applications for your smartphone. There are a lot of such applications, there are maps for individual types, and general ones, you can choose according to your taste. But in any case, we recommend choosing among English-speaking or local options, as they are more accurate. For example, a very good application is Istanbul Ulasim.

Another great resource for trip planning is the official city transport website https://nasilgiderim.iett.gov.tr/en/. On it you can specify the place of departure (automatic detection of your position is supported) and destination, and get options on how to get there on all types of ground urban transport, including even minibuses-dolmushi. The only problem with this site is that on some browsers it periodically freezes tightly, and you have to reload the page.

You can also view all transport lines (except buses) on our map of Istanbul with transport, attractions and hotels.

We also recommend downloading these maps of all Istanbul transport to your phone:

If you need public transport only in order to get to the center inexpensively from airports, railway stations, etc. read more simple instructions in the section "How to get to Istanbul".

How to pay for transportation in Istanbul, the cost

You can pay for travel in the metro, city buses, Havabus buses to airports, funiculars, metro, trams, commuter trains and state ferries using one-time cards or a single contactless transport card Istanbul Kart. Fixed-route taxis-dolmushi, taxis, excursion ferries accept only cash. To pay for travel with a contactless card, you need to touch the reader on the turnstile at the entrance to the subway, trams, at the pier, or when entering the front door of the bus.

If you are in Istanbul traveling for one day, you can buy a one-time card for one or more trips. For 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 trips it costs respectively 15, 25, 35, 45 and 90 lira. If you have plans to see the city, it is more convenient and profitable to buy a single card for 70 lira Istanbul card. Its validity period is not limited, it is replenished. According to it, the cost of one trip will cost from 2.6 lira, and discounts are provided when it is reused for two hours. You can use one card for several people.

There are no special cards for children, for a child over 6 years old you will have to pay as an adult.

Learn more about unified transport map of Istanbul Kart here..

Turnstiles at the entrance to the pier in Istanbul — Turnstiles at the pier

On foot

Walking in Istanbul — Istanbul walking tour

You will not always have to use transport, since the tourist center of the city is small, and the most important attractions are concentrated in one place, mainly in the Sultanahmet area. So you can see them on foot, if, Of course, you stay in a hotel nearby. Walking in the tourist area is quite comfortable, there are sidewalks almost everywhere. But with orientation there will be difficulties due to the large number of narrow winding streets. Prepare for this in advance, download offline maps to your smartphone, for example Organic Maps or OSM. And by the way, you can download tourist points with Transport and attractions as a KMZ/KML file from our maps of Istanbul.

Taxi

Working hours: around the clock
Cost: from 10 lire per trip

Contrary to expectations, due to traffic jams, this is not the fastest mode of transport, especially during the day. Peak hours are on weekdays from 07:00 to 10:00, and even worse from 17:00 to 20:00. But the worst situation is on Friday from 17:00 to 20:00. During these periods, it is best to lay more time for a taxi ride to airports and train stations.

There are many taxis in the city, you can catch them at any corner. In general, its use is safe, but as in the whole world, taxi drivers try to deceive tourists here. Traditionally, they offer an inflated price without using a meter, replace 5 and 50 lira bills, carry them along the meter by circumferential ways. To reduce the likelihood of problems, you can use the order through the local application BiTaksi (cheaper) or Uber (more expensive).

The cost of a taxi on the meters when landing on the street from 6 lire per landing, and 3.5 lire per kilometer of travel. As a result, usually the cost of a short trip within the center is from 10-15 lire (0.22 USD, see Turkish currency and Exchange Rate), to/from both airports - 150-160 (3.27 USD). However, please note that an unofficial airport taxi is not allowed to approach the terminal, so you will have to go outside the airport for boarding. An official airport taxi on the meter will cost more-190-200 lira.

Always pay in cash lira.

