Getting around Istanbul

Istanbul is spread over two continents and moves mostly on rails and water. Once you have the card in your pocket, the whole network opens up: metro, tram, Marmaray, buses, funiculars and the ferries.

Start with an Istanbulkart

The "İstanbulkart" is the single travel card for almost everything that moves in the city. Buy it from the machines at any metro or tram station, at ferry terminals, and at many small kiosks near stops — look for the blue and white logo.

• The card itself costs a small one-off amount (approximate, in the range of a couple of euros).
• You then load credit onto it at the same machines. The machines take banknotes and usually cards, and they speak English, Arabic and other languages — change the language before you start.
• One card can pay for several people. Tap once per person at the same turnstile. This is normal and nobody will stop you, so a family does not need four cards.
• Load a little at a time. Refunds of leftover credit are awkward, and top-up points are everywhere.

Transfer discounts

The card rewards changing lines. After your first full-price ride, the next rides within about two hours are charged at a reduced rate, and the discount deepens with each change. Metro to tram to ferry on one journey costs far less than three separate trips, so do not be afraid of a route with two changes.

Approximate fares: a single ride sits in the low range of a few Turkish lira equivalents, and a typical day of five or six rides is still small money compared with taxis. Treat every number you read online as approximate — fares are adjusted regularly.

The lines that matter for visitors

• T1 tram (Kabataş–Bağcılar) runs through Sultanahmet, past the Grand Bazaar at Beyazıt, over the Galata Bridge to Karaköy and Kabataş. For the old city, this is your line.
• M2 metro links Şişhane, Taksim, Şişli and Levent on the European side.
• M11 connects Istanbul Airport to the city — see the airport article for the full route.
• M4 connects Sabiha Gökçen Airport with Kadıköy on the Asian side.
• Marmaray is the tunnel train under the Bosphorus. It crosses between Europe and Asia in a few minutes and connects at Yenikapı and Sirkeci.
• Ferries are public transport, not tours. Eminönü–Kadıköy, Karaköy–Kadıköy and Beşiktaş–Üsküdar cost the same tap as a bus and give you the best view in the city.

Hours and practicalities

Most metro and tram lines run from roughly 06:00 until around midnight; ferries stop earlier, often mid-evening. On Friday and Saturday nights several metro lines run all night. Rush hours are roughly 08:00–10:00 and 17:00–19:30 — the Marmaray and T1 get genuinely crowded.

Keep your card in an outside pocket, stand to the right on escalators, and let people off before boarding.

When public transport is not the answer

Late arrivals, heavy luggage, small children, or a group heading somewhere at 03:00 — that is when a fixed-price car is worth it. You can book a private transfer from the app, with the price agreed before the driver moves, so there is nothing to discuss at the end of the ride.