Practical Info
PRACTICAL INFO
Transportation from Airports to the City Center
Connection between the city center and the two major airports [Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)] are provided through such options as public buses, specifically routed shuttles, taxis, metro or privately run shuttles.
Located to the northeast Istanbul, in Arnavutkoy, Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 45 km away from the city center and major districts. The transport options from IST are as follows:
• Havaist Shuttles:Transportation from Istanbul Airport to Taksim is provided by Havaist airport shuttles (single 136 TRY). For more information on routes, timetables and prices, please visit: https://www.hava.ist/en
• Public Buses:There are a couple of routes (H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, H-8) available from IST. For more information on routes and timetables, please visit: https://www.iett.istanbul/en
• Taxi:Taxis are parked in front of Arrival Terminal. Taxi service is available 24 hours. Prices are not fixed. (From IST to Taksim around 450 TRY)
Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW), located to the east of the city center, is on the Asian side, approximately 30 km from Kadikoy, 44 km from Taksim and 48 km from Sultanahmet. The transport options from SAW are as follows:
• Havabus Shuttles: Havabus Shuttles are available from SAW to Kadıköy (one way 77 TRY) and Taksim (one way 102,50 TRY). Shuttles operate between 03.30 am and 22:00 pm hours. For more information on routes, timetables and prices, please visit (Turkish only):
• Metro: Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro (M4 Metro Line) operates between Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The station has 3 entrances: Entrance No: 1 Domestic Terminal CIP Hall & Carpark, Entrance No: 2 Sabiha Gökçen Airport Hotel and Entrance No: 3 Terminal. You can use M4 Kadıköy-Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro line to get on the following transportation lines:
- T3 Kadikoy - Moda Tram, ferries and sea-lines from Kadikoy Station,
- Marmaray from Ayrılık Çeşmesi Station,
- Metrobüs from Ünalan Station,
- Pendik High Speed Train Station via IETT buses from Pendik Station.
For more information you can visit: https://www.metro.istanbul/en/
• Public Buses:There are a couple of routes (E3, E9, E10, E11, 16S, 122H) available from SAW. For more information on routes and timetables, please visit: https://www.iett.istanbul/en
• Taxi:Taxis are parked in front of Arrival Terminal. Taxi service is available 24 hours. Prices are not fixed. (From SAW to Taksim around 500 TRY)
Local transportation
IstanbulKart – Standard Transportation Card
As the cheapest and most efficient service in travelling within the city provided by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, IstanbulKart enables access to the entire public transportation system.
Purchasing is available at over 2,000 points such as subway, tram, ferry, metro bus and funicular stations, yellow/blue vending machines or ticket-matics as well as at the kiosks near the major bus stops.
Bus & Metrobus
You can use metrobus for areas and/or hours with heavy traffic. Metrobus departs at approximately 1-minute intervals in the morning, and at night (between 01.00-05.30), trips are organized at half-hour or 1-hour intervals.
Please visit https://www.iett.istanbul/en for more information.
Metro & Tram
As a wide network, the metro and the tram system of Istanbul enables easy access to the majority of districts on each side of the city. The list of metro lines are as follows: M1 line (Aksaray to Kirazli), M2 line (Haciosman to Yenikapi) and M3 line (Kirazli to Olimpiyat, Basaksehir) operate on the European side and M4 line (Kadikoy to Sabiha Gokcen Airport) and M5 (Uskudar to Yamanevler) on the Asian.
Trams can also be considered a rapid and efficient means in travelling around the most popular areas of the city. The list of tram lines are as follows: Bagcilar to Kabatas (T1 line), which goes through Eminonu and Sultanahmet; Topkapi to Mescid-i Selam (T4 line), Eminonu-Alibeykoy (T5 line); the two nostalgic trams, first being between Taksim and Tunel (T2 line) through Istiklal Street on the European side and the other, Kadikoy to Moda (T3 line) through Bahariye Street on the Asian Side.
Two funicular lines are also available: F1 line connecting Kabatas to Taksim and F2 line Karakoy to Tunel, which is at the end of the Istiklal Street. Dating back to the 19th century, the latter is one of the oldest in the world.
For more on the Istanbul Railway Network and the map for all lines, please visit: https://www.metro.istanbul/en/
Marmaray & Gebze-Halkali Train System
Marmaray, the tube tunnel under the Marmara inner sea connecting Europe and Asia, is 76 kilometers in length and enables passage between the two sides within just minutes. Travelling between Kazlicesme and Yenikapi (through Sirkeci) on the European side and Ayrilik Cesmesi through Uskudar on the Asian side is efficient through the Marmaray. For more information, please visit: www.marmaray.gov.tr
Being in service as of March 2019, the Gebze-Halkali Suburban Train System is also a part of the Marmaray network.
