A funicular is a cable railway system that connects places along a railway track. The system of the funicular is built within two counterbalanced carriages that are permanently attached to one another with a haulage cable, and it provides a way to loop around the beginning and the endpoints defined. The name comes from the Latin language, where funis mean rope.

The Funicular Lines

Although Istanbul is a massive city with many different local transportations, the funicular lines are not as much as metro lines. There are a few funicular lines, and a few planned to be built in the near future. The funiculars are primarily located in the very center spots of Istanbul. For now, they only exist in the European side of the city. Here are the funicular lines you’ll need while discovering Istanbul.

Taksim – Kabatas (F1) line: This line might be the most popular line of Istanbul’s funicular lines. As you might already know, Taksim is one of the most preferred places by tourists when visiting Istanbul. The F1 line, which consists of Taksim and Kabatas, will allow you to hop on a ferry to cross between the Asian and European sides from Kabatas Pier, enjoy the air of the sea, and the Bosphorus sightseeing and crossing to the Taksim Square in only 3 minutes.

Sishane – Karakoy (F2) line: Sishane – Karakoy funicular line would be the next most popular funicular in Istanbul. Just like the F1 line, you can also enjoy the air of the sea and a Bosphorus tour with the ferry lines in Karakoy. You can pass quickly to Sishane, which is the continuation of Taksim Square and Istiklal Avenue.

These are the main two actively running funicular lines. There is also a funicular line that connects a large shopping mall named Vadistanbul and Seyrantepe (F3 line). Both of the places are not much in the city center.

Places to Go with the Funicular

You can visit many places in the city center of the European side of Istanbul while using the funicular lines. The places you may visit are mentioned above but not limited to them. You can use other local transportation services such as the metro and metrobus to broaden the places you’d like to visit while discovering Istanbul. You can wander around Istiklal Avenue and do some shopping or just sit in local cafes and enjoy the delicious Turkish food and coffee. You may even want to check the cafes where you can request fortune-telling. They are prevalent, especially in the Taksim district with the funicular.

Frequency and Things to Know About the Funicular

The frequency of the funicular lines depends on the demand. But fortunately, both popular lines of Karakoy – Sishane (F2 line) and Taksim – Kabatas (F1 line) are very frequent. The funicular of both lines passes through every 5 minutes from each way. The F1 funicular line works between 6 AM and 12 AM, while the F2 line works between 7 AM and 11 PM.

Also, keep in mind that you will need a transportation card called Istanbulkart or a one-way pass ticket. Suppose you are visiting Istanbul for more than 3 days. In that case, we suggest you get an Istanbulkart as this card’s fee is way cheaper than one-way tickets in terms of transportation in Istanbul. Keep in mind that the one-way pass ticket costs you around 13 Turkish liras.

Other Transportation Options and Touristic Transportation Lines of Istanbul

As Istanbul is a huge city, so is its local transportation! There are many local transportation opportunities to make your discovery easier in many ways! Let’s check the main transportations in Istanbul:

1. Ferry Lines: Ferries are used mainly for crossing between the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. 

2. Metrobus Line: It is a transportation service that functions 24/7. The Metrobus line of Istanbul is very long, and you can also travel between both sides of Istanbul with the metrobus line. 

3. Metro Lines: Istanbul has around 10 different lines, and some are connected with each other. 

4. Tram Lines: Trams are very similar to metrobus, but trams always have their own way, just like trains. The European side of Istanbul has 3 different tram lines while the Asian side has only 1 line.

5. Bus Lines: There are hundreds of bus lines in Istanbul, and unfortunately, there is no popular line as all the lines are very much essential. The lines you choose would depend on where you’d like to visit.

6. Marmaray: This is the newest transportation line. There is only one line of Marmaray, but it also goes between both sides. 

You can use Istanbulkart for all local transportations. The transportation fee may vary between the transportation options. If you want to explore the whole city of Istanbul, we recommend you to get an Istanbul map where it shows the transportation opportunities and the shortest transportation ways.

Most Popular Dolmuş Routes

There are countless dolmuş routes here in Istanbul, as the city is vast and crowded. But of course, some routes are more popular than others. Here are some of the most popular routes of dolmuş:

• Besiktas – Harbiye: This line goes between the Besiktas Pier and Harbiye, part of a very well-known neighborhood, Nisantasi. This route starts in both ways, and it's very popular as the main stops are also very popular places in the city.

• Bostanci – Kadikoy: This dolmuş route is the most popular route for the Asian side of Istanbul. It starts directly from the Kadikoy Pier and goes through Bostanci Marmaray station. This doll line passes through the coastline of Bagdat Avenue, which is one of the most attractive places for shopping and having food and drinks.

