Public Transportation Istanbul: The Best Tips for Tourists and Locals

1. The Modern Tramway

If you’re staying somewhere in the historic peninsula, you’ll notice the above-ground tram that passes right next to the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque.

The T1 tram runs from Kabatas on the European side to Bagcilar, cutting right through Sultanahmet. It’s clean, efficient, and takes you to several tourist hotspots:

– Sultanahmet station: You’re right in front of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.

– Gulhane station: Ideal for visiting Gulhane Park and the Istanbul Archaeological Museum.

– Eminonu station: Perfect for catching a ferry across the Bosphorus or strolling the bustling Egyptian Spice Bazaar.

– Cemberlitas station: Drops you off right at the Grand Bazaar.

If you’re headed towards Taksim or Kadikoy, take the T1 tram to Kabatas, where you can connect to other modes of transport like ferries and funiculars.

If you want to explore the artsy neighborhood Balat or visit the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Fener, you can catch the newly finished T5 Eminonu-Alibeykoy tram line from Eminonu along the Golden Horn right to those neighborhoods.

2. Ferry

4. Metro

Ah, the metro. I love this thing.

The current mayor of Istanbul has been extending the metro lines in the last few years. It’s not great for construction noise (which seems constant in this city), but the finished product is amazing.

If you’re staying in the historic part of the city, the most useful metro to you is the M2 line. You can get on at Vezneciler and take it north three stops to Taksim, or further on to Levent (business district).

If you’re tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city, you can continue on to Haciosman and enjoy a few hours walking around among the trees of the Ataturk Kent Ormani (Ataturk City Forest).

It is also worth noting that the metro system is much more extensive on the European side than on the Asian side though they are rapidly expanding it, including the newly completed line from Kadıköy to the Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

6. Marmaray

The Marmaray (Marmara + Rail = Marmaray) is a train line that extends from Halkali on the European (west) side of the city to Gebze on the Asian (east) side of the city.

The line is built on the old Banliyo (suburban) train line, so it’s called B1 on the metro map.

This line is a quick way to get from Kadikoy (Sogutlucesme station) on the Asian side to Sirkeci on the European side. The ferry is wonderful but sometimes if you’re short on time, the Marmaray is a better choice.

You can also transfer to the high-speed train line (YHT) to Ankara or Konya from the Sogutlucesme station. It’s a fast and inexpensive way to travel.

When you press your Istanbulkart to get into the Marmaray, you’ll notice that it takes almost double the price of a normal metro ride (35-40 TL depending on where you’re getting on).

If you have a registered Istanbulkart, there are return machines (“iade makinesi”) that you can press when you exit the Marmaray. You’ll get money back on your card depending on how many stations you’ve traveled.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to register your card as a tourist, but the full price is still pretty reasonable to get you from one continent to another.

7. Bus

The other day I met a friend from out of town at her DoubleTree hotel in Piyalepasa. This neighborhood is southwest of Taksim, far from a metro or ferry stop.

I checked Google Maps, hopped on the 77 bus from Yenikapi, and a few stops later, I was eating a lovely breakfast and catching up on news from the States.

Hundreds of buses go from everywhere to everywhere in this big city. To be honest, the bus is not my favorite form of public transportation. It can be overcrowded and take a long time when there’s traffic.

However, sometimes the bus is the best way to go if you have to get somewhere specific.

8. Dolmuş (Dolmush)

The dolmuş (pronounced “dol-mush,” meaning “filled up”) is a minivan that acts as a shared taxi. It goes on a set route, and at the beginning of the route, the driver will wait till the vehicle gets full of passengers before starting the trip.

At any point on the route, you can say “Een-eh-jek Var” (“İnecek var” in Turkish) to get off the van.

There are a few dolmuş lines that are useful to visitors to the city. Minivans wait in front of the Ataturk Cultural Center next to Taksim Square to take people to Besiktas or Kadikoy.

On the Asian side of the city, these vans wait in Uskudar near the Yeni Valide Mosque to take people to the center of Kadikoy.

Make sure to confirm which route that van will take before you get on it.

These shared taxis are privately operated and take cash only. At the time of writing the fare is approximately 25 TL, which is way less than the 100 TL minimum charge for a taxi these days.

Pro tip: Drivers will likely not speak English so as a tourist you may find this mode of transport not nearly as enjoyable.

