How to Use Public Transportation in Istanbul in 2023

Are you traveling to Istanbul soon? This city can be hard to navigate so check out my guide on how to use public transportation in Istanbul in 2023

How to use public transportation in Istanbul in 2023

Istanbul is one of the most congested cities in the world.

Peak Traffic Hours: 8am-9:30am and 5pm-8pm

During peak traffic hours, it’s almost impossible to get anywhere by car!

Unless you want to sit hours in traffic racking up a taxi bill, you will need to take public transportation.

Thankfully Istanbul has some fast, easy, and even fun modes of public transportation in Istanbul in 2023!

COVID REGULATIONS

As of 2023, masks are only required to be worn in medical establishments.

HES code is no longer required.

Istanbul Kart and Helpful Applications

To enter any mode of public transportation you will ned to buy an IstanbulKart. They are available for purchase at kiosks outside metro stations, piers, and bus stations. It costs 25TL, and after that you will add credit to the card. Rides will generally cost about 9.40TL per ride. So keep this in mind when budgeting how much credit to add.

You can visit the municipality site for more information, and even route guides: https://www.iett.istanbul/en.

Applications I recommend are Trafi, and Google Maps. Although sometimes Google Maps is not as complete, it still is a good enough option for getting around the city.

1. Ferry

Ferry is the funniest and easiest mode of transportation.

I’d say a necessary part of any visit to Istanbul.

It’s a great way to see the city’s vastness, and take a boat tour for a low cost. Istanbul residents use the ferry everyday to move from the European side to the Asian side, because it’s the best way to avoid traffic jams that build up on the bridges.

Main Ports:

European Side: Eminonu, Karakoy, Kabatas, and Besiktas

Asian Side: Kadikoy, and Uskudar

The ferry line I use commonly and recomend is Besiktas-Kadikoy, two of my favorite neighborhoods.

You will use your IstanbulKart, or buy tickets at the pier, for around 5-7TL.

The ferries are available everyday from around 7am-midnight. For more information regarding timetables visit this website: https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en/timetables/ferry-vehicle

2. The Modern Tramway

If you’re planning to see all the tourist attractions on the European side, the Modern Tramway will be your best friend. This line connects all of the main places to sightsee like, Spice Bazar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazar, and Istiklal Street. The tramway is also very clean and air conditioned, perfect for a day spent walking from site to site.

On the European side there are two lines: the T1 line(for all the attractions) and T4 line(runs North-West to the city). The T1 line is the one you will use to visit the main attractions of Istanbul so I’ll focus on that here.

T1 line is the easiest and best way to visit the main attractions of Old Town Istanbul

Kabatas: Dolmabache Palace, Taksim Connection with Funicular(F1)

Tophane: Museum of Modern Art in Istanbul

Karakoy: Connection with Funicular(T), which will bring you to Istiklal Street

Eminonu: Spice Market

Sirkeci: Train Station and connection to the Marmaray

Sultanahmet: Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Archaeology Museum

Beyazit: Grand Bazaar

The tram runs from 6am-11pm.

3. The Funicular

I’ve added this after the Modern Tramway, because using the two together you will be able to reach Istiklal Street and Karakoy??

The Tunel Funicular, built in 1875, is the second oldest underground transport in the world, after the London Metro. Which makes using this transport another part of exploring the history of Istanbul.

The two Funiculars are located near the tramway stops Kabatas(F1), and Karakoy(T).

You will use your IstanbulKart to access the historical funicular, which allows you to avoid hiking the hills in Galata to reach Istiklal Street. I recommend taking the T line in Karakoy to connect you with Istiklal Street.

The Funicular runs from 7am-9pm.

4. The Historical Tramway

Another most-do for visiting Istanbul is riding the historical tramway. The red tram is the quintessential Istanbul photo, just careful not to interfere in the trams scheduled stops.

There are two lines:

European Side (NT): Runs through Istiklal Street from Taksim Square to Tunel

Asian Side (T3): Runs through Kadikoy from the pier to Moda

5. The Metro

The Metro system is very vast and complicated, but I will try to make this simple.

The system consists of 11 lines:

European Side: M1A, M1B, M2, M3, M6, M7, M9, M11

Asian Side: M4, M5, M8

Since 2023, both airports are now connected to metro lines: Istanbul Airport(M11) and Sabiha Gokcen(M4).

The metro systems on the European side and Asian side do not connect. So to cross the Bosphorus you will need to take the Marmaray. The entrances for the Marmaray are inside the metro stations, so it will feel similar to switching between lines on a metro. The metro stops that connect to the Marmaray are Yenikapi(European side M2) , Uskudar(Asian side M5) and Ayrilik Cesmesi(Asian side M4).