• Besiktas – Taksim: The line is another very central line for dolmuş, so it’s the most crowded. You can go to Taksim Square with this line and enjoy the atmosphere of Istiklal Avenue or enjoy the coastline in Besiktas and maybe hop on a ferry and enjoy the air of the sea!

• Kadikoy – Taksim: This line usually works through the night shifts. Kadikoy – Taksim dolmuş line would be the lifesaver of people who reside on both sides and spend their nights on the opposite side. After around 12 AM, all of the local transportation services in Istanbul close, including the Metrobus. So, this would be your only option after 12 AM to cross between both sides of Istanbul.

• Besiktas – Etiler: Etiler is a prestigious place, but you need to transfer a lot between the local transportation lines to get there if you don't have a car or don't use a taxi. Thanks to dolmuş, it's straightforward to get there from Besiktas with a few people in it, unlike the very crowded buses of Istanbul! You can also get off in Ortakoy or Bebek which are on the route of this dolmus. 

Things To Know About Dolmuş

As dolmuş is not a taxi, yes, it might look like it but sorry for that, there would also be around 10 people when the whole car is full. It's kind of like the carpooling system, people have someplace to go, and they pay the driver according to the distance. But unfortunately, there is a rule that you need to pay 2.5 Turkish liras even if the distance is too close. For example, you took the dolmuş, and you'd like to hop off in a place where it is 400 meters away from the place you took it. Still, they need to charge an amount of 2.5 Turkish liras for that! 

Also, sometimes they pass through you even if you try to stop them. It's because they are full. Don't be upset, they pass through the route around every 2-3 mins, especially during the day. Another note would be that the prices of the routes may vary, but dolmuş would cost you around 5 Turkish liras per ride. But keep in mind that the Besiktas – Kadikoy line is more expensive than the other lines as they need to pass through the Bosphorus Bridge to cross to the Asian side of Istanbul. This local transportation service line would be around 8-10 Turkish liras per ride.

Dolmuş's Difference Between Taxis

Both dolmuş and taxis are a lifesaver, there is no argument to that! They are both yellow and work 24/7 at your service. But on the other hand, taxis don't have a particular route to go on while dolmuş has. Taxis can go anywhere you like unless you pay them, just like in the other countries.

Local Transportation Services In Istanbul

As Istanbul is a very big city, there are tons of transportation options here. You may not need to use a taxi or a car as there are a lot of local transportation services. You can take the metro, metrobus, bus, ferry, Marmaray, funicular or dolmuş instead of paying so much to taxis. You can check all the local transportation options of Istanbul from Istanbul's main transportation website. Please note that you will need to have an Istanbulcard or a one-way pass to be able to use most of the local transportation services in Istanbul. The only transportation in Istanbul that you wouldn't need to have an Istanbulcard is dolmuş!

As you will pay according to your route and distance, you don't need to have Istanbulcard with you when you use dolmuş. But don't forget to bring some cash with you if you have coins. It's much preferred by them. Unfortunately, they don't accept credit cards or other payment methods rather than cash! We hope you find all the information about dolmuş you need from our article! You can learn about some local suggestions and other transportation options from the website. Enjoy reading and enjoy your trip too, stay safe

History Of Marmaray

Marmaray is the modern, high-capacity railway system that connects two sides of Istanbul, the European and Asian sides, together with one vehicle, without any transfer or interruption. Marmaray, which has a 76.6 km long railway line and 43 stations, is a project to provide rail transportation through the sinking tube tunnel built under the sea in the Bosphorus of Istanbul. The idea of building a railway tunnel under the Bosphorus of Istanbul to travel between two continents was first put forward in 1860.

However, it was impossible to make such a detailed project with the technology of that time. This project was evaluated from a more advanced perspective in the following 20-30 years. Still, it was always at the idea stage. Then, with technological developments and issues related to the increasing population of Istanbul and traffic jams, this project was brought out of mothballs and re-evaluated. Marmaray, started its service for public use upon its construction on March 12, 2019, is one of the most preferred public vehicles in Istanbul, with an average of 136,000 daily passengers.

Things to Know about Marmaray

Marmaray has 43 stops between Gebze and Halkalı. Adult fare is calculated upon the number of stops between the stations you travel to. The adult tariff is 4.03 Turkish Lira for 1-7 stops and 8.91 Turkish Lira for 36-43 stops. If you have traveled less or more than the specified number of stops (e.g., five stops), you can refund the fee charged to the vending machines at the stations. To use Marmaray, you need to have Istanbulkart. You can get the Istanbulkart from offices or ticket machines (Biletmatik) throughout Istanbul. The Istanbukart fee is 13 Turkish Lira.

