City Transport, Istanbul

Dolmuş

Public transportation in Istanbul varies greatly. Municipality busses, public busses, inner city and general ships, car ferries, the tunnel, metro and suburban train systems all vary in price and have either tokens or ticket fares to pay. If your decision lies with living in Istanbul, it is essential that you obtain an "Akbil", a smart ticket key.

Akbil
Akbil, means smart ticket. An Akbil comes in different colors and has a refillable battery on the end of a plastic key. It is possible to buy your Akbil at major bus stops for about 6 TL and have it filled to the amount you desire. There are Akbil filling stations around all major bus stops, ports and Tünel. Your Akbil is valid on all busses, ships, sea busses, metro and tunnel systems. It gets you different discounts from 10-25% on all transport listed above.

Taxi (Taksi)
Taxis are numerous in all Turkish cities and are recognizable by their yellow color and word "taksi" on top of the car. All taxis have the letter T in their license plates. The fare shown on the meter reads according to distance traveled. The rates for day and night are same. The meter starts at 2.5 TL, and 1.40 TL per kilometer. (As of September 17, 2009). Please note that the passenger pay the crossing fee of the Bosphorus bridges whether destining to European or Asian side.
Here are a few useful sayings that might come in handy: Turn off the music - müziği kapatın, Close the window - camı kapatın, Open the window - camı açın, Stop here - burada durun, Left - sol, Right - sağ, Turn on the meter - taksimetreyi çalıştırın, Wait please - lütfen bekleyin, Wait here - burada bekleyin,

Dolmus (Dolmuş)
Dolmus is a special service found only in Turkey. This is a collective taxi, which follows specific routes. It may be a car or a minibus. Each passenger pays according to distance traveled and can get off at specific or requested stops. In order to get off, the passenger need only say, "inecek var" meaning "someone to get off here" and the dolmus stops. This is a very practical means of transportation and much cheaper than a taxi. You pay the fee to the driver. Prices differ depending on distance traveled. They usually have a sign in the lower or upper right-hand corner of their windshield that specifies the direction to which they will be traveling. The relatively cheap prices are set by the municipality and displayed somewhere visible within the vehicle.

Bus (Otobüs)
There are two types of bus lines in Istanbul.
- One is run by the municipality, Belediye Otobüsü, these busses are red, green or covered with colorful advertisements. On these buses you can use your Akbil, special discount cards or tickets that you can buy around any major bus stop.
- The second type of bus is privately run, Halk Otobüsü, orange or blue and again, allowing you to use your Akbil, special discount cards or, in this case, money. Tickets are not welcome on these buses but the price is the same.
On some of the more lengthy destinations the double-decker buses can pleasantly surprise you. These buses require 3 tickets if passing over the Bosphorus bridge and 2 for other regular destinations. The green colored double-deckers are privately owned thus require cash payment and not tickets. However your Akbil is valid on these buses, as well.

Metro (Metro, Hafif Metro)
It is quite unfortunate that Istanbul, a city with a population of 10 million is home to one of the most inadequate metro lines. There are three lines presently; one stretching from Kabataş to Eminönüand to Zeytinburnu via Aksaray and another line from Aksaray to Atatürk International Airport via Yenibosna, passing through Otogar. The last line is a real under ground system and connects Taksim to 4. Levent via Sisli. Your Akbil is valid here. It is possible to obtain a discount metro card from any of the metro stations.

Tunnel (Tünel)
It is the easiest way to get from Karaköy to Beyoğlu, instead of climbing the steep streets. The coaches were pulled by horses when it was first opened to the public in 1875 but today it is pulled by electricity. The Tünel tokens can be bought at any of the Tünel entrances while you can also use your Akbil. It is a common joke for foreigners to wait for the non-existent second stop of the Tünel Coach since the ride seems to promise more than the short trip up or down. mymerhaba.com would strongly suggest that you take your time one day and walk down (not up!) the famous Yüksek Kaldırım Street (High Pavement Street) that ties Karaköy to Beyoğlu; it is an unforgettable experience. Tünel is open every day from 07.00 to 22.45 (Sundays from 07:30 to 22:45).

Tramway (Tramvay)
The Istiklal Street (or Pera as it was once known) between Taksim and Tünel, is closed to traffic, making the only way of transportation the old trams. You may acquire a tram ticket before you board or ask the conductor "nicely" to let you buy one where you embark. You may use your Akbil but keep in mind that there is almost no difference between the amount of time it takes to walk briskly or take a tram.

Another tramway line is between Kabataş and Zeytinburnu. This 14 km line provides fast and comfortable transport. This line was extended to Bağcılar with its Zeytinburnu-Bağcılar and makes connection to the light rail (Hafif Metro) system at Zeytinburnu and Aksaray stations.

Funicular
Taksım – Kabataş funicular railway system links Zeytinburnu-Kabataş tram and the Kabataş ferry docks to Taksim-4 Levent metro. Sea busses and ferries sail from Kabataş to Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Princes' Islands. Busses run from Kabataş to Mecidiyeköy and the Bosphrorus. The tram provides transportation from Kabataş to Eminönüand Aksaray. You can use your Akbil, special discount cards or can purchase tokens.

Ship (Vapur)
The ships in Istanbul travel from one side of the Bosphorus to the other or to distant points on the same side. Please bear in mind that prices for tokens vary for the Princes' Islands ships or Bosphorus cruises.

Motorboat (Motor)
These are small to medium sized boats that travel between short distances such as Kadıköy-Eminönü-Kadıköy, Beşiktaş-Üsküdar-Beşiktaş, Karaköy-Üsküdar-Karaköy. They are reminiscent of the Dolmuş at sea and payment is made to the captain's assistant after you board. They can be found next to ship ports.

Ferry Car (Araba Vapuru)
The car ferries that travel between Sirkeci - Harem (every day) can be a breath of fresh air for the driver tired of rush hour traffic. Tickets can be purchased before boarding. There are a number of car ferries that leave Istanbul and travel to other city ports.

Sea Bus (Deniz Otobüsü)
The fastest way to travel in the city. It is ideal if you need to bridge distant destinations such as Bostancı-Bakırköy, or Kadıköy-Sarıyer. There are, again, many that go to other city ports and to the Islands. You can purchase tokens at the sea bus ports or use your Akbil for discount.

Suburban Train (Banliyö Treni)
There are suburban trains traveling from Sirkeci on the European and from Haydarpaşa on the Anatolian side. They can be an alternative when traffic is an issue but it is best to remember that since these trains are the most affordable way to travel longer distances, they can be extremely crowded, dirty and not very preferable. Tickets can be bought at the station. Monthly discount cards are also available. You can also use your Akbil at the trains.

For the website of Istanbul transportation website of the Municipality please click

Also See:

Accommodation	Catering Services
City Transport, Istanbul	City transport, Ankara
Conversion Table	Daily Shopping
Driving in Istanbul	Dry Cleaning
Earthquake Preparedness	Finding an address..
House Cleaning	How to tip - Bahşiş
International Customs and Traffic Documents	New Fixed Phone Line Tariffs
Paying the Bills	Paying the bills, Ankara
Personal Security Precautions	Real Estate Agencies
While You're in Turkey	Speaking Turkish
Turkish in Daily Life	Winter & Your Car
Your Right Hands

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External Links:

Sea Bus -IDO-

Business Pages

Ferry Terminals in Istanbul
Sea Bus Terminals
Train Stations

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