TRANSPORT / AIRPORT TRANSFER

There are many beautiful places to visit in Istanbul and Beşiktaş area. Altough the best way to explore a city is undoubtedly on foot, buses are very useful for travelling to the Bosphorus coast to Ortakoy. The best way is to use ferries in order to travel from European side to the Asian side. Nisantasi, Etiler and Levent, the best way for shopping and business is via the metro line that runs north from Taksim.

The most popular way to explore the Bosphorus is by ferry. Most day-trippers take the Eminönü-Kavaklar Boğaziçi Special tours(Eminönü-Kavaklar Bosphorus Special Touristic Excursions) ferry up its entire length. These depart from the Boğaz Hattı dock (dock No 3) at Eminönü daily at 10.35am. From June to September, there are extra services at noon. The ferry stops at Beşiktaş, Kanlıca, Yeniköy, Sarıyer, Rumeli Kavağı and Anadolu Kavağı (the turnaround point). It is not possible to get on and off the ferry at stops along the way using the same ticket.

Bus, metro, ferry and tram tickets are available near the main stops, all main bus and metro stops and ferry terminals. The electronic token named is available for purchase in advance with a small returnable deposit. This tokenis valid for a number of journeys, slightly cheaper and more convenient for buses, ferries, tunel (name of old tram which goes from Karakoy to Taksim) and the metro.

BUSSES

Buses are the most popular means of public transport in Istanbul because they are cheap and frequent. Bus services are run by IETT (Istanbul Elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel Isletmeleri). Buses are definitely the cheapest way to get around Istanbul, but they are usually overcrowded. Buses run from 06:00 to 23:00 on routes all over the city. Bus stops are easily recognizable and are located at frequent intervals. There are many bus stops in city centers as Beşiktaş and in Kadıköy and Üsküdar.

You can officialy reach three types of buses in Istanbul; Public buses, which are red or green. Payment must be made on boarding with some special tokens or cards. Ticket costs are higher if a passenger crosses one of the Bosphorus bridges. There is another type of buses which are privately owned and they are orange. They operate similarly to public buses.

TRAM

Trams in Istanbul make people smell the historic air of the city. There are two tramways on the European side of Istanbul. There are two funiculars, one is connecting Kabatas, south of the Dolmabahce Palace, with Taksim Square and the other one is Tunel, the 19th century funicular connecting Karakoy to Tunel in Taksim (end of Istiklal Street) can also be used. The Istiklal Street between Taksim and Tünel is closed to vehicle traffic; so the only means of transport is heritage trams. This tram operates at the Taksim every day till midnight.

Other tram runs from Kabatas, then over the Galata bridge through Eminounu, Sultanahmet, Beyazit and onto outlying suburbs. This line (15 Km) provides fast and comfortable travel. It is nowadays extended to Bağcılar with its Zeytinburnu-Bağcılar, and connects to the light rail system at Zeytinburnu and Aksaray stations.

METROBUS

Metrobus is a rapid transit system that operates in Istanbul. The line starts from Istanbul University Avcilar Campus (on the European side) and ends at Sogutlucesme Train Station (on the Anatolian side). Buses run from 06:00 until midnight but some routes operate only until 21:00. There are informational timetables at the stations, and you can get more information from staff over there. Metrobuses run every few minutes in both directions. The stations are:

Anatolian side: Sogutlucesme, Fikirtepe, Uzuncayir, Acibadem, Altunizade and Burhaniye Mahallesi, Bogazici Koprusu (the Bosphorus Bridge)European side: Zincirlikuyu, Mecidiyekoy, Caglayan, SSK Hastanesi, Perpa, Okmeydani, Halicioglu, Ayvansaray, Maltepe, Topkapı, Edirnekapi, Vatan Caddesi, Maltepe, Topkapi, Cevizlibag, Merter, Zeytinburnu, Incirli, Bagcelievler, Sirinevler, Kuleli-Yanibosna, Sefakoy, Besyol, Cennet, Kucukcemece, IETT Camp (Resitpasa), Sukrubey, Avcılar Campus of Istanbul University

METRO

There are three metro lines which are in operation in Istanbul:
M1 (Aksaray-Ataturk Airport). It is a light train with 18 stations and a total length of 19,6 kms Whoke trip takes 32 minutes. Frequency at rush hours is 5 minutes. M1 makes about 416 trips daily. Most important M1 stations: Havalimani ( at Atatürk airport terminal), Zeytinburnu (connected with Tram T1 ) and Aksaray. Taksim station connects with tram through tunnel and underground. Yenikapi stations interconnects to light and suburban trains.