Marmaray runs every 15 minutes between Gebze and Halkalı stations and every 8 minutes between Ataköy and Pendik stations. The average travel time between Gebze Halkalı stations is 108 minutes. On Marmaray, there are 287 daily trips including 148 trips between Gebze and Halkalı stations and 139 trips between Pendik Ataköy stations. The first trip from Gebze to Halkalı direction is at 06.05, and the last trip is at 22.50. In contrast, the first trip from the Halkalı to Gebze direction is at 05:58, and the last trip is at 22:58 local time in Turkey.

Tourist Attractions You Can Visit By Using Marmaray

There are many historical, touristic, and natural attractions within walking distance from Marmaray stations that you can visit. We will give you brief information about these places that must be on your things-to-do list while discovering Istanbul.

You can reach many historical and tourist places in Istanbul by walking from Marmaray Sirkeci Station, which is within walking distance of the Historical Sirkeci Railway Station. Historical Sirkeci Railway Station is a global stop for hosting passengers of Oriental Railway with its Orientalist architecture building designed by German architect August Jachmund, which was opened for public use during the reign of Sultan 2. Abdulhamid.

Topkapi Palace, which was built with the order of Fatih Sultan Mehmed in 1478, was many Ottoman sultan's residences and was used as the administrative center of the empire for 400 years during the Ottoman Empire era. Nowadays, the palace is used as a museum and welcomes history lovers from all over the world every year.

Another tourist attraction within walking distance of Marmaray Sirkeci Station is the Süleymaniye Mosque. Renowned Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan built the Süleymaniye Mosque between 1551 and 1557, on behalf of Suleyman the Magnificent as a part of the Suleymaniye Complex. The Suleymaniye Mosque, one of the most important examples of classical Ottoman architecture, is one of the places that you should visit while you're discovering Istanbul.

The Basilica Cistern, also popularly known as the Yerebatan Sarnıcı, was a cistern built by the Byzantine Emperor Basil I Decadent. It is a magnificent building consisting of marble columns rising from the water. The Cistern is one of the most famous tourist attractions of Istanbul thanks to its breathtaking appearance and because Dan Brown mentioned it in one of his bestseller novels Inferno. You can reach the Basilica Cistern by walking from Marmaray Sirkeci Station.

Bagdat Street, one of the first places that come to mind when it comes to shopping and entertainment in Istanbul, is an outdoor shopping center with many world-famous stores. You can easily reach Bagdat Street by walking from Suadiye Marmaray Station.

In the past years, sea taxis were given a permit in Istanbul. If you have already been to Istanbul or are here and couldn’t see any sea taxis, that would be the main reason. But, luckily, as of 2021, they are back on track! The main objective of bringing sea taxis back to the field is to reduce pollution. Now you can discover Istanbul and its both continents by going back and forth on a taxi on the sea!

Transportation in Istanbul is given the utmost importance as this is a huge city with millions living in it. Naturally, various transportation services are provided, and many more emerge as the days go by, such as sea taxis. We can define sea taxis as a local transportation service in Istanbul that has a capacity of 10 people. The sea taxis operate 24/7 with more than 20 destinations. They mostly work better when people reside on one side and work on the other side of Istanbul as they would need the fastest solution to get into their work. There are other local transportation services here in Istanbul, but you can’t feel how the sea air feels except for ferries. As you can imagine, ferries are mostly crowded, and there are some hours and routes for the ferries. Sea taxis don’t have routes or hours. You are always welcome to call a sea taxi whenever you want.

The Fares Of The Sea Taxi

The customers will be able to order or call sea taxis to where they are via IBB Deniz Taksi online application. The taxis are working with a fee charged, which increases per mile. The opening fee for boats with a capacity of 10 passengers will be 210,00 Turkish Liras (around $8.00). Still, an additional fare will be charged per mile after exceeding a certain distance.

Customers are required to pay 155,00 Turkish liras ($5.93) per mile between 1 and 4 miles, 125,00 Turkish liras ($4.78) per mile between 4 and 8 miles, and 100,00 Turkish liras ($3.83) per mile after 8 miles for sea taxis. The Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality also plans to introduce the “shared taxi” concept soon, aiming to reduce the fares to a more reasonable price per passenger.