9. Minibus

These blue (or tan, depending on what part of the city you’re in) minibusses are a slightly larger version of the yellow dolmuş.

They also go on set routes, take cash only, and you can say “Een-eh-jek Var” (“İnecek var” in Turkish) to get off the bus at any point. They will pick up and drop off people at any point on their route, not at set bus stops.

As a local, I find these buses quite useful. Even in traffic, they weave their way through side streets to get people where they need to go, but for a tourist, they may be quite confusing and difficult to use.

10. Metrobus

The metrobüs is a black and grey bus (the “bus” part) that operates on its own set-aside lane in traffic (the “metro” part–because of the way a metro is on a dedicated path).

Before the Marmaray was opened in 2013, the metrobüs was the quickest way to go from one side of the city to the other.

The Metrobus line is mostly useful for commuters crossing the city for work or school. I use it to get from Altunizade on the Asian side to Zincirlikuyu on the European side if I’m hankering for some Italian food at Eataly in the Zorlu Center.

11. Cable Car (Teleferik)

Last, but not least in our transportation round-up, is the cable car (“teleferik” in Turkish).

There are two cable cars in Istanbul, and both are almost more for fun than for pure transportation.

The Maçka-Taşkışla Cable Car (TF1) is located inside Macka Demokrasi Park. The park is located in a valley, and the cable car takes you across the valley from a hill on one side of the park over to the other hill, close to Taksim.

The Eyup-Piyer Loti Cable Car (TF2) is further down the Golden Horn from Balat and takes you up a steep hill to the lovely neighborhood named for French novelist Pierre Loti who spent part of his life in Istanbul in the late 1800’s.

Up at the top, you can enjoy some Turkish tea and dessert as you take in the beautiful view of the city from above.

Tips for Navigating Public Transportation

Now that you know your options for how to get around the city, here are a few pro tips for how to make your travel as pleasant as possible and avoid some of the stress that naturally comes in such a large city.

Avoid Rush Hour

The roads are busiest between about 7:30 and 10 a.m., and again from about 5 to 7 p.m.. During these hours, the metros and ferries are still the most pleasant ways to travel but might be packed with people.

Students and white-collar workers stand alongside tourists and visitors on all forms of public transport in Istanbul. If you can avoid rush hour, you will be thankful later.

These Shoes Are Made for Walking

There’s a lot of walking in this city. As a tourist, it’s easy to walk 15 to 20,000 steps in a single day so be sure to have comfortable walking shoes.

Pro tip: Start wearing new shoes and break them in before you get here to avoid blisters and any foot issues.

Also, stay hydrated, especially in the hot summer months. Water fountains are not easy to find in Istanbul, but there are little shops and kiosks all over the city that sell bottles of water.

You can also get an Epic water filter for your bottle to make sure you’re drinking the cleanest water possible.

Apps to Use

I generally use Google Maps to plan out my route in real time. It is generally quite good with directions. Sometimes routes change before they are updated in Google Maps, however, so ask for help when you need it.

Citymapper and Moovit are helpful apps as well. Otobusum Nerede will also help with figuring out if a bus is coming or if there is a problem and you need to find a different route.

Pro tip: download offline maps to make sure you always have access to maps in case you lose cell service.

Here is a list of other apps that we recommend that don’t have to do with transportation but will make your life much easier.

Is It Safe?

I allow my teenage girls to take the metro home from friends’ houses as late as 10:30 or 11 at night. In our neighborhood, families are walking around and enjoying the evening late into the night, and I don’t feel worried for my girls.

Like any big city, pickpocketing is not unheard of in Istanbul. Generally, it is a crime of convenience, when someone’s not paying attention to their stuff.

When you’re out and about or on a tram or ferry, be aware of your surroundings and hold on to your valuables.

Personal crime (like mugging or other violence) is not very common in Istanbul, but it’s always good to be alert and street-smart.

FAQs About Transportation

Final Thoughts on Istanbul’s Public Transportation

Istanbul’s system is a convenient, affordable, and even enjoyable way to explore the city. Thankfully they have expanded it quite a bit in recent years to make it even easier.

Especially when it is a city of nearly 16 million people!

Whether you’re staying in the historical heart of Sultanahmet, the vibrant streets of Taksim, or the laid-back, trendy vibe of Kadikoy, there’s always a way to get where you need to go.

Just grab your Istanbulkart, plan your route, and get ready to experience the beautiful, chaotic charm of Istanbul!