Transportation

Transportation from Airports to the City Center

Connection between the city center and the two major airports [Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)] are provided through such options as public buses, specifically routed shuttles, taxis or privately run shuttles.

Located to the northeast Istanbul, in Arnavutkoy, Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 45 km away from the city center and major districts. The transport options from IST are as follows:

Havaist Shuttles: Several routes are available from IST. For more information on routes, timetables and prices, please visit: https://www.hava.ist/en
Public Buses: There are a couple of routes (H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4, H-5, H-6, H-7, H-8) available from IST. For more information on routes and timetables, please visit: https://www.iett.istanbul/en
Taxi: Taxis are parked in front of Arrival Terminal. Taxi service is available 24 hours. Prices are not fixed.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), located to the east of the city center, is on the Asian side, approximately 30 km from Kadikoy, 44 km from Taksim and 48 km from Sultanahmet. The transport options from SAW are as follows:

Havabus Shuttles: Havabus Shuttle are available from SAW to Kadıköy (single 10 TRY) and Taksim (single 15 TRY). Shuttles operate between 03.30 am and 01:00 am hours. For the Shuttle hours, please visit: http://www.havabus.com/
Public Buses: There are a couple of routes (E3, E9, E10, E11, 16S, KM33, 130H, 132H, 122H) available from SAW. For more information on routes and timetables, please visit: https://www.iett.istanbul/en
Taxi: Taxis are parked in front of Arrival Terminal. Taxi service is available 24 hours. Prices are not fixed.

Local transportation

IstanbulKart – Standard Transportation Card

As the cheapest and the most efficient service in travelling within the city provided by the Municipality of Istanbul, IstanbulKart enables access to the entire public transportation system.

Purchasing is available at over 2,000 points such as subway, tram, ferry, metro bus and funicular stations, yellow/blue vending machines or ticket-matics as well as at the kiosks near the major bus stops.

Bus & Metrobus

Although buses are the most budget-friendly of all the transportation options, they are usually crowded and the lines are not always straightforward for non-residents. The transit bus line, Metrobus, is at the disposal of hundred thousands of passengers on daily basis and offers rapid transportation in between the European and Asian sides. Please visit https://www.iett.istanbul/en for more information.

Metro & Tram

As a wide network, the metro and the tram system of Istanbul enables easy access to the majority of districts on each side of the city. The list of metro lines are as follows: M1 line (Aksaray to Kirazli), M2 line (Haciosman to Yenikapi) and M3 line (Kirazli to Olimpiyat, Basaksehir) operate on the European side and M4 line (Kadikoy to Tavsantepe) and M5 (Uskudar to Yamanevler) on the Asian.

Trams can also be considered a rapid and efficient means in travelling around the most popular areas of the city. The list of tram lines are as follows: Bagcilar to Kabatas (T1 line), which goes through Eminonu and Sultanahmet; Topkapi to Mescid-i Selam (T4 line); the two nostalgic trams, first being between Taksim and Tunel (T2 line) through Istiklal Street on the European side and the other, Kadikoy to Moda (T3 line) through Bahariye Street on the Asian Side.

Two funicular lines are also available: F1 line connecting Kabatas to Taksim and F2 line Karakoy to Tunel, which is at the end of the Istiklal Street. Dating back to the 19th century, the latter is one of the oldest in the world.

For more on the Istanbul Railway Network and the map for all lines, please visit: www.metro.istanbul

Marmaray & Gebze-Halkali Train System

Marmaray, the tube tunnel under the Marmara inner sea connecting Europe and Asia, is 76 kilometers in length and enables passage between the two sides within just minutes. Travelling between Kazlicesme and Yenikapi (through Sirkeci) on the European side and Ayrilik Cesmesi through Uskudar on the Asian side is efficient through the Marmaray. For more information, please visit: www.marmaray.gov.tr

Being in service as of March 2019, the Gebze-Halkali Suburban Train System is also a part of the Marmaray network.

Ferries & Sea-Bus

Travelling all across the Bosphorus Strait is easy, cheap and pleasant thanks to the ferries (Sehir Hatlari), running between the two sides in every 15-20 minutes from 7 am until 11 pm. The main ferry docks include but are not limited to Karakoy, Kabatas, Besiktas and five in Eminonu on the European side as well as Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian side.

Ferries

Bosphorus Cruise by Ferry (short duration) – The ferry leaves Eminonu Pier at 14:30 for a two-hour circular tour and stops at Uskudar and Ortakoy Piers respectively and returns to Eminonu at 16:30. The fee is 12 TRY for adults and 6 TRY for children under the age of 12. This tour is available everyday between 01.04.2019–02.06.2019 and only on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays between 01.10.2018–31.03.2019.

Full Bosphorus Cruise (long duration) – The ferry leaves Eminonu Pier at 10:35 for a six-hour circular tour and stops at Besiktas, Uskudar, Kanlica, Sariyer, Rumelikavagi and Anadolu Kavagi Piers. Upon arriving in Anadolu Kavagi at about 12:25, free time is available till 15:00. The tour ends in Eminonu at 16:40 and the fee is 25 TRY.

Please visit en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en for more information on the Istanbul Public Ferry Lines, routes, timetables and fees.

Sea-buses operate within the city and en route various cities around the Marmara Sea. Bostanci-Besiktas and Bostanci-Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bakirkoy lines run within the city. The four inter-city sea-bus lines are as follows: 1) Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Armutlu-Bursa, 2) Bostanci-Yenikapi-Cinarcik-Esenkoy, 3) Bostanci-Yenikapi-Marmara Avsa Island, 4) Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bursa lines.

Please visit www.ido.com.tr for official information.

Yellow Shared Taxi (Dolmus)

These public taxis running on a fixed, short, circular route are commonly used by the locals as they are quite practical as a means of transportation through the city. Fares, costing a bit more than buses, are fixed and paid in cash upon boarding. Please find below some of the main Dolmus lines:

From Kadikoy to Taksim, Nisantasi, Sisli, Uskudar and Bostanci.

From Bostanci to Taksim, Sisli and Pendik.

From Uskudar to Kadikoy, Acibadem and Beykoz.

From Besiktas to Taksim and Harbiye.

From Taksim to Besiktas, Aksaray and Bakirkoy.

Taxis

Taxis are typically yellow and blue in color and have signs on top. Commonly used by the locals, taxis are very easy to find almost anywhere on the streets and cost less compared to the European standards. Slightly more expensive than the more common yellow ones, blue taxis are still very affordable. The opening fee of taximeter is 5 TRY and 2,5 TRY is charged per kilometer and the fee is standard around the clock.