Suppose 10 people use the sea taxi together, which would fulfill the quota of the local transportation. In that case, the dolmus model can be applied. The opening fee would be 10 TL per person. According to the decision taken at the municipality meeting held on September 30, the opening fee is 100 TL for those who want to use the water taxi alone. After a certain mile is exceeded, the fee per mile will be added. For example: Uskudar-Besiktas 100 TL, Kadikoy-Beylerbeyi 361 TL, Bostanci-Kinaliada 257,5 TL, Buyukada-Heybeliada 112,8 TL, Buyukada-Maltepe trips will be 220 TL. These locations might be the primary and well-known destinations for sea taxis, but you can still choose other locations!

Sea Taxi And Other Local Transportation Services

There are other local transportation service opportunities to discover Istanbul rather than sea taxis. Buses, metrobus, dolmuş, metro, ferry, funicular and Marmaray. Of course, you need to choose the best local transportation opportunities according to your route preference. Still, sea taxis are one of the fastest local transportation opportunities you can get. To minimize the traffic problem, you can always choose sea taxis or ferry lines if you want to cross the sea and get fresh air with the sight of pigeons. Most people feed them with one of Istanbul’s famous fast-food, simit. You can also feed them with simit, which is kind of like a bagel. They would love it!

The Environmental Advantage Of Sea Taxis

Unlike the other transportations in Istanbul, sea taxis are much more environmentally friendly as they are already redesigned. The newest sea taxi design is an environmentally friendly vehicle that has been specially designed to be used by the disabled, families with strollers, and cyclists. The newest design of the sea taxis, which are entirely domestically fabricated in Halic Shipyard, belongs to Sinem Dedetas, the General Manager of City Lines. Sea taxis also attract attention with their environmental features. Five of these sea taxis, which will consume only about 3 liters of fuel per mile, will run on with electricity.

While designing the newest sea taxis, a lot of attention was paid to make sure that everyone would feel comfortable and appeal to every disability group. Disabled people, families with baby carriages, battery-powered vehicles, and cyclists will be able to use the new generation water taxis easily. The color of the first sea taxi designed and produced by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) was chosen by the people in Istanbul. The chosen color was a tone of blue color, which is called ‘Bosphorus,’ winning 150 percent of the total 36 thousand votes. This color is obviously very suitable for Istanbul’s main attraction, Bosphorus Bridge!

Would you like to try the sea taxi when you visit Istanbul? There is still a lot to improve within the environmental applications. However, it’s still a significant step to relaunch the sea taxis. Let us know your thoughts about the local transportation service opportunities and this relaunch of sea taxis! How about making a tour over the Bosphorus with sea taxis? Welcome to Istanbul and its diversity already

Information about the Ferry Services

Would you like to travel by public transport while enjoying an unforgettable view in Istanbul? Transportation in Istanbul makes this possible for its visitors and residents. Ferry, the number one choice of those who want to leave the crowds of the city aside for a moment and enjoy the deep blue sea, takes public transportation to the next level with its various routes and frequent voyages. The Ferry, which is among the most famous features of Istanbul, is frequently used by the local residents of the city during the day, but can also be preferred by tourists as a trip. You can also enjoy the beautiful Bosphorus and find a way to escape from the noise of the city with this journey where you can easily cross between continents.

Ferry rides are one of the cheapest and most enjoyable forms of travel in the city of Istanbul so far. Public Ferries, which are made by sea transportation, are preferred to cross the Bosphorus in the city. Ferry, which is loved and preferred by both local people and tourists, is indisputably the most enjoyable of city trips. The ferry, which is like a mini Bosphorus tour for tourists, allows you to escape from the noisy city life of Istanbul in a short time and leave yourself to the blue.

Schedules and Pricing of the Ferry 

It is possible to reach many different places from a single point with Istanbul ferry services. Ferry services, which can be provided not only for crossing but also for transportation to various districts of Istanbul, depart from many points of the city at many times of the day. You can also travel between continents in a short time by determining the route you want to go. Ferries, which depart almost every half hour during the day, serve until the evening on weekends. In rare cases, canceled ferry services reduce their voyages in stormy or snowy weather. In addition, the ferry, which runs every half hour a day during the summer months, allows you to cross from various points. Due to the cheap ferry prices, it is frequently preferred by the locals. The price of a ferry trip is approximately 6 Turkish liras. The prices, which vary according to the route you want to go, are designed to get you across the cheap way. Ferry services start around 7 in the morning and continue until 9-10 in the evening.

