Practical Info

Transportation from Airports to the City Center

Transportation between the city center and the two airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), is provided by public buses, shuttles, or taxis.

Located in Arnavutköy, Istanbul Airport is approximately 45 km from the city center and key areas of the city. Transportation options from Istanbul Airport are as follows:

Havaİst Shuttles: Havaİst shuttles (₺355 per person), which operate between midnight and 23:20, are available from Istanbul Airport to Taksim. Information on Havaİst routes, schedules, and fares can be found at https://www.hava.ist/.
Public Buses: Public buses that you can use to reach various destinations from Istanbul Airport are: H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, and H-8. (Ticket price ₺70). Route and schedule information can be found at https://www.iett.istanbul.
Taxi: Taxis are available 24/7 right in front of the arrivals terminal. Fares are not fixed (approximately ₺1,500 from Istanbul Airport to Taksim).

Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side, approximately 30 km from Kadıköy, 44 km from Taksim, and 48 km from Sultanahmet. Transportation options from Sabiha Gökçen Airport are as follows:

HavaBus Shuttles: HavaBus shuttles, which operate between 03:30 and 22:00, are available from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Kadıköy and Taksim (₺367 per person). Information on HavaBus routes, schedules, and fares can be found at http://www.havabus.com/.
Metro: The M4 Metro Line operates between Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. You can use the M4 metro line to connect to the following transportation lines:

- Ferry, sea lines, and the T3 Kadıköy-Moda Tram from Kadıköy Station
- Marmaray from Ayrılık Çeşmesi Station,
- Metrobus from Ünalan Station,
- İETT buses from Pendik Station to Pendik High-Speed Train Station.

For more information, please visit www.metro.istanbul.

Public Buses: Several routes (E3, E10, 16S, 122H, 130H, 132H, SG-1, SG-2, UM73) operate from Sabiha Gökçen Airport. For more information about routes and schedules, please visit www.iett.istanbul.
Taxi: Taxis are located in front of the Arrivals Terminal. Taxi service is available 24 hours a day and prices are not fixed (Approximately 1600 TL from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Taksim).

Local Transportation

IstanbulCard

The IstanbulCard allows you to travel within the city quickly, safely, and easily and can be used on all public transportation. You can purchase these cards from yellow/blue ticket machines near metro, ferry, tram, metrobus, and funicular stations, or from ticket/IstanbulCard sales booths.

Bus & Metrobus

For areas and/or times with high traffic, you can use the Metrobus, a bus-rapid-transit line ranging from Söğütlüçeşme on the Asian side to Beylikdüzü on the westernmost end of the European side. Vehicles depart approximately every minute during the day, and at night (between 01:00 and 05:30) services run every half hour or every hour.

You can find information about bus routes and schedules at www.iett.istanbul/en.

Metro & Tram

Istanbul's extensive metro and tram system provides easy access to most districts on both sides of the city. Metro lines and routes are as follows:

European Side:

M1 Line: Aksaray - Kirazlı
M2 Line: Yenikapı - Hacıosman
M3 Line: Kirazlı - Başakşehir
M6 Line: Levent - Boğaziçi University
M7 Line: Mahmutbey - Mecidiyeköy - Yıldız
M9 Line: Ataköy - Olympic
M11 Line: Gayrettepe - Istanbul Airport

Asian Side:

M4 Line: Kadıköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
M5 Line: Üsküdar - Samandıra
M8 Line: Bostancı - Parseller

Trams are also a fast and efficient way to travel around the city's most popular areas. Tram lines and routes are as follows:

European Side:

T1 Line: Bağcılar - Kabataş (passing through Eminönü and Sultanahmet)
T4 Line: Topkapı - Mescid-i Selam
T5 Line: Eminönü - Alibeyköy

On the European side, there are two heritage tram lines: Taksim-Tünel (Line T2) via Istiklal Avenue, and on the Asian side, there are two funicular lines: the F1 line, which connects Kabataş to Taksim, and the F2 line, which connects Karaköy to the Tünel at the end of Istiklal Avenue. The latter, dating back to the 19th century, is one of the oldest in the world.

The T6 line, a resurrection of the old suburban train line, runs between Sirkeci and Kazlıçeşme at 25-minute intervals.

You can find information about metro and tram lines and their schedules at www.metro.istanbul. Metro Istanbul Network Map: www.metro.istanbul/YolcuHizmetleri/AgHaritalari

Marmaray Commuter Rail System

The Eurasia Tunnel, a 76-kilometer tube tunnel running under the Sea of Marmara connecting Europe and Asia, allows travel between the two sides in just a few minutes. The Marmaray commuter rail system, which travels through the Eurasia Tunnel, provides efficient transportation between Halkalı on the westernmost frontier of Istanbul and Gebze, a city neighboring Istanbul to its east. The system runs through important transit hubs such as Yenikapı and Sirkeci on the European side, and Üsküdar and Söğütlüçeşme on the Asian side.

More information can be found at: www.marmaray.gov.tr.

Ferry & Sea Bus Lines

City Lines Ferries operate every 15-20 minutes between 07:00 and 23:00 between Asia and Europe.The main ferry terminals are as follows:

European Side: Karaköy, Kabataş, Beşiktaş, Eminönü
Asian Side: Üsküdar, Kadıköy

Ferries that do Bosphorus tours, short and long, that stop at piers along the Bosphorus take off from Eminönü Pier.

You can find information on ferry routes, schedules, and fares at: http://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/tr.

Sea buses can be beneficial for traveling between cities around the Sea of Marmara. Sea bus lines are as follows:

Kadıköy - Yenikapı - Armutlu - Bursa
Bostancı - Yenikapı - Çınarcık - Esenköy
Bostancı - Yenikapı - Marmara Avşa Island

Information about sea bus schedules and fares are available at: www.ido.com.tr

Dolmuş Lines (Shared Taxis)

Operating on a fixed, short, circular route, these yellow shared taxis are widely used by locals due to their practicality as a means of transportation within the city. Fares, which are slightly more expensive than buses, are fixed and must be paid in cash upon boarding.

The main dolmuş lines are as follows:

Kadıköy: Taksim - Nişantaşı - Şişli - Üsküdar - Bostancı
Bostancı: Taksim - Şişli - Pendik
Üsküdar: Kadıköy - Acıbadem - Beykoz
Beşiktaş: Taksim - Harbiye
Taksim: Beşiktaş - Aksaray - Bakırköy

Taxis

For taxis, the opening fee is ₺54.50, the minimum fare is ₺175, and the charge is ₺36.30 per kilometer. The fare is standard 24/7.

Currency

The official currency of Türkiye is the Turkish Lira (TRY, ₺). Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 Liras, while coins come in denominations of 5, 10, 25, and 50 kuruş and 1 Lira.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange offices are widely available throughout the city and are generally open Monday through Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00. Exchange offices are available 24/7 at airports and offices in shopping malls and tourist areas are usually open late and on Saturdays.

ATMs

ATMs with foreign language options are available for Turkish Lira withdrawals. While limits vary from bank to bank, they are generally between ₺7,500 and ₺20,000.