Istanbul, Turkey

Getting around Istanbul

How to travel around Istanbul — 5 options, what they cost, and which booking apps fix the fare before you go.

Last updated 2026-08-08

1. Istanbulkart

One card for metro, tram, bus, funicular, metrobus and the public ferries.

Cost: Card ~70 TRY plus fares
Tip: Buy it at any machine on arrival — most transport will not take cash at all.

2. Public ferry between continents

The scheduled commuter ferry across the Bosphorus, on a transit fare.

Cost: Standard transit fare with Istanbulkart

Watch outTourist 'Bosphorus cruises' sold on the waterfront cover nearly the same water at many times the price.

3. T1 tram

Runs through Sultanahmet and over the Galata Bridge, covering most of the historic sights.

Watch outPickpocketing is concentrated on this line and at its stops during peak hours.

4. BiTaksi

App for hailing licensed metered taxis.

Watch outDefuses the 'broken meter', the higher night tariff applied during the day, and the long-route padding.

5. Marmaray

Rail tunnel under the Bosphorus linking the European and Asian suburbs.

Cost: Standard transit fare

Booking apps in Turkey

Agreeing the fare in an app before you travel removes the argument at the end of the journey, which is where most transport scams happen. Links go to each app's official page — lookalike apps are themselves a scam.

BiTaksi

Hails licensed metered taxis, the standard Turkish taxi app.

Coverage: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Antalya.
Why it helps: The meter is recorded in the app, defusing the higher night-tariff and 'broken meter' routines.

Uber

In Turkey this dispatches licensed taxis rather than private cars.

Coverage: Istanbul mainly.
Why it helps: Fare is agreed in the app before the trip, and the route is recorded — which removes the refused meter, the tampered meter and the fixed 'foreigner price' in one move.

Istanbulkart

Stored-value card for metro, tram, bus, funicular and the public ferries.

Coverage: Istanbul.
Why it helps: The public ferry on this card costs a fraction of a tourist cruise on nearly the same route.