In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Buy an Istanbulkart: ₺165, no deposit, not refundable. The first ride on a bus, metro, tram or funicular is ₺46.20, and transfers within 120 minutes are ₺34.40, then ₺26.42, then ₺17.18. A contactless bank card works everywhere but is charged as a single-use ticket: ₺65 on the tram and metro, ₺120 on most ferries and ₺185 on Marmaray and the M11. No cash is taken. The T1 tram runs from Kabataş through Karaköy, Eminönü, Gülhane and Sultanahmet to Bağcılar, 06:00 to 00:00. Fares double between 00:30 and 05:30. Children under 7 are free. A standard taxi starts at ₺71.94 and runs on the meter. Fares are the municipality’s tariff in force since 20 July 2026.
The three ways to pay
| Way to pay | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbulkart | ₺165 for the card, then the fare for each ride | Works on buses, metro, trams, the cable car, Marmaray, the metrobus and ferries. Transfers are discounted |
| Contactless bank card | The single-use price of the line, ₺65 for one ride | No transfer discount |
| Single-use ticket | ₺65 for 1 ride, ₺120 for 2, ₺185 for 3, ₺230 for 4, ₺275 for 5, up to ₺530 for 10 | From the ticket machines or as an SMS or web QR code |
Each line has a price in single-use rides. Bus, tram, metro, funicular and the Tünel count as one ride. Most city ferry crossings count as two, so the fare is ₺120 against ₺50 to ₺71 on an Istanbulkart. The M11 and Marmaray count as three, ₺185, against ₺37.40 to ₺82.17 on an Istanbulkart. The tariff applies the same rule to contactless bank cards (tuhim.ibb.gov.tr).
The card is sold from the BELBİM ticket machines across the city and from authorised sales points, and the tourism site says the money left on it is not refunded at the end of a visit (visit.istanbul). The card pays for itself in about nine rides on the tram or metro: it saves ₺18.80 on each first boarding against a ₺65 ticket.
The fares
| Mode | Fare with an Istanbulkart | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bus, metro, tram, funicular, Tünel, nostalgic tram | ₺46.20 first boarding; ₺34.40, ₺26.42, then ₺17.18 for transfers | Transfers within 120 minutes of the first boarding |
| Metrobus | ₺33.08 for one stop, ₺39.57 for two, ₺46.20 for three, ₺52.81 for four to nine, up to ₺68.59 for 34 or more | By number of stops |
| Marmaray | ₺37.40 for 1 to 7 stations, ₺47.74 for 8 to 14, ₺55.11 for 15 to 21, up to ₺82.17 for 36 to 43 | The first tap charges the maximum; the exit gate refunds the difference |
| Sirkeci to Harem car ferry, passenger | ₺54.33 | |
| City ferries | ₺50.15 to ₺76.90 on the commuter lines in the tariff | The crossings are in the Bosphorus cruise guide |
| Princes’ Islands boat | ₺151.23 per boarding | See the Princes’ Islands day trip |
Rules in the same tariff: a child aged 7 or over pays the full fare; luggage over 50 litres or 30 kg is charged on the ferries; and between 00:30 and 05:30 a service that runs is charged at double the fare. The last fare rise was on 20 July 2026, so expect another change.
A Şehir Hatları ferry on the Kadıköy line. Photo: Tarik Kaan Muslu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The lines you will use
Metro Istanbul’s own line pages give these figures (metro.istanbul).
