Which transport app is best in Istanbul?

Google Maps handles metro, tram and ferry routing well. For taxis, BiTaksi is the local default and Uber also works — both book licensed yellow taxis, which avoids the street-haggling problem. The ferries are part of the fun, so don't ignore them.

Do I need an Istanbulkart?

Yes — it's the single card for metro, tram, funicular, bus and the ferries, with cheaper fares and discounted transfers versus single tickets. The card costs around 165 TL and you buy and top it up at machines in any station, including the airport.

How do I get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to the city?

The M11 metro runs from the airport to Gayrettepe in about 30 minutes (a special fare of roughly 53 TL), where you transfer onto the city metro network at standard fares. The Havaist airport buses are the alternative, e.g. to Taksim. The M11 runs daily from about 06:00 to midnight.

How do I get from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to the city?

Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side and connects to the M4 metro line, with onward transfers across the city. Havabus airport coaches and ride apps are the other options; allow extra time as it's farther from the historic centre.

Are taxis in Istanbul a problem?

They can be. Some drivers refuse the meter or take long routes with tourists. Booking through BiTaksi or Uber — both of which dispatch licensed yellow taxis with the fare tracked — avoids most of this. If you flag one on the street, insist the meter ('taksimetre') is running.

Can I use the ferries with my Istanbulkart?

Yes, and you should. The cross-Bosphorus ferries are covered by the Istanbulkart, are cheap, and are often the nicest and quickest way between the European and Asian sides — far better than sitting in bridge traffic.

Should I just use cash for transport in Istanbul?

No — you can't pay cash directly on the metro or tram. Get an Istanbulkart on arrival and top it up with enough for transfers and a few days of sightseeing (a few hundred lira goes a long way).

Getting Around Istanbul: Transport Apps & Your First 48 Hours

Istanbul spans two continents and runs on metros, trams, funiculars, and the Bosphorus ferries that locals use like buses. One card ties it all together — and ride apps quietly solve the city's old taxi headaches. Here's what actually works.

The best default: the Istanbulkart

The Istanbulkart is the key to the whole city. One tap-and-go card covers the metro, tram, funicular, buses and the ferries, with cheaper fares and discounted transfers than single tickets.

Get your card at the airport

Buy an Istanbulkart (around 165 TL) from a machine the moment you land and top it up with a few hundred lira — enough for airport transfers plus a few days of getting around. You can't pay cash directly at the metro or tram gates.

Getting in from the airport

From the main Istanbul Airport (IST), the M11 metro runs to Gayrettepe in about 30 minutes (a special fare around 53 TL), where you transfer onto the city network at standard fares. The M11 runs from about 06:00 to midnight; Havaist buses cover other hours and destinations like Taksim. From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side, use the M4 metro or Havabus coaches.

Don't sleep on the ferries

Cross the Bosphorus by boat

The cross-Bosphorus ferries are covered by your Istanbulkart, cost very little, and are usually the nicest — and fastest — way between the European and Asian sides. Skip the bridge traffic.

The app that fixes taxis

Street taxis can be hit or miss with tourists. BiTaksi (the local default) and Uber both dispatch licensed yellow taxis with the fare tracked, which avoids most of the trouble.

Insist on the meter

If you do flag a taxi on the street, make sure the meter ("taksimetre") is running before you set off. If the driver won't, wave them on and open BiTaksi instead.

Arrived launches soon. Get the right transport setup the moment you land.

Join the waitlist

Your first 48 hours

At the airport, buy an Istanbulkart, top it up, and take the M11 (from IST) or M4 (from SAW) into the city.
Use the card for every metro, tram and bus — and for the ferries, which are a highlight in their own right.
Keep Google Maps for routing across the network.
Install BiTaksi (and Uber) for taxis, and insist on the meter for any street cab.

Do those four things and a city that looks overwhelming on a map becomes genuinely easy to navigate.