For a trip to/from the airport, you can also use the booking of a tourist transfer. It can be done online via the form from Kiwitaxi or on the site intui.travel, and then the driver will meet you at the airport and take you to the right place without any questions:

Metro

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

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

Travel is paid for by single tickets (purchased at the entrance to the terminals or ticket offices), or using a single transport card Istanbul card (more profitable). The cost does not depend on the length of the route, but the transfer to another line is paid again.

The cost of travel on a single ticket: 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 this is respectively 15, 25, 35, 45 and 90 lira.
Fare on the card Istanbul Kart: 2.6 lira

There are 6 branches and 111 stations in total (as of 2023). For orientation, it is best to download maps on your smartphone, or use the official website (online) as a route planner.

Learn more about Istanbul Metro and how to use it here.

Tram

Working hours: from 06:00 to 00:00
Periodicity: often
Cost: 2.6 to 5 liras depending on the payment method

There are four tram routes in total: two modern lines, and two historical ones. The T1 line is very useful for tourists, as it allows you to move around the tourist area, and the T2 and T3 lines are interesting just like historical trams. Travel can be paid with one-time contactless cards, but cheaper than a single Istanbul card. Payment is arranged as in the Metro at the turnstiles at the entrance to the stop. But at the same time it is impossible to change the tram in the opposite direction, i.e. if you have passed the stop, you will have to get out and pay for travel in the opposite direction again.

Routes are marked on the general map (See above), but here is more about each of them:

T1-Kabataş-Bagcılar Merkez (Kabataş–Bağcılar).

Working hours: 06:00-00:00 every 5-10 minutes. Convenient for tourists to drive from Beyoglu (Beyoglu, where Taksim Square and Istiklal Street are located) to Sultanahmet or vice versa.
T2-historic tram Tunel ↔ Taksim (Tünel-Taksim).

Working hours: 07:00-20:00 every 10-20 minutes. Walking historical tram along Istiklal Street from Taksim Square to Tünel funicular. Learn more about the historic tram here.
T3-historic Kadıköy ring tram (Line Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway).

Working hours: 06:55-21: 20 every 10 minutes. It is located in the Asian part of the city and is not interesting for tourists to move, but only as a historical retro tram for walking.
T4-Topkapi Mesjid-I Selam Topkapı (Mescid-i Selam).

Opening hours: 06:00-00:00 every 4 minutes. Not interesting for tourists.

City buses

Working hours: from 06:00 to 00:00
Periodicity: often
Cost: 2.6 to 5 liras depending on the payment method
Site: www.iett.istanbul/en

The city has a well-developed bus system, there are a lot of routes, almost 500. But, unfortunately, they, like other transport, are tightly in traffic jams during peak hours.

Buses stop strictly at marked stops, the cars themselves are marked with route numbers on the windshield, and the main stops are indicated on the side. They run mainly from 06:00 to 23:30, but some routes stop working earlier. Travel is paid for by single tickets (contactless card for 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 trips) or a single transport card Istanbul Kart. Payment of Istanbul card is more profitable, only 2.6 lira per trip. The reader for payment is located at the entrance to the salon next to the driver.

It is not easy to understand the routes, so it is best to decide on the route in advance before the trip. To do this, you can use the Route Planner on Google map, or the official planner on the city bus website https://www.iett.istanbul/en.

Rapid buses Metrobus (Metrobus)

Working hours: around the clock
Periodicity: often
Cost: from 1.95 to 3.85 lire depending on the number of stops
Site: metrobus.iett.istanbul/en

Metrobus is a high-speed buses moving along a dedicated lane, bypassing all traffic jams. The route is only one, passes through the whole city, connects the Asian and European parts of the city. On the general transport map (See above), this line is indicated in light yellow. It passes through the whole city, but for tourists it is of little use. Works around the clock.

Different buses run on the same line, and to get from end to end, you need to make transfers. Transfers are not charged, but the fare depends on the number of stops you pass. To do this, the contactless card Istanbul card is applied to the reader when entering the landing zone, and when leaving it. Fare:

1-3 stops - 1.95 lira;
4-9 stops-3.00 lira;
10-15 stops - 3.25 lira;
16-21 stop-3.40 lira;
22-27 stops-3.50 lira;
28-33 stops-3.60 lira;
34+ stops - 3.85 lira.

