Although it is an ancient city with winding streets that don’t even come close to forming a grid, Istanbul is surprisingly easy to travel around. It’s easy to walk between many of the main tourist sites, and there are plenty of solid public transit options to use when your feet get tired.
Travel to / from Istanbul airports
Istanbul Airport
As of April 6, 2019, all flights that used to go in and out of Istanbul Atatürk Airport are now operating from the new Istanbul Airport (IST). The new airport is further outside of the city than Atatürk airport was, still on the European side, but northwest of the city. There are a few options for getting to the city from the new airport:
- Transfer service through your hotel. Many of the boutique hotels in Sultanahmet offer transfer services to and from the airport. Hotel transfers are a little pricier than a taxi, but at least you will know you are going to the right place! You also get greeted in the airport by one of those people holding up a sign with your name on it. Contact your hotel to set this up for you.
- Taxi. Given the new airport’s location further outside the city, taxis are more expensive than they were from Atatürk airport. Expect to pay at least 100 TL to get to a hotel in Taksim. The trip could take anywhere from 35 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic. There are plenty of taxis queued up outside the arrival hall. Just follow the signs for taxis (or taksi in Turkish). Taxi drivers will easily find the major hotels but sometimes struggle to locate smaller hotels in Sultanahmet. Make sure you bring the address / directions with you.
- Havaist shuttle. This new shuttle service will be your cheapest option (18TL to Taksim). The shuttle operates at set times from predetermined locations, including Taksim and Sultanahmet. Their website will show you the exact time, fare and location depending on your desired location. An interactive map shows you the location of their bus stops. You will need to use an Istanbulkart to pay the shuttle fare. You can buy the Istanbulkart at the Havaist ticket counter at the airport and at nearby automatic machines.
Sabiha Gökçen airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gökçen airport (SAW) is located on the Asian side of Istanbul and is pretty far from Sultanahmet (about 45 kms). There is not a viable public transit option out to SAW. Your hotel may be able to provide you with a transfer or arrange a taxi for you. There are also shuttle services that will transport you between Sultanahmet or Taksim and SAW (both of these shuttles can also take you to IST):
- The Havabus service operated by the city has shuttles that take you to / from Taksim and depart every 30 minutes. Cost is 18TL per person.
- The Istanbul Airport Shuttle is a private company that operates a shuttle between SAW and the Sultanahmet area for 15 euros / person. They operate at set times and will deliver you directly to your hotel. You can book online.
Getting around Istanbul
Taxis
Taxis are a good choice if you can’t walk to your destination and it isn’t close to the metro or tram. They are not too expensive and run off of a meter. You don’t need to tip taxi drivers; I usually just round up to the nearest lira. Taxi drivers do not usually speak much English – get your hotel to help or just write down the name of your destination to make sure its clear where you are going. Istanbul cabbies can be very aggressive drivers: make sure you buckle up! Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for taxi drivers to take the long way when they have tourists in the car. Ask your hotel how much you should expect to pay and avoid getting into taxis near Aya Sofya.
Walking
The best way to explore Istanbul is on foot. Strolling through the ancient, winding streets and discovering random neighborhoods is one of my favorite things to do in Istanbul. Getting lost is part of the adventure! As a warning, Istanbul is a very hilly city and you may encounter unforeseen hills as you explore. I recommend sneakers / good walking shoes at all times! One of my favorite walks is to start in Taksim square, walk down Istiklal St, come down the hill to Karaköy, walk across the Galata Bridge to the Spice market, follow the tram route past Gülhane park, and eventually get to Sultanahmet square. It takes a few hours but it’s a great way to see the city!
Tramway
Make the tram your best friend in Istanbul – it is the easiest way to get around the main sites, particularly when you are tired of walking. You can use it to travel between the Grand Bazaar, Sultanahmet, Topkapi, the Spice Bazaar, Taksim, and Dolmabahçe. You can buy tokens to ride the tram from the automated machines right outside each tram stop. Just drop in coins or bills and push the button to say how many tokens you want (jeton = token and iade = change). The machine will spit out change and the plastic tokens you need to enter.
You can also ride the tramway (and other forms of public transit) using an Istanbulkart. The Istanbulkart is Istanbul’s version of a metro card – it will spare you from having to use tokens every time you use the tram. You can add money to the card and use one card for multiple swipes. It costs 6 TL to purchase a card but it can be worth it – especially if you will be using the tram a lot. You can use the Istanbulkart on different types of transportation: it works on the tram, the metro, the funicular, the bus, and ferries. A card can be purchased at kiosks and IETT counters all over Istanbul: you should ask your hotel to direct you to a nearby sales location.
Key tramway stops
- Beyazit – This is one of two stops that you can use for visiting the Grand Bazaar
- Çemberlitaş– The stop on the other side of the Grand Bazaar.
- Sultanahmet – The stop closest to the Blue Mosque and Aya Sofya.
- Gülhane – Use this stop to reach Topkapı
- Eminönü – Stop near the Spice Market, the Galata Bridge, and the Bosphorus tour ferries.
- Karaköy – Stop on the other side of the Golden Horn from Eminönü. You can transfer here for the Tünel funicular to the foot of Istiklal street (a good way to reach Galata tower).
- Kabataş – this is the last stop on the tram. Use this stop to visit Dolmabahçe. You can also transfer to the funicular here to get to Taksim (follow signs and walk down steps). If you are coming from Sultanahmet this is the easiest way to get to Taksim via public transit. Note that it isn’t a free transfer – you will need to reswipe (or use another token) to access the funicular.
Nostalgic tram / Tünel funicular
There is also a nostalgic tram in Istanbul that runs down Istiklal street from Taksim square to Tünel. You are sure to see the pretty red tram cars (pictured above) when you visit Istiklal street. The tram is more of a fun novelty than a functional form of transportation: the walk between Taksim and Tünel is an easy journey to make on foot. The tram lets you off in Tünel near the historic Tünel funicular which runs up and down the hill connecting Tünel to Karaköy. Constructed in 1875, the Tünel funicular is one of the oldest underground railways in the world. The funicular is a very functional form of transportation since it saves you from having to climb a pretty steep hill!
Ferry
You probably won’t use the ferry too much as your primary mode of transportation but if you plan to visit the Asian side of the city or head out to the Princess Islands then the ferry is your best bet. I also strongly recommend taking a full-day Bosphorus cruise while you are in Istanbul (see Istanbul Sites and Activities for more info).
- Şehir hatları operates the intra-city ferry lines in Istanbul. The two main ports on the Asian side of the city are Üsküdar, opposite Beşiktaş, and Kadıköy further south. You can reach Üsküdar via ferry from Eminönü and Kadıköy from Eminönü, Karaköy, or Beşiktaş. You can also take a ferry up the Golden Horn: it starts in Üsküdar and heads all the way to Eyüp.