Transportation in Istanbul

Whether you plan to sightsee on your own or take a tour in Istanbul, I highly recommend buying an Istanbulkart.

The Istabnulkart works for the tram, metro, ferry, and bus and can be purchased (and then reloaded) at the yellow vending machines at tram and subway stops. Use the buttons to get to the English instructions.

One Istanbulkart can be used for multiple people. While the machines take Turkish liras and credit cards, I’ve had more success reloading with cash than with a card.

The public transportation system is very good and easy to navigate on both continents. I would advise against using taxis.