Line M2 (Taksim- 4.Levent). It is 16, 5 km length and it has 12 stations. At the beginning the line only covered from Taksim to 4.Levent. Now covers from Sishane to Haciosman. Trip takes 27 minutes and average speed is 36,7Km/h. Frequency at rush hours is 4 minutes. It makes 394 trips daily. Stations: Hacıosman, Darüşşafaka, Atatürk Oto Sanayi, İTÜ - Ayazağa, Seyrantepe - Stadyum, Sanayi Mahallesi, 4. Levent, Levent, Gayrettepe, Şişli - Mecidiyeköy, Osmanbey,Taksim, Şişhane. Golden Horn metro bridge, Unkapanı, Şehzadebaşı, Yenikapı.

M4 (Kadıköy to Kaynarca). Stations: Kadıköy, Acıbadem, Ünalan, Göztepe, Yenisahra, Kozyatağı, Bostancı, Küçükyalı, Altayçeşme, Maltepe, Gülsuyu, Cevizli, Hastane, Soğanlık, Kartal, Yakacık, Pendik, Kaynarca.

Funicular lines :
The short underground funicular tram is very important way in Istanbul transportation system. There are two lines exists as Taksim and Kabatas which takes only three minutes. The funicular also provides access to Beyoglu, and links the Zeytinburnu/Kabataş tram and the Kabataş ferry terminal to the Taksim /4 Levent metro.

FERRIES

Using ferries in Istanbul is the most enjoyable way of transportation. Also it is an asy way to travel up, down and across the Bosphorus. There are ten main ferry docks which includes Karakoy, Kabatas, Besiktas and five in Eminou on the European side; Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian side. There are also fast sea buses that are a bit more expensive than ferries which provide connection between other sea port cities.

TAXI

In Istanbul, all taxis are yellow and they have taxi signs on the roof. Because the number of taxis a lot in Istanbul, It’s easy to find a yellow taxi almost anywhere in the streets. The night rate which is 06.00 AM – 00.00 AM is 50% more than the daylight rate, so the visitors should do the payment according to the taximeter which changes from Gunduz (daylight) to Gece (night). For further detail about public transportations please check Click Here

AIRPORT TRANSPORTATIONS

Sabiha Gökçen Airport Transportation Click Here

Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located on the Anatolian side of Istanbul in Pendik/Kurtköy, at a distance of 40 km to Kadıköy, 12 km to Pendik and 50 km to Taksim.

It has a really convenient traffic in terms of transportation with its 1.5 km connection to TEM motorway and 5 km connection road to E-5 highway.Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is at 14 km distance to Pendik Sea Bus Terminal.

You can travel with HAVATAŞ buses that provide service between Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Kadıköy and Taksim. Click Here

There are various public (IETT) bus numbers exist :
E3 - 4. Levent - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
E9 - Bostancı - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
E10 - Kadıköy - Kurtköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
E11 - Kadıköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
16S - Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Yenişehir - Kozyatağı - Metrobus Uzunçayır
18H - Sultanbeyli - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
KM22 - Kartal Metro - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
132 - Kartal – Tepeören
E9 - Bostancı - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
E10 - Kadıköy - Kurtköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
E11 - Kadıköy - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
16S - Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Yenişehir - Kozyatağı - Metrobus Uzunçayır
18H - Sultanbeyli - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
KM22 - Kartal Metro - Sabiha Gökçen Airport
132 - Kartal – Tepeören

Ataturk Airport Transportation

Click Here

Ataturk airport is located on the European side of Istanbul, Yeşilköy. It is the main and biggest international airport serving to Istanbul. It is possible to reach airport by metro, Metro line M1A exists between Yenikapı and Atatürk International Airport. The line goes through some major parts of the European side of the city, including the intercity bus terminal. Total trip takes approximately 30-35 minutes. Route is Aksaray, Emniyet - Fatih, Topkapi - Ulubatli, Bayrampasa - Maltepe, Sagmalcilar, Kartaltepe - Kocatepe, Esenler Otogar, Terazidere, Davutpasa - YTU, Merter, Zeytinburnu, Bakirkoy - Incirli, Bahcelievler, Atakoy - Sirinevler, Yenibosna, DTM Istanbul Fuar Merkezi, Ataturk Airport. You can check the map of rail system network Click Here and timetables and rail system fees Click Here

It is also possible to use sea busses to reach airport from various places. There is a fast ferry terminal in Bakırköy which connects the terminal to Bostancı and Kadıköy. Please see further details from here Click Here

You can travel with HAVATAŞ buses that provide service between Taksim and Ataturk airport. Click Here Havaş buses give service between the airport and the fast ferry terminal according to the departures and arrivals of the ferries.

Another option is to use Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality busses:
96T ATATÜRK AIRPORT-TAKSİM
TH-1 TAKSİM-ATATÜRK HAVALİMANI