If you’re staying on the European side, the most common metro you will use is M2.

The main stops of M2 are:

Yenikapi: This is one of the main transportation hub stations. It connects M2 and the Marmaray. You can use the Marmaray here to reach Uskudar or Kadikoy(Marmaray stop Arilik Cesmesi, then M4 to Kadikoy)

Halic: This stop will drop you right near Eminonu, the Spice Bazar, and modern tramway M1. You’ll be able to use this tramway to see other historical sites.

Sishane: This stop brings you to the bottom of Istiklal street where you can take the Furnicular located right next to the station. This stop is also near the Galata area, which is beautiful to explore.

Taksim: This station brings you to Taksim Square. From here you can easily walk to Cihangir, Beyoglu, or Cukurcuma.

Osmanbey: This is a very nice area with many bars and luxury shopping. It’s also walking distance from the upscale neighborhood, Nisantisi.

Levent: This stop will bring you close to two big malls, Kanyon and Metro City. Levent is the business district of Istanbul.

ITU Ayazaga: Here you can visit the chic shopping district Istinye Park, but you will need to walk, take taxi or mini bus.

You will use your IstanbulKart to enter, and metro stations are the easiest place to purchase or add credits to your IstanbulKart.

The metros run from 6:15am-midnight.

For more information refer to this map: https://www.metro.istanbul/YolcuHizmetleri/AgHaritalari

6. Marmaray

The Marmaray is a recently built train line that connects the European and Asian side under the Bosphorus Sea. The Marmaray connects far sides of Istanbul across 76.7km, from Halkali to Gebze. So if you’re planning on going off the beaten path, the Marmaray could help you. But more than likely, you will only use the Marmaray to cross the Bosphorus(European/Asian side) when taking the metro.

You will use your IstanbulKart to enter, but unlike any other transportation the Marmaray gives you a chance to refund credits on your card. The cost of the Marmaray is calculated by how many stations you ride. So you will swipe your card to enter(18TL), then when exiting the marmaray there will be stations to swipe your card. The amount of stations you didn’t ride will be deducted from your price, and you will get credits back.

The Marmaray’s Main Stations to Cross Continents are:

Yenikapi: this will connect you with M1a, M1b, and M2

Uskudar: this will connect you with M5

Ayrilik Cesmisi: this will connect you with M4 – to Kadikoy or Sabiha Gocken Airport

The Marmaray runs from 6:15am-midnight.

For more information refer to this map: https://www.metro.istanbul/YolcuHizmetleri/AgHaritalari

7. Bus

There are over 400 bus lines in Istanbul, and honestly even after 5 years living here I can still get turned around and confused on the buses. That being said, the bus system is straight forward with the line and major stops written on the top of the bus and yellow bus stops all over the city.

You will use your Istanbulkart to enter. With rides costing around 9.50TL.

Follow your maps application to guide you to the correct bus. But, be careful because if you’re choosing between options for taking metro or bus, the bus might be slower due to traffic.

For more information, visit this site: https://iett.istanbul/en

8. The Metrobus

The Metrobus is a bus line that runs in its own lane to avoid the congestion of traffic. This is a fast way to get to distant parts of the city, but the buses can become very crowded so if you’re claustrophobic, be wary. If you’re just visiting the touristic parts of the city it’s unlikely that you will use the Metrobus.

You will use your Istanbulkart to enter, and every station will have kiosks to purchase and add credits to your Istanbulkart.

9. Dolmus

The Dolmus is a shared taxi that follows a specific path. It’s an easy and cheap way to get to popular destinations around the city. You will see a group of taxi vans, where drivers are typically shouting the destination they will take you to. You enter into the taxi, and the taxi will only leave when it’s full (8 people). You will tell the driver your destination, and then he will tell you a price. If you’re not sure what was said, just give the driver a bill and you’ll recieve change or ask (bilet ne-kadar?) How much is a ticket? Dolmus’s are cash only.

The most common Dolmus lines are:

Besiktas-Taksim: In Besiktas dolmus’s are located on the main street across from the ferrys. In Taksim dolmus’s are located behind taksim square

Kadikoy-Taksim: In Kadikoy dolmus’s are located nearby the ports

You cannot use your Istanbulkart here!

10. Minibus

Minibuses are my favorite mode of transportation, it’s always and adventure. The drivers are typically loud, fast, and careless. I’ve been on quite a few minibuses where my ride stopped so my driver could fight another driver in the street, not joking. So if you’re looking for some excitement, this is for you.

The minibuses are blue and you’ll see them speeding all over the city. They don’t have designated stops but they do follow a path. So you will have to wave one down, tell the driver where you want to go, and then pay in cash. Most likely you will have to ask your driver to stop when you’ve reached your destination, but sometimes they will remember.