AIRPORTS
Istanbul has two airports, the major Atatürk International Airport near Yesilköy 23 km (14 miles) west of the city center, reachable by Metro (map); and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the east side of the Bosphorus. Here's how to travel from one airport to the other.
TRANSIT PASSES
Electronic tickets and transit passes make using public transport easy in Istanbul: Metro, tram, bus, ferry, train. More...
CITY BUS
City bus routes get you to some places you'll want to visit. Buy tickets (less than US$1) before boarding at kiosks (often white fiberglass cubes) labeled "I.E.T.T" and/or "Bilet" (ticket), or use the Akbil prepaid electronic fare system. More...
INTERCITY BUS
Istanbul has two intercity bus terminals, the major Istanbul International Bus Terminal (Büyük Otogar) at Bayrampasa/ Esenler on the western side of the Bosphorus (reachable by Metro: map), serving the entire country as well as Greece, Bulgaria, the Balkans and Europe; and the Harem Otogar on the eastern shore of the Bosphorus north of Haydarpasa Station, serving Anatolian Turkey and the Middle East.
TRAM
You'll find Istanbul's two tram lines useful (map), even though they're as different as can be. Although the nostalgic 19th-century Istiklal Caddesi tram is more fun, the Eminönü/Kabatas-Zeytinburnu tram is the more useful, and can help you travel between the heart of the tourist district at Sultanahmet Square and the Otogar (bus terminal) and/or Atatürk Airport. More...
METRO
Two lines of Istanbul's Metro system are in operation (map). The most useful for foreign visitors is the light-rail line connecting Atatürk Airport and Aksaray Square via Istanbul's mammoth Otogar (intercity bus station), at which you can board a bus to any part of Turkey or to virtually any country within 1000 miles (1600 km) of Istanbul. Change to the tram at Zeytinburnu to reach Old Istanbul. Also, a standard-gauge Metro line goes north from Taksim Square to the commercial districts. More...
TÜNEL
Tünel is Istanbul's little 19th-century two-station underground train connecting Karaköy (Galata) and the southwestern end of Istiklal Caddesi. It's convenient and fun. More...
FÜNIKÜLER
Inaugurated in 2006, the Füniküler (underground funicular) connects Taksim Square and Kabatas on the Bosphorus shore. At Kabatas you can board a ferryboat, sea bus, or the Zeytinburnu tram. More...
SUBURBAN TRAIN
Suburban commuter trains depart Sirkeci Station, trundle around Seraglio Point and continue along the Sea of Marmara shore stopping at the Yenikapi Ferry Terminal (for intercity car and passenger ferries across the Sea of Marmara) and at Yesilyurt near Atatürk International Airport. More...
Slightly better suburban trains depart Haydarpasa Station and travel along the northern shore of the Sea of Marmara on the Asian side of the Bosphorus. More...
FERRYBOAT
Traditional white IDO ferries and private TurYol ferries serve shorter water routes, and are the most enjoyable way to get around Istanbul (map). More...
Special daily Touristic Bosphorus Ferries run from Eminönü's Dock 2 up the Bosphorus almost to the Black Sea several times daily. Both catamaran seabuses and ferryboats travel to the Princes Islands near Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. More...