Tourist Destinations

Tourists can discover a wide range of excellent choices for getting around the city.The Bosphorus split Istanbul into two parts, making ferries and sea-buses a viable mode of daily transportation in the city.

Sultanahmet,Galata,and Taksim,the three main tourist districts, are all easily available on foot.

Ferries are the main mode of transportation for traveling from the European side to the Asian side.

The metro line that goes from Taksim Square is the best method to get to the shopping and business areas of Nisantasi,Etilier,and Levent. And Istanbulkart,a single transportation card, may be used to access the whole public transportation system.

It should be noted that traffic in Istanbul is a huge issue that frequently results in gridlock,particularly on bridges.

Also,with exception of trams and tour buses, Sultanahmet Square and most of the connecting roads are blocked to car traffic.

It is not recommended to travel to Sultanahmet on your own automobile.You'll have to park your automobile somewhat far away.

Public Transportation in Istanbul Options

Istanbul has a wide public transportation system that includes buses and trains such as the metro, trams, and the Marmaray.

For the most up-to-date Istanbul Railway Network Maps, click the links below.

Istanbul Rail Systems Map , Istanbul Metro Lines Map , Istanbul Tram Lines Map , Night Metro Lines Map

Bus & Metrobus

Buses are clearly the cheapest and most cost-effective form of transportation, though they are sometimes crowded, making it difficult to determine which one to take.

Metrobus, a private lined fast bus service, is also available. It serves hundreds of thousands of people each day and provides speedy transportation between the Asian and European ends of the continent. For additional official information, see to www.iett.istanbul.

Metro & Tram

Istanbul's metro and tram systems have a large network and allow easy access to many of the city's major attractions on both the European and Asian parts.

On the European side, the Istanbul metro system runs from Aksaray – Atatürk Airport to Kirazli (M1), Haciosman to Yenikapi (M2), and Kirazli to Olimpiyat, Basaksehir (M3).

On the Asian side, it runs from Kadikoy to Tavsantepe (M4 line) and Uskudar to Yamanevler (M5 line).

Two funicular lines connect Kabatas and Taksim (F1 line) and Karakoy and Tunel (F2 line) (end of the Istiklal Street). The Karakoy-Tunel funicular system, which dates back to the 19th century, is one of the world's oldest.

For a complete list of lines, see the Istanbul Railway Network Map. For additional official information, see to www.metro.istanbul.

Marmaray & Gebze-Halkali Train System

Under the water, the Marmaray is a railroad system that connects the European and Asian sides. The Marmaray is a 76-kilometer tube tunnel that allows passengers to travel by rail beneath the Marmara inner sea in only a few minutes.

The quickest route between Kazlicesme and Ayrilik Cesmesi is via Sirkeci and Yenikapi on the European side and Uskudar on the Asian side. For additional official information, see to www.marmaray.gov.tr.

The Gebze-Halkali Suburban Train System also uses the Marmaray network, which is a quick way to get from the Asian to the European sides of Istanbul, as well as from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to the city center.

Ferries & Sea-Bus

The quickest, cheapest, and most enjoyable method to travel up, down, and across the Bosphorus is by ferry (Sehir Hatlari). You may travel from Europe to Asia and return on the boats. On the European side, there are ten important ferry docks: Karakoy, Kabatas, Besiktas, and five in Eminonu; on the Asian side, there are Uskudar and Kadikoy. From 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., ferries run every 15-20 minutes.

All Istanbul Public Ferry Lines Routes, Timetables, and Prices may be found at en.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en.

There are additional sea-bus services that go from Istanbul to the city's main districts as well as the cities around the Marmara Sea. Bostanci-Besiktas and Bostanci-Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bakirkoy are two inner-city sea-bus lines. Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Armutlu-Bursa, Bostanci-Yenikapi-Cinarcik-Esenkoy, Bostanci-Yenikapi-Marmara Avsa Island, and Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bursa are the four intercity sea-bus routes.

For additional official information, go to https://www.ido.com.tr/.

Yellow Shared Taxi (Dolmus)

The Dolmus (yellow shared taxi) is a public taxi that operates on a pre-determined, short, circular route. It is a convenient and cost-effective mode of transportation in the city.

Many residents use Dolmus, which has a set fare that must be paid in cash before boarding (a little more than the bus). Some of Istanbul's principal Dolmus circular lines are listed here.

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

In Istanbul, taxis are yellow with taxi signs on the roof. A yellow taxi may be seen practically anywhere on the streets. Taxis are inexpensive in compared to those in Europe. There is no distinction between day and night. This formula may be used to estimate the taxi price for your travel.

What is the best way to get from each Istanbul airport to the city center?

New Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport are the two major airports in Istanbul (SAW). There are a variety of ways to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center, including municipal public buses and shuttles, taxis, and private shuttles. The Istanbul Airports are served by no direct metro lines.

The New Istanbul Airport (IST) is located in Istanbul's northwestern borough of Arnavutkoy, near to the Black Sea coast. The New Istanbul Airport is around 45 kilometers from the major Istanbul city center districts.

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, around 30 kilometers from Kadikoy, 44 kilometers from Taksim, and 48 kilometers from Sultanahmet.

Car Hire

Because Istanbul's public transportation is great, we do not recommend renting a car if you are only there for a few days. It's also simple to wander around the most popular tourist spots. Parking is also a major issue in crowded areas and at most tourist attractions.