Ferries & Sea-Bus
Travelling all across the Bosphorus Strait is easy, cheap and pleasant thanks to the ferries (Sehir Hatlari), running between the two sides in every 15-20 minutes from 7 am until 11 pm. The main ferry docks include but are not limited to Karakoy, Kabatas, Besiktas and five in Eminonu on the European side as well as Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian side.
Ferries
Bosphorus Cruise by Ferry (short duration) – The ferry leaves Eminonu Pier at 14:40 for a two-hour circular tour and stops at Uskudar and Ortakoy Piers respectively and returns to Eminonu at 16:40. The fee is 65 TRY for adults and 32 TRY for children under the age of 12. This tour is available everyday between 18 September 2023-16 June 2024.
Full Bosphorus Cruise (long duration) – The ferry leaves Eminonu Pier at 10:35 for a six-hour circular tour and stops at Besiktas, Uskudar, Kanlica, Sariyer, Rumelikavagi and Anadolu Kavagi Piers. Upon arriving in Anadolu Kavagi at about 12:25, free time is available till 15:00. The tour ends in Eminonu at 16:40 and the fee is 120 TRY and 60 TRY for children under the age of 12. This tour is available everyday between 18 September 2023-16 June 2024.
For more information on the Istanbul Public Ferry Lines, routes, timetables and fees, please visit: https://www.sehirhatlari.istanbul/en
Sea-buses operate within the city and in between various cities around the Marmara Sea. Bostanci-Besiktas and Bostanci-Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bakirkoy lines run within the city. The four inter-city sea-bus lines are as follows: 1) Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Armutlu-Bursa, 2) Bostanci-Yenikapi-Cinarcik-Esenkoy, 3) Bostanci-Yenikapi-Marmara Avsa Island, 4) Kadikoy-Yenikapi-Bursa lines.
Please visitwww.ido.com.tr for official information.
Yellow Shared Taxi (Dolmus)
These public taxis running on a fixed, short, circular route are commonly used by the locals as they are quite practical as a means of transportation through the city. Fares, costing a bit more than buses, are fixed and paid in cash upon boarding. Please find below some of the main Dolmus lines:
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
Taxis are typically yellow and blue in color and have signs on top. Commonly used by the locals, taxis are very easy to find almost anywhere on the streets and cost less compared to the European standards. Slightly more expensive than the more common yellow ones, blue taxis are still very affordable. The opening fee of taximeter is 19,17 TRY and 13,75 TRY is charged per kilometer and the fee is standard around the clock.
Currency
The official currency of Türkiye is the Turkish Lira (TRY) and bank notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 TRY and coins in 5, 10, 25 and 50 kurus and 1 lira.
Changing Money
Exchange offices are commonly available around the city and work between the hours 09.00 to 17.00 mostly from Monday to Friday. 7/24 exchange offices are available at the airports upon arrival. Besides, the exchange offices in shopping malls and touristic areas are open during later hours and on Saturdays.
ATM
ATMs with foreign language options are available for cash withdrawal in TRY. Although limits may change from bank to bank, they are usually around 3000 TRY to 5000 TRY.
Credit Cards
Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Diner’s are commonly used and accepted.
Business and Banking Hours
The working hours for offices and banks are 09.00 to 17.00 from Mondays to Fridays, and the lunch break is between 12.00 and 13.00.
Time zone
GMT+3
Plug Type
Type F is the standard power plug and socket and the standard voltage is 220 V and frequency is 50 Hz.
What's the weather like in Istanbul in October?
October can be considered the beginning of autumn in Istanbul, with low temperatures and higher chances of rainfall, which is no longer the beach weather despite the warm and pleasant atmosphere.
Though temperatures may reach up to 19°C in average, the standard for October in Istanbul is 16°C. 35°C is the highest temperature ever recorded in the area at this time of the year, which makes it hard to rule out the possibility of doing a little sunbathing. The northern parts of the city are cooler; the average temperatures change between 14°C and 15°C in the villages of the Sariyer district, which is to the north. Temperatures fall to 12°C in average at night.
Emergency Numbers
Police 155
Ambulance 112
Fire station 110
Telephone Codes
Country telephone code: +90
City telephone code: +90216 (for Asian side) & +90212 (for European Side)
International dialing: 00 +country code+ phone number
Visas
We kindly encourage MARUF speakers and participants to obtain their visas for Türkiye individually. The information provided is only meant as guidance. Visa is required for entering the country; however it is possible for most foreign nationals to obtain one at Türkiye’s airports or border gates upon entry. Information on visas is subject to change; therefore we kindly ask you to check the following webpage for more on visa requirements:http://www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa. For the online visa application system, please visit:www.evisa.gov.tr