There is an official website of Metrobuses in English - https://metrobus.iett.istanbul/en

Marmaray city train (Suburban Line)

Working hours: from 06:00 to 00:00
Periodicity: every 8-15 minutes
Cost: 2.6 to 5.7 lira depending on the number of stations

It can be used to get from the European part to the Asian part and back. Stretches almost through the whole city, and one of the most convenient stops for tourists Sirkechi is in the Sultanahmet district, and other useful stops are already on the other side in the Asian part.

Travel is paid by postcard or Istanbul card.

Dolmuş taxis

Working hours: from 06:00 to 00:00, There are also night minibuses
Periodicity: often
Cost from 2 to 8 liras depending on the route

Dolmushi are private taxis, usually minibuses for 8 or 15 passengers. There are different colors, types and shapes. moving in dolmushy is even a little more convenient and faster than in city buses, because like us, they neglect all the rules and safety and strive to quickly pass the route. Payment is made only in cash to the driver/conductor, the cost starts from 2 liras. They stop not only at stops, but anywhere. To sit on them anywhere, you need to vote with your hand near the road.

It is difficult to deal with their routes, only locals know them, so you will have to decide on them on the spot, asking the locals. On the windshield there is a briefly indicated route.

Funiculars and cable cars

Working hours: different on different lines
Periodicity: 3-10 minutes
Cost: 2.6 to 5 liras depending on the payment method

Funiculars and cable cars in Istanbul are not a form of entertainment, but a form of transport. Since the city is on the hills, moving on these modes of transport sometimes helps out a lot. Payment for funiculars and cable cars is carried out by one-time transport cards or a single card Istanbul Kart, cash is not accepted. For tourists, the funicular lines T1 and T2, and the cable cars TF1 and TF2 are of interest, but the latter are more like entertainment.

Funicular F1. Connects Kabatash tram Station (Kabataş, line T1) with Taksim Metro stop (Taksim, line M2).
- Working hours: 06:00-00:00.
- Frequency: 3-5 minutes.
Funicular F2. It is an underground Tunnel line that connects the Karaköy tram station (line T1) with the Sishane Metro stop (line M2).
- Opening hours: 07:00/07: 30 (Mon-Sat / wsk) - 22:40.
- Frequency: 5-7 minutes.
Funicular F3. It connects the Seyrantepe metro station and the shopping center at the Vadistanbul stop.
- Opening hours: 08:30-23:00.
- Frequency: 10 minutes.
Cable car TF1 (Maçka-Taşkışla). It passes over Democracy Park and connects Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus hotels on one side with Swissotel The Bosphorus on the other.
- Opening hours: 08:00-19:00.
- Frequency: 10 minutes.
Cable car TF2 (Eyüp-Piyer Loti). It runs from the Eyup area to the Pierre Loti Hill to the cafe of the same name.
- Working hours: 08:00-22:00.
- Frequency: 10 minutes.

Ferries

Working hours: from 02:00 to 23:00
Periodicity: often
Cost: 2.6 to 5 liras depending on the payment method

Ferries are a very useful Transport for tourists. They can move from the European part of the city to the Asian, between different areas of the city, to the suburbs, and neighboring cities. Ferries are urban (payment by transport cards) and private (payment in cash). There are a lot of ferries and marinas in the city, we noted the most useful for tourists on theinteractive map. There you can also see the directions in which they go. And the schedule and cost can be viewed at least on these sites:

http://en.sehirhatlari.istanbul - City Ferries.
http://www.denturavrasya.com/en-EN/ - City Ferries.
https://www.ido.com.tr/ - suburban and intercity ferries.

Of course, it is difficult to understand all the marinas and schedules, but it is enough for you to know that from almost any pier on the European side you can swim to the Asian part. At the docks there are schedules everywhere, in general they go often.

Learn more about Istanbul ferries, flights, routes, and how to use them here.

Also see:

🕒 19 April, 2026

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