Public Transportation In Istanbul | Guide To Use 2024
What is the cheapest way to get around Istanbul?
Public transportation in Istanbul is one of the topics that if you travel to this city, you should know enough about it so that you can visit different places of this city easily and at the lowest cost and make a memorable trip for yourself.
Istanbul is one of the few cities that has quality public transportation. Access to different areas in this city is easy. Read to the end of this article because the Traveling Topic further explores this topic.
Transportation in Istanbul
Table of Contents
The variety of public transportation in Istanbul is high, and you can easily reach all parts of the city using public transportation. You should get an Istanbul or public transportation card to help you move around the city at a more affordable price.
For more information about Istanbulkart, read the article “Istanbulkart price“.
Security tips: Public transportation systems in Istanbul are generally safe, but like any other city, you should be careful with valuables, such as your cell phone and purse, when using them.
Guide to using the metro in Istanbul
If your route is long, transportation in Istanbul by metro is the best option. The cost of each metro trip increased in early 2024 and reached an average figure of 10 to 15 liras. It also has 6 different lines and has 70 active stations and more than 50 stations under development.
Istanbul’s new metro lines are automatic, in fact, these metros do not have drivers and transport passengers automatically. Below you can see Istanbul metro map and Istanbul underground map.
Istanbul metro lines
In the following, I will introduce the metro lines of Istanbul to you so that you can get to know the cheapest way to get around Istanbul.
Line 1: It is marked in red and has 23 stations; Travel time is 23 to 25 minutes.
Aksaray – Ataturk Airport: This line is 26.1 km and starts from Aksaray in the city center and goes to Ataturk Airport. Most passengers who travel to Istanbul use this line from the airport to reach the city center.
Line 2: It is marked with green color and has 16 stations; The travel time is estimated at 30 minutes.
Yenikapi – Haji Othman: This line is 23.5 km, and its last expansion was done in 2014, which reached the Yenikapi area with the addition of 3 stations. Those who want to go to Taksim square and Sisli region use this line.
Line 3: It is marked with blue color and has 11 stations; The travel time is estimated to be 20 minutes.
Kirazli – Metrokent, Olympiad: Kirazli is the most critical inner-city terminal of Istanbul located on this line.
Line 4: It is marked with pink color and has 19 stations; The travel time is estimated at 82 minutes.
Kadikoy – Karahan Tepe: This line is in the Asian part of Istanbul. It starts from the Asian coast of the Bosphorus and reaches the area of Karahan Tepe.
Line 5: It is marked with purple color and has 16 stations; The travel time is 32 minutes.
Line 6: it is marked with a golden color and has 4 stations; The travel time is estimated at 7 minutes.
Lunet – Boğaziçi University: This metro line is for mini metro.
Istanbul Marmara
The Marmaray line was opened in 2013 and completed in 2019. This subway is 76.6 km long, passes under the Bosphorus strait, and exits from the other side of the sea.
You might think that you will have a special feeling when you are under the sea, but the user experience of Marmara is, unfortunately, quite similar to other metro lines! The name of this line is a combination of Marmara (Mediterranean Sea) and rail.
Apart from Marmara, there are other ways to travel between the European and Asian parts of Istanbul, and perhaps the most famous, fastest, and most popular is the Metrobus.
If your purpose of reading this article is to learn how to go from the Asian to the European side of Istanbul, it is better to read the article “How to get from Asian to European side of Istanbul”
Marmara is more expensive than the metro and tram, and the cost is deducted from your card according to the length of the trip. Currently, its cost is between 13 and 23 liras.
Tram in Istanbul
The tram is another means of transportation in Istanbul, which is highly popular according to surveys. This vehicle passes through the city streets, and in addition to taking you to your destination, it also allows you to explore the city.
The speed of Tram is also suitable; it is neither very fast nor slow. There is a tram station next to most of the sightseeing areas of Istanbul, which you can use to reach the attractions you want.
Four lines are related to the tram lines that move on the ground. These trams are primarily located in the south, the European part, and the tourist area of Istanbul. The tram ticket price is the same as that of the metro, and currently, it is about 10 liras for each trip.🚋
You can reach almost all the historical places in Istanbul in Eminonu, including Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia, and Dolmabahce, with the T1 tram line.
Metrobus Transportation in Istanbul
Metro buses, which are another public transportation in Istanbul. There are a lot of buses, and You never wait more than 1 minute for a metro bus to arrive.
To find out the route and time of departure of buses in Istanbul, you are suggested to use two apps, Havaist and Havaş on your smartphone.
Guide to using the ferry in Istanbul
Another way of public transportation in Istanbul that easily transports you from the Asian side to the European side is the ferry. Ships, like buses, have specific departure times and are divided into recreational and urban vessels in this city.
I must point out that moving by ship is faster and easier than the means of transportation on land, and even you can easily go to the islands of Istanbul by boat. I remind you that the Sehir Hatlari application specifies the hours and routes of ships for you precisely.
Guide to using a taxi in Istanbul
If you have a lot of luggage and do not want to use other public transportation in Istanbul under any circumstances, I recommend taxis.
As I mentioned in the article “Does Uber Work In Istanbul“, Uber does not work in Istanbul, and you cannot use the services of this company. Still, suppose you are looking for the best app for Istanbul public transport to be able to use an internet taxi So. In that case, I recommend the Bi Taksi application so that you can use the Internet taxi service in Istanbul.🚖
If your transportation route in Istanbul is short, a taxi will help you avoid having the problem of moving and reaching the bus and metro stations.
If the taxis cross the bridge, your cost will UP, while the same route by metro bus is Cheaper. Finally, I advise you to buy an Istanbul card and SIM card before entering the city to avoid costly problems.
Essential tips for using a taxi in Istanbul
- Use only official taxis.
- Do not get into a car if it does not have a taximeter.
- Be sure to ask the driver to turn on his taximeter.
- Note that fares are different during the day and at night.
- Taxi fare must be paid in Lira.
- Fasten your seat belt as soon as you get into the taxi.
- If you decide to take a taxi, make sure you have cash with you.
- Use Google Maps, so the driver does not charge you more for a different route.
- Do not answer personal questions.
- You have to pay the bridge or highway tolls.
The Dolmush
Dolmush are vans that provide public transportation in Istanbul with cash, and at the time of boarding, you must tell the driver the number of passengers and your destination.
Specific movement path is defined for them, and when boarding, it is enough to raise your hand, and they will take you. The cost of using the Dolmush is about 15 liras.
At the end of the line
Above, I introduced you to Istanbul’s public transportation and costs and provided new information. If you have any questions about public transit in Istanbul, please ask us your questions in the comments section to get your answers as soon as possible.