Most Preferred Ferry Services

Kadıköy and Karaköy ferry, which is one of the most preferred ferry services in the city in Istanbul, is among the number one ferry services since it is among the busiest points of the city. Kadıköy and Karaköy, which are especially frequented by young people, are also places where city buses depart frequently. At the same time, the Kadıköy – Eminönü ferry reduces your travel time to approximately half an hour between the longest districts of the city. Eminönü, which is a district frequently visited by tourists, especially due to its touristic places and bazaars, has become one of the points that can be reached thanks to the ferry services quickly. Ferry services vary between half an hour and an hour, so it is one of the most preferred public transportation methods, especially for pedestrian passengers to cross the Bosphorus. It may take a few hours to cross during the day due to the congestion and traffic on the highway, but thanks to the ferry services, this time is reduced to almost a third. 

Ferry services, which are preferred not only to cross the Bosphorus but also to close distant points, also have a route that takes them from the heart of Istanbul to the Islands. The islands are the natural wonders of Istanbul, and they are flooded by tourists and visitors, especially on weekends. It is very difficult to reach the Islands, which are preferred by those who want to escape from the crowds of the city, but you can get there by ferry in just a few hours. During the journey, you can both enjoy the perfect view of the Bosphorus and save on traffic.

Car Ferries 

Ferry services are not only for pedestrians. Any citizen with a small vehicle can use the ferry with a car. Bosphorus bridges are known to be crowded and full of traffic during the day, so ferries with cars are often preferred. Car ferries, which can accommodate up to fifty vehicles at a time, are frequently preferred both because they travel frequently and because they make it easier for citizens and tourists who own cars to cross the sea. 

If you are going to prefer a ferry with a car, you should know that you have to pay extra money during the boarding of the vehicle. At the same time, it is forbidden to ferry vehicles such as minibusses, buses, trucks, and tractors. Only family and personal vehicles can tour the ferry.

Types of Transport

Local transportation services in Istanbul are very diverse and are designed to meet the needs of everyone, local and foreign, regardless of the time. People from all over the city can quickly and cheaply use a local transportation service to discover Istanbul. Although the use of taxis and private vehicles is also quite common in the city, especially in recent years, people who want to escape from the city's traffic have given more weight to using local transportation services.

It is possible to choose local transportation services by land or by sea for transportation in Istanbul. By transferring between these vehicles, whichever transportation system is closer to the region where you live, you can quickly and easily get to the place you want to arrive. Discovering Istanbul will thus take place in a way that does not make you nervous, even though you are not very familiar with the city.

If you want to make your choice in favor of a land route for transportation in Istanbul, there are options such as metrobus, bus, metro, taxi, and tram. The metro is the fastest among these options due to its rail system and the most preferred by people living in Istanbul. The metro, bus, and tram stops are diverse and very developed, so you can clarify where you want to arrive before you go. Another system you can use to discover Istanbul is sea transportation, and it is the most convenient method for exploring the natural beauties of the city. Thanks to sea transportation, you can explore the Bosphorus, one of the most tourist-attracting areas of Istanbul and witness the unique greenery area. 

Therefore, if you want both fast transportation and a peaceful travel option with a view, you should put the sea route for transportation in Istanbul in the first place. There are options such as sea taxi, steamboat, and ferry for those who want to travel by sea branch of local transport services. Istanbul even names the boat and ferries under service and uses some of the ones discarded as touristic attractions. The name of the boat and ferries may derive from important historical figures, attractions, or even artists!

Seaway Transportation

One of the most popular tourist centers in Istanbul is the Princes’ Islands near the city, easily accessible via boat and ferries. Transportation to the islands has become more accessible than ever today thanks to such options as steamboats and ferries and is carried out almost every hour. In particular, Istanbul's City Line steamboats offer the opportunity to tour the Bosphorus at a low cost by departing from widely used piers such as Eminonu, Karakoy, Kadikoy, Uskudar, Besiktas.

Ferries are one of the most popular means of sea transportation in Istanbul besides steamboats. Ferries also depart from various piers, and they are also vehicles that can be used within the borders of the Marmara Region on intercity trips. Ferries have been operated by an institution called IDO for many years and provide short-term intercity trips by sea. If you want to explore the cities close to Istanbul and use the sea route while doing so, let's look at the detailed information about ferries.

Ferries And Boats

Istanbul Marine Enterprises (IDO) is one of the local transportation services in Istanbul and provides transportation for you to different places you want to explore in the Marmara Region. On Saturdays and weekdays, IDO Ferries provide transportation for Harem-Sirkeci lines between 05:00 in the morning and 11: 00 at night. If you want to take your vehicle with you when crossing from Istanbul to another city such as Bursa or Yalova, the use of a ferry is just for you. Ferries use the Harem-Sirkeci and Eskihisar-Topçular lines for their services, and the latter option is available 24 hours a day on weekdays.

