You can use İstanbulkart for all public transportation in İstanbul. This includes boats, subways, buses, tramways and funiculars.

Small kiosks near bus stations, metro stations, and piers are the points to pick up your İstanbulkart. It has a deposit fee of 50 TL that is to be paid to obtain your brand new İstanbulkart, then you can use the same card to add credit. Keep in mind that most trips cost approximately 7,70 TL each way.

For more information, you can visit the website of the municipality. Another alternative for finding all public transportation schedules is the Trafi App on Google Play or App Store.

The metro and the tram system of İstanbul have a wide network and provide easy access to many of the major points both in the European and Asian sides.

Subway (Metro) runs daily from 6:00 to midnight.

• M1A Yenikapı-Atatürk Airport Metro Line:



M1A Yenikapı - Atatürk Airport is the first rail system operation of Metro İstanbul. The line, which constitutes the first part of M1 operation, starts from Yenikapı integration zone, passes through Bayrampaşa region and reaches to Otogar Station. Following the direction of Merter, passing through Zeytinburnu and extending to Atatürk Airport, M1A Line connects the Suriçi region to the airport.

• M1B Yenikapı-Kirazlı Metro Line:



M1B operation is carried out jointly between Yenikapı and Otogar stations with M1A line. Separated after Otogar Station, the line passes through Esenler and Bağcılar Square and ends in integration with M3 Kirazlı-Olimpiyat-Başakşehir metro line at Kirazlı region.

• M2 Yenikapı-Seyrantepe-Hacıosman Metro Line:



The first stage of the line, which was started to be built in 1992 to provide service between Yenikapı and Hacıosman, was commissioned on September 16th, 2000. It also has the branch line to Seyrantepe district from Sanayi Mahallesi Station, which is located on the main line.

• M3 Kirazlı-Başakşehir/Metrokent Metro Line:



Construction of the line was started in 2006 and the line serves in between Kirazlı and Başakşehir / Metrokent stations.

• M4 Kadıköy-Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro Line (Asian side):



The line starts from Kadıköy and moves along D100 route in Acıbadem region, following this route up to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

• M5 Üsküdar-Çekmeköy Metro Line (Asian side):



M5 Line is the second metro line of the Anatolian Side, and it is the first driverless metro line in Turkey. The line starts at Üsküdar Square then passes through Ümraniye district centre and ends at Çekmeköy Square.

• M6 Levent-Boğaziçi University/Hisarüstü Metro Line:



M6 Metro Line ensures the access of passengers arriving from M2 Yenikapı - Hacıosman Metro Line to Boğaziçi University and Hisarüstü area.

• M7 Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey Metro Line:



M7 Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey Metro Line is commissioned as the first fully automatic driverless metro of the European side of İstanbul and passes through Şişli, Kağıthane, Eyüpsultan, Gaziosmanpaşa, Esenler and Bağcılar districts where approximately 3 million people live.

• M9 Bahariye-Olimpiyat Metro Line:



Bahariye and Masko stations of the first stage of M9 Ataköy- Olimpiyat Metro Line is commissioned on May 29th, 2021. M9 Line was combined with İkitelli Sanayi, Ziya Gökalp Olimpiyat stations that provide shuttle operation within M3 Line and started providing services between Bahariye-Olimpiyat stations.

For more information, please visit the official website of metro lines. Another alternative for finding all public transportation schedules is the Trafi App on Google Play or App Store.

• T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar Tram Line:



It was originally built between Sirkeci and Aksaray and then connected to Topkapı and Zeytinburnu directions. Line is now extended up to Eminönü Station and passes over Galata Bridge and connects to Fındıklı.

• T3 Kadıköy-Moda Tram Line (Asian Side, also called Nostalgic Tram Line):



Kadıköy-Moda Tram Line starts from Kadıköy Square, follows the reserved bus lane and reaches Bahariye Street, and finally arrives back to Kadıköy Square via Moda Street.

• T4 Topkapı - Mescid-i Selam Tram Line:



Line was started of the Sultançiftliği and Gaziosmanpaşa area and between the Şehitlik and Mescid-i Selam stations. Finally, the line reached Topkapı passing through Edirnekapı and Vatan areas.

• T5 Cibali-Alibeyköy Coach Station Tram Line:



The line is in between Cibali and Alibeyköy Coach Stations. It is designed in a way to not to harm the historical texture and not to damage any historical structure, since the line is located parallel to the route of the Historic Peninsula and the coastline.

For more information, please visit the municipality's website.

The İstanbul nostalgic tramways are two heritage tramlines in the city of İstanbul, Turkey.

The city has two completely separate heritage tram systems, one on the European side (the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway, aka. T2 line), the other on the Asian side (the Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway, aka. T3 line. Please check The Tram section).

• T2 Taksim-Tünel Nostalgic Tram Line:



The length of the European side Taksim-Tünel (T2) tramline is 1.6 kilometers (0.99 mi), with 5 stops, Taksim, Odakule, Galatasaray, Ağa Cami and Tünel (Şişhane). The line runs between Taksim and Tünel via İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue). This road was formerly used by tram, bus & car.

