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 Transportation in Istanbul, Turkey

 

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Istanbul is a large, congested, bustling city. You'll enjoy your visit much more if you know how to get around before you arrive. Click here for maps of Istanbul & Region.

Airports
Akbil Transit Pass
City Bus
Intercity Bus
Tram
Metro

Tünel
Füniküler

Suburban Trains
Ferryboat
Taxi
On Foot

"Sea Bus" Catamaran
Ships & Cruise Lines

Dolmus Minibus
Airport to City
Bus Terminal to City
Maps of Istanbul

AIRPORTS
Istanbul has two airports, the major Atatürk International Airport near Yesilköy 23 km (14 miles) west of the city center, reachable by Metro (map); and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the east side of the Bosphorus. Here's how to travel from one airport to the other.

AKBIL TRANSIT PASS
This magic little transit pass gets you cheaper rides on every sort of public transport in Istanbul: Metro, tram, bus, ferry, train. More...

CITY BUS
City bus routes get you to some places you'll want to visit. Buy tickets (less than US$1) before boarding at kiosks (often white fiberglass cubes) labeled "I.E.T.T" and/or "Bilet" (ticket), or use the Akbil prepaid electronic fare system. More...

INTERCITY BUS
Istanbul has two intercity bus terminals, the major Istanbul International Bus Terminal (Büyük Otogar) at Bayrampasa/ Esenler on the western side of the Bosphorus (reachable by Metro: map), serving the entire country as well as Greece, Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe; and the Harem Otogar on the eastern shore of the Bosphorus north of Haydarpasa Station, serving Anatolian Turkey and the Middle East.

TRAM
You'll find Istanbul's two tram lines useful (map), even though they're as different as can be. Although the nostalgic 19th-century Istiklal Caddesi tram is more fun, the Eminönü/Kabatas-Zeytinburnu tram is the more useful, and can help you travel between the heart of the tourist district at Sultanahmet Square and the Otogar (bus terminal) and/or Atatürk Airport. More...

METRO
Two lines of Istanbul's Metro system are in operation (map). The most useful for foreign visitors is the light-rail line connecting Atatürk Airport and Aksaray Square via Istanbul's mammoth Otogar (intercity bus station), at which you can board a bus to any part of Turkey or to virtually any country within 1000 miles (1600 km) of Istanbul. Change to the tram at Zeytinburnu to reach Old Istanbul. Also, a standard-gauge Metro line goes north from Taksim Square to the commercial districts. More...

TÜNEL
Tünel is Istanbul's little 19th-century two-station underground train connecting Karaköy (Galata) and the southwestern end of Istiklal Caddesi. It's convenient and fun. More...

FÜNIKÜLER
Inaugurated in 2006, the Füniküler (underground funicular) connects Taksim Square and Kabatas on the Bosphorus shore. At Kabatas you can board a ferryboat, sea bus, or the Zeytinburnu tram. More...

SUBURBAN TRAIN
Suburban commuter trains depart Sirkeci Station, trundle around Seraglio Point and continue along the Sea of Marmara shore stopping at the Yenikapi Ferry Terminal (for intercity car and passenger ferries across the Sea of Marmara) and at Yesilyurt near Atatürk International Airport. More...

Slightly better suburban trains depart Haydarpasa Station and travel along the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. More...

FERRYBOAT
Traditional white IDO ferries and private TurYol ferries serve shorter water routes, and are the most enjoyable way to get around Istanbul. More...

Special daily Touristic Bosphorus Ferries run from Eminönü's Dock 2 up the Bosphorus almost to the Black Sea several times daily. Both catamaran seabuses and ferryboats travel to the Princes Islands near Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. More...

"SEA BUS" CATAMARAN
Sleek modern passenger catamarans zoom around the city at rush hour, and out to the Princes Islands several times daily. There are even Sea of Marmara routes to Yalova and Bandirma on the sea's southern shore. More...

SHIPS & CRUISE LINES
Foreign cruise ships and international ferries dock at the Yolcu Salonu in Karaköy at the northern end of the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn, right in the center of the city. More...

TAXI
Thousands of yellow taxis, most powered by clean-burning natural gas, throng Istanbul's streets. You'll find them useful and not overly expensive. More...

DOLMUS MINIBUS
Dolmus means "filled," which is what the vehicle needs to be before it departs on its customary route. The dolmus (DOHL-moosh) is Turkey's shared taxi or minibus. You may find them helpful occasionally in Istanbul.

ON FOOT
The best way to get around Istanbul's compact medieval core is on foot. Traffic is often so heavy, and traffic patterns so circuitous, that you can often walk somewhere faster than riding. More...


Maps of Istanbul & Region

Transportation in Turkey

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Modern Trams in Istanbul, Turkey

Above, the Eminönü/Kabatas-Zeytinburnu tram connects Sultanahmet with the Metro and thus to Atatürk Airport and the Otogar (bus terminal).
Below, Istanbul's wonderful ferryboats cross the Bosphorus beneath Topkapi Palace.

Ferryboat, Istanbul, Turkey