Ferries stop at Eskihisar, Topçular, Yalova, Bandırma, Bursa, Marmara Island, Avşa Island, Çınarcık, Armutlu Holiday Village, Kumla and Esenköy piers in the Marmara Region. Sariyer, Besiktas, Bakırköy, Kabataş, Istinye, Sarıyer, Küçükçekmece, Sirkeci, Avcılar and Büyükçekmece are the piers where you can take the ferry on the European side of Istanbul. If you want to take the ferry from the Anatolian side, you can use the Harem, Kadıköy, Bostancı, Maltepe, Pendik, Kartal, Beykoz, Burgazada, Kınalıada, Heybeliada, Büyükada, and Tuzla piers.

Ferry tickets are 14,50 Turkish Liras. Still, if you own an Istanbulcard that you use for transportation within Istanbul, it is 14,50 TL for full tickets, 7,00 TL for students, and 10,50 TL for the social type of Istanbulkart. If you want to use the Harem-Sirkeci ferry line at these prices, you need to pay for the vehicles next to you, except for bicycles. For example, 20,00 TL is taken from motorcycles, 40,00 TL is taken from cars and minivans, and 46,00 TL is taken from minibusses. It is possible to get your ferry tickets from the IDO website, call centers, terminals, and the IDO Mobile application.

Metro Routes

Having an idea about the metro routes before starting your journey can stand you in good stead. Thus, you can arrive at the place in the intended timeframe. Here are all of the metro lines of Istanbul:

M1a Yenikapı- Atatürk Airport

The route connected Atatürk Airport with Sultanahmet and Taksim in the past, so it is safe to say that you would have nearly definitely used this line at least a couple of times. But now, it is a shorter line that goes through the residential areas of the European side of Istanbul. M1a has access to hotels around the old airport among transportation in Istanbul. The M1a route starts at Yenikapi.

M2 Yenikapi-Haciosman

Yenikapi- Haciosman metro begins in Yenikapi and stops at Taksim, Maslak, etc… Tourists prefer using this route like people live in Istanbul as it is close to many shopping centers and known areas in Istanbul. It also stops at every touristic district, such as Şişhane, a place that is between İstiklal Street and Galata.

M3 Kirazli- Olimpiyat- Basaksehir

Generally, this metro is used by Istanbulites. But if you want to go to the Mall of Istanbul, you can get off Ikitelli.

M4 Kadikoy- Tavsantepe

This metro is located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. And it goes around the Anatolian side end-to-end among the other local transportation services. Tavsantepe is the last stop, and it is close to Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Also, you can arrive at Kadikoy using Marmaray in Sirkeci, Sultanahmet or Beyazit.

M5 Uskudar- Cekmekoy

Generally, tourists don’t use this metro. Some hotels are located on this route, besides that the oldest shopping mall is found in Altunizade.

M6 Levent-Bogazici Hisarustu

M6 is another metro for transportation in Istanbul. People can go to Bogazici University, getting on at Levent. It hosts a rooted university in Istanbul and has a magnificent landscape. It is generally used by the students of Boğaziçi University and people who want to see the green side of that area.

M7 Mecidiyekoy- Mahmutbey

This route has no historical and tourist area. It starts at Mecidiyekoy and goes to Mahmutbey.

Working Hours

Metros have working hours like all local transportation services. Transportations start at 06.15 a.m. in Istanbul, and the last metro takes off at 00.00 but the M2 line. It functions until 02.00.

Fares

You may prefer using the metro for transportation in Istanbul, so you need to know the metro fares for these transports. If you have İstanbulkart, your voyages will be more feasible. For the first ride, the fare is 4,03 TL. After that, it is possible to transfer. The first transfer is 2,88 TL, third, fourth, and fifth transfers are 1,38 TL. You will travel for a much lower price with an İstanbulkart.

Rules About Transportation In Istanbul

● You have to have an İstanbulkart to get on the metro.

● You shouldn’t pass yellow lines on perron for your safety.

● Damages and the need for cleaning are informed by personnel.

● Entrance is made in the turnstile, and those who enter illegally are punished.

● You cannot bring explosive and inflammable matter.

● You can’t smoke.

● Small animals can be carried with cages, and guide dogs can get on transports, apart from predatory, reptile, venomous animals.

● Loud music can’t be listened to and can’t speak loudly during transportation in Istanbul.

● The safety of property belongs to the individual.

