Tramway T1 lineThis is one of the lines you will use most during your stay in the city. Covers the main touristic areas, mostly in the old part of the city: Kabatas (last station, Dolmabache Palace, ferry docks), Findikli, Tophane (Istanbul Modern Museum), Karakoy (Galata bridge, Istanbul Tünel, ferry docks), Eminonu (Spice Bazaar, Rustem Pasha Mosque, New Mosque, ferry docks), Sirkeci (Railway terminal Station), Gülhane (Gülhane Park, Basilica Cistern), Sultanahmet (Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque), Cemberlitas, Beyazit (Grand Bazaar, Suleymaniye Mosque). The tram goes one until Bagcilar. First route starts at 06:00 in the morning and stops at 00:00 at night. Frequency: every 5 minutes. |
Metro lines
In Istanbul the metro extends more and more every year. Connects the city center to many residential areas. Metro doesn't cover the old part of the city and most parts of the Asian side, although works for extension have already begun.
The line you will use mostly during your stay in the city, is the M2 green line, which covers Taksim, Sisli, Levent, Sishane, Golden Horn, Yenikapi, Airport and Otogar (main bus station).
First route starts at 06:00 in the morning and stops at 00:00 at night. Frequency: every 4 minutes during rush hours.
There is also the Marmaray line, an underwater metro which connects the European to the Asian side of the city.
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Funicular
Funiculars are small underground trams. There are 2 funiculars in the city. The one located in Karakoy, is the second oldest one in the world. This tunel starts from Karakoy and goes up the hill to Istiklal. There are no stations between these 2 points. The duration is 1 minute.
The other funicular is a modern one and covers the area between Taksim square and Kabatas. There are no stops between the two points and the ride lasts 2 minutes. You can take this funicular from the main metro station at Taksim. |
Cable Cars
There are two teleferic in Istanbul. The one is located at Pierre Loti hill at the Golden Horn and the other one is located in Macka Park at Besiktas area.
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Buses
Every day there are hundred of buses in Istanbul, serving the residents and the visitors, covering every inch of the city! There are some main bus stations, such as at Grand Bazaar near Beyazit University, in Eminonu, in Taksim, in Besiktas etc.
Buses come with different colors, depending their use. For example: green buses means they are enviroment friendly, yellow means they serve disabled people with special equipment, turquoise means they run by private companies.
For detailed information: http://www.iett.gov.tr/en/
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Ferries Line
Using ferries to cross the famous Bosphorus, you have two benefits! Firts of all you will not be stuck in traffic and secondly you will be able to admire all the amazing views! Ferries operate from both sides of cities and connect Kadikoy and Uskudar (Asian side), with Kabatas, Karakoy and Eminonu (European side)
For detailed information: http://en.sehirhatlari.com.tr/en
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How to Pay for Public Transportation?
There are basically two ways to pay for the fare:
--with a token, called Jeton, which you can buy from machines close to tram or metro stations. Each Jeton is equivalent to a one way ride and it costs 4 liras
--with an Istanbul Card, that you can charge with the amount you want to use, both in self service machines or in Kiosks/Newsposts all over the city. The initial value of the card is 7 liras and each route costs 2,30TL. İf you use the card twice or more within the same hour the price will be reduced.
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