• F1 Taksim - Kabataş Funicular Line:



Taksim-Kabataş Funicular Line integrates maritime and rail-based transport. Taksim and Kabataş stops are the only two stops of this line.

• F4 Boğaziçi University/Hisarüstü-Aşiyan Funicular Line:



The line is built between Rumeli Hisarüstü region and Aşiyan Park located on the Bosphorus coast. The line facilitates access between the Bosphorus coast and Büyükdere Street with only two stops in the entire line.

Buses are definitely the cheapest and the most economic means of transport, though they are usually overcrowded and it’s not easy to find out which one you should catch. The IETT website has various maps and mechanisms for getting information on the system which are unfortunately in Turkish only.
For more information, please visit the municipality's website. Another alternative for finding all public transportation schedules is the Trafi App on Google Play or App Store.

There is also a private lined express bus service which is called Metrobus.
It serves for hundred thousands of locals daily, and provides a fast transportation in between the two ends of Asian side and the European side.
The metro buses operate in 1 to 2 minute intervals has 10 lines and 44 stations in total. Depending on the line, they run between 1:00 and 5:30 every 30 to 60 minutes.

• 34 (Avcılar - Zincirlikuyu)
• 34A (Cevizlibağ - Söğütlüçeşme)
• 34AS (Avcılar - Söğütlüçeşme)
• 34B (Beylikdüzü - Avcılar)
• 34BZ (Beylikdüzü - Zincirlikuyu)
• 34C (Beylikdüzü - Cevizlibağ)
• 34G (Beylikdüzü - Söğütlüçeşme)
• 34T (Avcılar - Topkapı)
• 34Z (Zincirlikuyu - Söğütlüçeşme)
• 34U (Uzunçayır - Zincirlikuyu)

The Dolmuş (yellow shared taxi) is a public taxi runs on a fixed, short, circular route. It is an easy and practical way of transportation through the city. The shared taxis do not drive until all seats are occupied. Many locals use Dolmuş. The price depends on your destination and is paid directly to the driver in cash upon boarding (a little more than the bus).

Below are some of the main Dolmuş circular lines in İstanbul.

• From Kadıköy to Taksim, Nişantaşı, Şişli, Üsküdar and Bostancı
• From Bostancı to Taksim, Şişli and Pendik
• From Üsküdar to Kadıköy, Acıbadem and Beykoz
• From Beşiktaş to Taksim and Harbiye
• From Taksim to Beşiktaş, Aksaray and Bakirkoy

Ferries operate between the European and Asian side of the city, between the area north and south of the Golden Horn, and between the mainland and the Princes' Islands. They also drive through the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea.
İstanbul Public Ferry Liners Şehir Hatları is a subsidiary of İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality.
With a total of 22 routes, it carries out 600 trips a day via 50 ship terminals.
Prices vary according to the line chosen. You can also find all İstanbul public ferry lines' routes, timetables and prices on the municipality's website.

• Inner İstanbul Ferry Lines:
• Kadıköy – Kabataş Line
• Kadıköy – Karaköy – Eminönü Line
• Üsküdar – Karaköy – Eminönü Line
• Kadıköy – Beşiktaş Line
• Haliç Line
• Kadıköy – Karaköy – Beşiktaş Line
• Bostancı – Karaköy – Kabataş Line
• Üsküdar – Aşiyan Line
• Aşiyan – Anadolu Hisarı – Küçüksu Circuit Line
• Kadıköy – Kasımpaşa – Fener – Sütlüce – Eyüp Line
• Bostancı – Moda – Kadıköy – Kabataş Line
• Avcılar – Bakırköy – Kadıköy Line
• Çengelköy – Kabataş Line
• Avcılar – Bostancı Line
• Beşiktaş – Kabataş – Karaköy – Kasımpaşa – Sütlüce – Eyüp Line


• Bosphorus Lines:
• To Bosphorus - From Bosphorus Line
• Anadolu Kavağı - Rumeli Kavağı – Sarıyer Line
• Küçüksu - Beşiktaş – Kabataş Line
• Çengelköy – İstinye Line
• Kadıköy – Sarıyer Line
• Anadolu Kavağı – Üsküdar Line
• Ortaköy - Üsküdar – Kadıköy Line
• Rumeli Kavağı – Eminönü Line
• Küçüksu – İstinye Line
• Bebek – Emirgan Line
• Beykoz – Sarıyer Line


• Adalar (Princes’ Islands) Lines:
• Kabataş - Adalar Line
• Adalar - Beşiktaş Line
• Bostancı - Adalar Circuit Line
• Maltepe – Büyükada – Heybeliada – Burgazada – Kınalıada Lines

Uber re-launched operations in 2021 and now works with the yellow and turquoise taxis of the metropolis. You can arrange your ride by using the Uber app. There is also a price calculator that calculates the approximate cost in advance, which will help you plan your trip.
The most common taxis are the yellow ones, but there are also turquoise and black taxis, which are more luxurious but also more expensive. In Turkey, city or county authorities set taxi fares. Another popular application is the BiTaksi app, which allows you to book a cab from your smartphone and pay without cash.

Note: We advise choosing Uber over common local taxis as local taxis are generally disliked by the local people. If you have to use yellow taxis, make sure to check that the taxi-meter is always turned on.