● Areas, which are reserved for pregnant, disabled and elders, should be left empty or given a place when needed.

● Leaning on doors is dangerous for your life throughout your transportation in Istanbul.

● No one can enter the driver’s cabin except the authorized person.

● Because of the pandemic, wearing masks has become compulsory in transport.

Transportation in Istanbul after Covid19

Covid 19 has affected all our lives. And this situation has been reflected in our travels. New rules were started in Istanbul for local transportation services. Every day, metros are cleaned by Istanbul municipality teams. Also, nanotechnological tools often are used for cleaning. Human health can be protected for a month, thanks to these tools.

People are expected to conform to the rules during transportation in Istanbul.  People have to wear masks in local transportation services because of the pandemic. Although not completely, protection is provided regarding health during the pandemic process.

Metrobus Stops

Metrobuses, which cover most of the transportation in Istanbul, are served by a metrobus line consisting of 44 stops in total. This line starts from Istanbul Beylikdüzü and extends to Söğütlüçeşme. With the development of Istanbul and the increase in the population burden, new ones are added to the metrobus stops almost every year, providing ease of transportation for people from all over the city.

Metrobus lines consist of 6 lines in total, and you have the opportunity to get on and off these lines as much as you want per day. Metrobus lines have diversified into Avcılar-Zincirlikuyu, Avcılar-Söğütlüçeşme, Beylikdüzü-Zincirlikuyu, Beylikdüzü-Cevizlibağ, Beylikdüzü-Söğütlüçeşme, Zincirlikuyu-Söğütlüçeşme. Depending on your location, you can get to the metrobus lines operated by the IETT institution in Istanbul, whichever is closest to you.

Tickets for Metrobus

To use local transportation services in Istanbul, you need to use the ticket, card, and token options. It is straightforward and fast to provide your needs, such as tokens, tickets, and cards from the toll booths established for transportation in Istanbul. Having an Istanbulcard, one of the necessary tools for your trips to the city, will be one of your most important priorities for discovering Istanbul. This card is a relatively cheap option for transportation in Istanbul. Still, the fee you pay may vary depending on the type of local transportation services you use. You can upload your Istanbulkart online from the application and fill out a card from the metro or other transport ticket offices.

You need to use your Istanbulcard by reading it to specific places in the vehicles you can use for transportation in Istanbul, such as buses, metro, trams, cable cars, Marmaray, metrobuses, and ferries. It is possible to see the amount of the collection and the cost on your card on the card reader screen.

Local Transportation Services

Traffic is a fact that is being tried to be reduced today. Still, we think that it will not intimidate you into discovering Istanbul. For this reason, tourists and locals prefer the means of transportation of Istanbul, which has a rail system, and they get to where they want quickly.

The rail systems used by close to 3 million people in Istanbul daily can be listed as Metro, Tram, cable car, nostalgic tram, funicular, and Marmaray. The most preferred of this group is undoubtedly the Istanbul metro because the metro is both an inexpensive option and the fastest way to get rid of traffic. Those who want to discover Istanbul can take the opportunity to get off at many stops using local rail transport services and travel around the city from top to bottom.

We should note that some of the indispensable means of transportation in Istanbul are those that provide transportation by land. Options such as IETT Buses, metrobus, private-public buses, minibusses, taxis offer affordable transportation that you can use on land. Especially in Istanbul, bus and metrobus services are indispensable for locals and tourists due to their fast transportation and multi-stops. It is observed that the duo of metrobus and bus is used by more than 2 million people daily. As we mentioned, you can easily use these local transportation services with Istanbulkart and benefit from discounts if you are a student and a user over a certain age.

Another transportation system that offers fast and peaceful travel options that you can use for transportation in Istanbul is the one built from the sea route. Especially during sea voyages, tourists see and fall in love with the Bosphorus, Maiden’s Tower, and other historical buildings while exploring Istanbul. The vehicles that you can use in Istanbul for transportation by sea will be sea taxis, steamboats, private boats, and engines offered by the City Lines

If you want to use public transportation of any kind in Istanbul, you will need an Istanbulkart. This magnetic card will allow you to use all public transport. You could get an Istanbulkart at almost all piers, bus stations, or metro stations.

Why Use Public Transport

There are numerous ways to transport in Istanbul. You could rent a car, get a taxi, call an Uber, and so on. However, there are a lot of perks to using public transport. For instance, fares of taking public transport are much lower than taking a taxi or renting a car. Moreover, with taxis and private cars, the risk of you getting stuck in traffic is extremely high. By using public transport, you could save more time wandering around! Here are some alternatives of public transport in Istanbul.