A T1 tram at Sultanahmet. Photo: Zach1055, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
| Line | Route | Facts |
|---|---|---|
| T1 tram | Kabataş to Bağcılar, 31 stations | 65 minutes end to end, 06:00 to 00:00, every 2 minutes at peak. Stops at Karaköy, Eminönü, Sirkeci, Gülhane, Sultanahmet, Çemberlitaş and Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı |
| F1 funicular | Taksim to Kabataş | 2½ minutes, 06:00 to 00:00, every 5 minutes at peak. Taksim station is in the same complex as the M2 and the nostalgic tram |
| M2 metro | Yenikapı to Hacıosman, 16 stations | 32 minutes end to end, 06:00 to 00:00; stops at Şişhane, Taksim and Gayrettepe |
| M4 metro | Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen Airport, 23 stations | 52 minutes end to end, 06:00 to 00:00 |
| M11 metro | Gayrettepe to Istanbul Airport and Halkalı | See Istanbul Airport to the city |
| Marmaray | Halkalı under the Bosphorus to Gebze | Sirkeci on the European side and Üsküdar on the Asian side |
| Maçka to Taşkışla cable car | Between Maçka and Taşkışla | 08:00 to 20:00 on the summer timetable, 08:00 to 19:00 on the winter |
The F1 funicular at Taksim station. Photo: CeeGee, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
Getting to the sights
| Sight | Stop | Line |
|---|---|---|
| Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Basilica Cistern | Sultanahmet | T1 |
| Topkapı Palace | Gülhane | T1 |
| Grand Bazaar | Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı | T1 |
| Spice Bazaar, the Galata Bridge and the ferries | Eminönü | T1 |
| Dolmabahçe Palace | Kabataş, a short walk | T1 |
| Taksim and İstiklal Street | Taksim | F1 from Kabataş, or the M2 |
| Galata Tower | Karaköy or Şişhane, then on foot | T1 or M2 |
| Fener and Balat | Fener | T5 tram from Eminönü |
From the Asian side, take the ferry to Eminönü or Karaköy and the T1 from there, or Marmaray from Üsküdar to Sirkeci. The Sultanahmet walk starts at the Sultanahmet stop.
Taxis
Taxis are metered by law, and the municipality’s tariff from 20 July 2026 sets the rates.
| Taxi | Start | Per kilometre | Minimum fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, segment C or above | ₺71.94 | ₺47.92 | ₺230 |
| Turquoise, segment D, 8+1 seats | ₺82.73 | ₺55.10 | ₺265 |
| Yellow, 8 seats | ₺93.52 | ₺62.29 | ₺300 |
| Black, segment E or F, 8+1 seats | ₺122.30 | ₺81.46 | ₺400 |
Waiting and slow traffic under 12.5 km/h are charged by the minute: ₺9.98 for the standard taxi. The FCDO says lifts from unofficial taxis are highly risky: use a registered taxi, note its registration number and make sure the fare is metered. App-based and pre-booked taxis are widely available, and Smartraveller reports inflated airport fares and longer routes, so insist on the meter (gov.uk, smartraveller.gov.au). The Istanbul scams guide covers the rest.
Outside the city
The airports have their own coaches and metros: see Istanbul Airport to the city. The boats to the Princes’ Islands, the buses to Bursa and the trains to Edirne are in the day trips from Istanbul. Carry a passport or photo ID: the FCDO notes it is illegal not to. What to book before you go to Istanbul lists the sights and the days they are closed, and where to stay in Istanbul compares the areas by their tram and metro lines.
Common questions
How much is an Istanbulkart and a ride on public transport?
The Istanbulkart costs ₺165 with no deposit, and it is not refundable. The first ride on a bus, metro, tram or Tünel is ₺46.20, a transfer within 120 minutes is ₺34.40, then ₺26.42, then ₺17.18. These are the municipality's fares from 20 July 2026.
Can I pay for the tram and metro in Istanbul with a contactless bank card?
Yes. The municipality's tourism site says contactless credit and debit cards work on buses, the metro, trams, the cable car, the metrobus and ferries. The price is a single-use ticket, ₺65 a ride on the bus, tram and metro, and more on ferries, Marmaray and the M11, so an Istanbulkart is cheaper.
Do Istanbul buses, trams and ferries take cash?
No. The municipality's tariff bans collecting cash on rail, bus and sea transport. Use an Istanbulkart, a single-use ticket, a QR ticket or a contactless bank card.
How do I get to Sultanahmet by tram?
Take the T1 tram, which runs from Kabataş to Bağcılar and stops at Karaköy, Eminönü, Sirkeci, Gülhane and Sultanahmet. From Taksim, ride the F1 funicular down to Kabataş and change to the T1. The T1 runs from 06:00 to 00:00.
Do children pay on Istanbul public transport?
Children under 7 travel free. From age 7 a child pays the full fare, and the tariff gives a visiting child no discount.
