There are basically two ways to pay for the fare: either you get a one-, five- or 10-ride pass from the vending machines (Biletmatik), or you use the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) — an electronic boarding pass. If you use a token you'll pay 30 TL per ride, with an Istanbul Card you only pay 27 TL per ride.
The Istanbulkart is exclusively for tourists and is red. There are other available models and colors for locals. Purchasing it costs 130 TL ( US$ 3.17) and it requires top-ups of up to 300 TL ( US$ 7.32) at most. However, it becomes unusable once a total of 500 TL ( US$ 12.20) has been reloaded.
How do you pay for the metro in Istanbul? You'll need an Istanbulkart, a rechargeable contactless card, to pay for the metro. These cards can be purchased from vending machines at the airport metro station and reloaded with money as needed.
How to Pay for Public Transportation? There are basically two ways to pay for the fare: either you get a token (jeton) from the sales booth or vending machines (jetonmatik), or you use the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) — an electronic boarding pass.
You can use all your contactless credit or debit cards to make payment in all public transportation vehicles (Bus, Subway, Tram, Cable Car, Metrobus, Ferry, etc.).
How to buy an Istanbul Kart - The key to public transportation in Istanbul
How do I pay for the metro in Istanbul?
There are basically two ways to pay for the fare: either you get a one-, five- or 10-ride pass from the vending machines (Biletmatik), or you use the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) — an electronic boarding pass. If you use a token you'll pay 30 TL per ride, with an Istanbul Card you only pay 27 TL per ride.
Standard fare with Istanbulkart is 27 TL per ride. Single paper tickets cost 40 TL. There are also multi-ride tickets and unlimited-day cards for 1, 3, 5, or 7 days. You can buy it here.
Tram. A convenient method for getting to all of the tourist attractions is the tram system. There are only three lines, so it's visitor friendly. In addition, the tram cars are modern and clean, making for a pleasant riding experience.
It's usually best to have both cash and a card when travelling in Turkey. You'll need cash for small shops and markets, taxis and buses, while it's often easier to pay in hotels and restaurants with a card.
The Istanbulkart can be used by up to five different people. So if you are travelling in a group of five or less, buy one card only. At the turnstile, one person will tap the card for each person to go through before going through themselves.
How do I get to Sultanahmet from Istanbul Airport?
You can take a train from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet via Gayrettepe, Vezneciler, and Laleli in around 1h 6m. Alternatively, HAVAİST operates a bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Aksaray every 30 minutes. Tickets cost ₺130–280 and the journey takes 1h 30m.
Istanbulkarts are sold by Istanbulkart vending machines which you can find at many metro, bus, marmaray and tram stops. The vending machines are bright yellow colored, which makes it hard to miss them. It's also possible to purchase one at both international airports.
Istanbul is a largely walkable city, with major attractions like the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Sultanahmet Square, all within a short walk of each other.
Istanbul Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tour. Hop aboard a sleek double‑decker, open‑top sightseeing bus and immerse yourself in Istanbul's timeless beauty from the soaring minarets of the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace to modern waterfront districts like Dolmabahçe and Galataport.
You can obtain your Istanbulkart from the 24 different İstanbulkart machines (BILETMATIK) on the lower 2nd floor at the airport (arrival public transportation floor) following the signs, the HAVAIST offices, and the contracted exchange offices at the airport.
Only launched in 2000, the sleek, fast, modern Istanbul metro system makes getting around Istanbul incredibly easy for tourists and locals alike. The metro trains are air-conditioned and, compared to many other capital cities, extremely spacious and clean.
Valid for multiple users: On regular days, if you are traveling in a group or are on a family tour, you don't have to buy tickets for everyone. A single Istanbul transport card can be used for up to 5 passengers (however, we recommend using 1 for 3).
To pay the right fare, always touch in on a yellow card reader at the start of your journey and touch out at the end. On a bus or tram you only need to touch in. Because where you touch in and out tells us where you've travelled from and to, so we can charge you the right fare for your journey.
Since cards are becoming more popular in Turkey, contactless payments are now common too. You can use them for everything from paying in stores and restaurants to buying museum passes.
Fares: Standard fare with Istanbulkart: around 27 TRY per ride (The regular prices of a ride with the Marmaray and ferries are slightly higher than the ones with trams and buses) With contactless bank card: can be around 50 TRY (depending on the bank and processing fees)
