Istanbul Public Transport Guide — Metro, Tram & Ferry
Complete guide to metro, tram, bus, ferry, and Istanbulkart.
Istanbulkart
Essential rechargeable card. Works on all transport. Buy from machines at metro stations. ~70 TL (50 TL credit).
Metro
Fast and expanding. Key lines: M1 (airport-Aksaray), M2 (Taksim-Levent), M7 (Kabataş-Mahmutbey). Runs 6AM-midnight.
Tram
T1 line is most useful: Kabataş-Sultanahmet-Grand Bazaar-Aksaray. Every 5 min. Great for tourist areas.
Ferry
Cheapest Bosphorus experience! Eminönü-Kadıköy, Beşiktaş-Üsküdar. ~10 TL with Istanbulkart. Scenic and practical.
Bus
Extensive network. Most useful for areas not covered by metro/tram. İETT buses accept Istanbulkart only.