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Getting around Istanbul is easy and inexpensive by public transport, and you have a good choice of transportation to choose from. Over the last 15 years in particular there has been a great deal of development and extension to the existing public transport system, making it even easier for visitors to get around.
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By Car
Unless you know exactly where you're going and are a very confident driver, driving yourself around Istanbul is not recommended.
There are over 1.5 million vehicles in Istanbul and wherever you're trying to get to it's going to feel as if everyone else in the city is trying to get there too! Street signs are rare, as are car parks, and the drivers around you will generally have no patience should you have to stop and ask for directions. Unfortunately, traffic accidents are a commonality as drivers fight for every inch of the road.
If you do still wish to get around Istanbul by car and are planning to cross between the European and Anatolian sides you need to be aware of the restrictions on the two bridges which cross the Bosphorus. Both bridges have tolls, which are paid one way –coming onto the Anatolian side; though unless you have an electronic card you cannot use the Bosphorus Bridge (the bridge to the south, closest to the Marmara Sea) and will need to use the northern bridge, closest to the Black Sea, called Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge. |
By Taxi
Taxis are relatively cheap in Istanbul. All Istanbul taxis are bright yellow (like the New York cabs!) and are a fast way of getting from A to B, though if you're a nervous passenger be prepared for a tense ride!
By Dolmu s
A Dolmu s is a shared taxi in the form of a mini-bus which can carry up to 8 passengers. Dolmu s means it's full' and basically the taxi won't leave unless it's full! They operate on set routes like the buses do, and although more expensive than the buses they are more comfortable and are also cheaper than a normal taxi.
AKBIL Smart Ticket
The AKBIL is a simplified form of paying for public transport in Istanbul, which can be loaded with credits and used multiple times. The benefit is that this is accepted on the IETT buses, some of the private buses, trams, trains, metro and local ferries so you don't have to worry about purchasing different tickets for each and every one of these and is an excellent choice for getting around Istanbul. They are available in daily, weekly, 15 day or monthly periods of use.
By Bus
Buses are a very cheap way of getting around Istanbul. The city-owned IETT buses do not take cash on boarding, so you need to buy a ticket from one of the kiosks for just 1.30 YTL (2007) or you can buy an AKBIL (as above). The private buses may accept AKBIL or else it's cash on boarding.
By Boat
Boats are very popular for travelling between the European and Asian sides and there are numerous routes available. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and you can board by either using your AKBIL or by buying a ticket which is the standard fare for all journeys, 1.30 YTL. The Eminönü Kavaklar route is especially recommended for tourists as it tours the Bosphorus.
There are also private ferry routes operating between the two sides which may be slightly more comfortable than the Istanbul liners, but will cost more.
By Metro
Istanbul first developed an underground subway in 1875, making it the second oldest in the world after the London Underground. This short section, called the Tünel, still exists today though is separate from the new Metro system.
The metro is very useful for getting to and from Atatürk International Airport, though as a tourist you will probably find you don't have much other use for it as the main line goes south, away from the city centre attractions.
As with the other city run transport in Istanbul, the fare for one journey is just 1.30 YTL.
By Tram
If you're staying on the Historic Sultanahmet Peninsula, the Tram will probably be your most common form of transport as it travels up and down the main street. The Tram starts from Aksaray and travels down to Sultanahmet and Topkapi, round to Emin ö nü and, since 2005, the Tramway has been extended to travel over the Golden Horn to Karak öy and on to Kabatas where a new underground funicular then connects you to Taksim.
There is also an historic tramway, details of which can be found in the Attractions section of this guide.
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