The Modern Tramway

On the European side of Istanbul, there are two lines of tramways in service (T1 and T4). You could use the tramway between 6 am and 11 pm. If you want to see as many good places as possible in Istanbul, you might consider using the T1 tramway line as it will allow you to visit some of the major stops in Istanbul, such as Kabataş, Karaköy, Eminönü, Sultanahmet, and Sirkeci.

The Metro (Subway)

The subway is one of the fastest ways to transport in Istanbul. It opens at 6.15 am, and you could use it until midnight. The most commonly used subway line for the European side is the M2 line that transports between Yenikapı and Hacıosman. Some of the stops of the M2 metro line are Haliç, Taksim, Osmanbey, Levent, and Marmaray (Yenikapı). By getting off at the Yenikapı station and using Marmaray, you could transport to the Asian side quickly.

The Public Ferry (Vapur)

The ferries allow you to transport between the European and Asian sides of the city.  It is also nice to be able to watch the sea as you are traveling in Istanbul. There is also no risk of traffic at all, just like the subway. Some of the ferries are available 24 hours a day but some of them usually stop at midnight.

Buses in Istanbul

There are around 400 bus lines in Istanbul. Buses generally work until midnight, but some work until later. Major stops of the buses are written all around the buses. There are screens and audio warnings that let you know which stop you are at, or which is the next stop.

• The Metrobus

Metrobuses are buses that move along certain reserved lanes to avoid traffic and congestion. Using metrobuses is extremely helpful, especially to avoid the traffic on the bridge. Another perk of using the metrobus is that it works 24/7, so you do not waste time finding a taxi or dealing with the stress of missing the bus.

A whole array of water-borne craft, ranging from privately owned (fishing) boats, over regular ferries (vapur) to a fleet of high-speed catamaran sea buses (deniz otobüsü) serve as transport around the city.

IDO, Istanbul’s Fast Ferry and Sea Bus Company, is the market leader and offers visitors and locals alike probably the most relaxing and quickest method of transportation available in Istanbul, almost as comfortable as your flight to Istanbul, Whether you want to go up and/or down the Bosphorus, travel between the European and Asian shores, or make a short trip to the Princes’ Islands, they have a suitable and cheap solution for you.

DESTINATIONS, SCHEDULE AND TICKETING DIFFERENCES

IDO operates on inner-city and inter-city lines. Inter-city lines head for places such as the Marmara Islands, Bursa or Bandırma, which are all located outside of Istanbul. For these destinations you need to make (online) reservations, preferably a few hours or a day ahead.

But in this article we’ll focus on the inner-city lines, since that is what 99.9% of tourists need during their stay in Istanbul. To avoid any confusion, the Marmara Islands mentioned earlier are NOT the same at the Princes’ Islands. If you want to visit Büyükada, you are heading for the Princes’ Islands, and they luckily are inner-city.

For inner-city lines you don’t need to make reservations. To get on board, you can either buy a token (jeton) at the pier, or use your akbil. The only exception is the Bosphorus Tour (by Night), for which you can’t use your akbil and need to pay cash to obtain a ticket.

High-Speed Ferry Or Sea Bus:

Each destination and every type of boat has its own schedule and dock (see below). Moreover, in wintertime (mid September to mid June) and summertime (mid June to mid September) different timetables apply. Timetable booklets are freely available in Turkish and English at all ferry terminals or online on the excellent İDO website.

Most of the typical tourist destinations are reachable by both types of boats. It’s up to you to decide which craft to use, based on your personal preference. Let me list the pros and cons of the two ferry types.

Conventional Ferries:

The principal ferry dock on the European side is undoubtedly Eminönü. There are four piers with the destinations clearly written outside, above the boarding hall: Bosphorus (Boğaz), Golden Horn (Haliç), Kadıköy and Üsküdar. Another important dock is located in Kabataş, where you can take a ferry to the Princes’ Islands.

On the Asian side, the main piers are located in Kadıköy (to Beşiktaş, Eminönü, Karaköy and the Princes’ Islands) and in Üsküdar (towards Beşiktaş, Eminönü and Kabataş).

Fast Ferries Or Sea Buses:

The interior of the high-speed catamaran ferries or sea buses resemble aircraft cabins, with long rows of comfortable seats and air-conditioning. The main docks are Bostancı and Kadıköy on the Asian side, and Kabataş, Yenikapı and Bakırköy on the European side. As a tourist, you’d only use this ferry type to reach the Princes’ Islands from the Kabataş pier.