During your stay in Istanbul we absolutely advise you to use Istanbulkart for public transport in the city, which is the most convenient way to get around and get to all areas easily (Istanbul public transport card) . Istanbul is a very large city, spread over an area of 5000 km², built on 7 hills. The Turkish state therefore took on the problems of travel and ever-increasing frequentation, one of the main subjects of urban development. Every day thousands of cars use the roads, bridges and tunnels on both sides. In order to streamline the road arteries and relieve traffic congestion, the state is increasing the construction of new metro such as the Marmaray “railway tunnel” (train passing 60 meters under the Bosphorus) among others.
Transport in Istanbul:
In Istanbul a range of public transport is available: Buses / metro / metro buses / dolmus / minibuses / Marmaray / trams / boats / funiculars. To be able to save your transport budget in Istanbul, while saving time, Alltourstoturkey advises you to buy Istanbulkart for 10 tl to also facilitate your trips. Istanbulkart is sold in kiosks called “büfe” often near metro stations, piers, bus stations. istanbulkart does not work for minibuses and dolmus.
How Istanbulkart works:
After purchasing your Istanbulkart, you just have to load it (credit) it at the büfe, or in the machines provided for this purpose, placed near the subways or the piers. Take into account that on average a trip costs 3.50 tl, you just have to decide how much you want to put there (rechargeable at any time, day and night, as many times as you want).
Istanbulkart is not nominative, so you can also use it for the people accompanying you.The person will only have to collect your card in order to scan it in turn, (no fears, no laws ‘prevents this action) on the other hand, you will not benefit from the deduction made for the second passage, ie: I take the metro at 3.50 tl then the Marmaray for example, the second means of transport will cost you a little less (without count the credit recovery at the exit from Marmaray)
Public transport is free for children under 12 years old.
Your Istanbulkart public transport card is empty and you cannot pass, do not worry, an audio signal will inform you loud and clear: “that you do not have enough credit in your card”, you do not have any left. than direct you to a terminal to credit it.
How much does the Istanbulkart public transport card cost: 10tl with the purchase, you can add color protection which will cost you 10tl more. Istanbulkart can be used anywhere in the whole city, there is no expiration date, it remains valid all year, all life.
How to top up your Istanbulkart?
Deposit your card in the slot provided, put your banknote in the slot, then wait a few seconds before picking up your card. a new amount displayed on the screen will confirm that the card has been reloaded. * If you retrieve it too quickly, you risk canceling the upload, and losing the amount inserted. Many foreign languages are available to facilitate loading Turkish, English, German, Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese, Russian or Spanish.
Must know:
If you don’t have a card and buy a token from the machines, it will cost you 5 TL each way, instead of 7.50 TL with Istanbulkart (Istanbul public transport card). If you do not pay with your own card, you will not benefit from the reductions after several trips. If you lose your card, you lose your credits, therefore voyage Turkey advises you to top it up as and when the “büfe” do not accept not bank cards for recharging Istanbulkart (in cash) and from 10 tl Children under 12 do not need ISTANBULKART.
- Do not forget to collect credit after your journey in Marmaray, refund machines for this purpose are located at the exit from the stations, you just have to touch the screen with your card and the credit depending on the length of your journey will be refunded.
Getting to airports by public transport:
There is no other means than the road to get to Istanbul and Gökçen Airports no metro yet) taxis, airport shuttles, private transfer (which we can organize for you) Each city has its transport card. You cannot travel to Izmir, Ankara, Antalya… with Istanbulkart card. Each city has its own transport card: collection idea during your trip to Turkey.