Getting around · Istanbul, Türkiye
Getting Around Istanbul: Airports, İstanbulkart, Metro, Ferries, Taxis & Onward Travel
Arriving, crossing continents and travelling on: one card for metro, tram and ferry.
Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in Istanbul
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Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love Istanbul.
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The main international airport
Istanbul Airport (IST)
The city’s main airport, on the European side about 40 km north-west of Taksim, linked by the M11 metro, Havaist buses and taxis.
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One card for everything
İstanbulkart
The rechargeable card for metro, trams, buses, ferries, funiculars and the Marmaray, sold at machines in stations.
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The best ride in Istanbul
City ferries (Şehir Hatları)
The city ferries that cross between Europe and Asia and run up the Bosphorus and out to the Princes’ Islands; pay with İstanbulkart.
The full list: Getting around, A–Z
Arriving 4
Two airports.
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Buses from IST to the city
Havaist airport buses
The official airport bus network from Istanbul Airport, with routes to Taksim, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy and many other districts.
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The main international airport
Istanbul Airport (IST)
The city’s main airport, on the European side about 40 km north-west of Taksim, linked by the M11 metro, Havaist buses and taxis.
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The airport on the Asian side
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
The second airport, on the Asian side, used by Pegasus, AJet and many low-cost airlines; linked by the M4 metro and Havabus.
In the city 8
Metro, trams, taxis.
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One card for everything
İstanbulkart
The rechargeable card for metro, trams, buses, ferries, funiculars and the Marmaray, sold at machines in stations.
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Under the Bosphorus by train
Marmaray
The rail line under the Bosphorus, opened in 2013, linking Europe and Asia via Sirkeci, Yenikapı and Üsküdar.
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Fast under the traffic
Metro
A growing metro network on both sides of the Bosphorus, including the M2 through Taksim and the M11 to the airport.
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Express buses across the bridge
Metrobus
Express buses in their own lanes across the Bosphorus Bridge, from the western suburbs to Söğütlüçeşme on the Asian side.
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Heritage rides in Beyoğlu
Nostalgic tram & the Tünel
The red heritage tram along İstiklal Avenue and the Tünel, the underground funicular of 1875 between Karaköy and Beyoğlu.
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The sightseeing tram
T1 tram
The tram from Kabataş through Karaköy, Eminönü and Sultanahmet to the west of the old city.
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Use the meter or an app
Taxis & BiTaksi
Yellow, turquoise and black taxis run on meters; the BiTaksi app lets you call one and see the fare.
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Via licensed taxis
Uber in Istanbul
Uber works in Istanbul through licensed taxis rather than private drivers.
Ferries 1
Across the water.
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The best ride in Istanbul
City ferries (Şehir Hatları)
The city ferries that cross between Europe and Asia and run up the Bosphorus and out to the Princes’ Islands; pay with İstanbulkart.
Trains & driving 3
Beyond the city.
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Best for trips beyond the city
Car hire & driving
International and local car-hire companies at both airports; useful for the Black Sea coast and Thrace, not for the centre.
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YHT across Anatolia
High-speed trains to Ankara & Konya
TCDD’s high-speed trains (YHT) from Halkalı, Söğütlüçeşme and Pendik to Ankara, Eskişehir and Konya.
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Where the Orient Express arrived
Historic stations: Sirkeci & Haydarpaşa
The Orient Express terminus at Sirkeci (1890) and the grand Haydarpaşa station on the Asian shore (1908).
Onward travel 4
To Sofia, Bucharest, Athens and Belgrade.
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Fly in about an hour and a half
To Athens & Thessaloniki
Direct flights to Athens and Thessaloniki; long-distance buses to Thessaloniki. No direct passenger train at present.
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A two-hour flight
To Belgrade
Direct flights to Belgrade in about two hours; long-distance buses via Bulgaria.
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Rail, road or a short flight
To Bucharest
A direct summer couchette to Bucharest, connections via Bulgaria the rest of the year, or a short flight.
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The nightly sleeper to Bulgaria
To Sofia by train
The Sofia–Istanbul Express runs nightly between Halkalı and Sofia, with sleepers and couchettes, in about ten hours.
