The Istanbulkart, and how to use public transport in Istanbul

If you are in Istanbul for more than a day, the first thing to buy is an Istanbulkart. It is the single travel card for the whole city and it turns a confusing transport network into something you stop thinking about.

What it covers

One card works on the tram, the metro, city buses, the funiculars, the historic tunnel at Karaköy and, best of all, the public ferries across the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. The ferry is the cheapest and most beautiful thing you will do in Istanbul, and the card pays for it.

Where to buy one

The machines stand at every tram stop, metro station and ferry pier. They have a language button, so switch to English and follow the steps. The card itself costs a small one-off amount and comes empty, so you load credit on the same machine straight away.

You can also buy one at the kiosks and small shops near stations, which is easier if the queue is long. Look for the Istanbulkart sign in the window.

Topping up

Rest the card on the marked pad, then feed notes into the slot. Two things to know. The machines do not give change, so everything you put in goes onto the card. And they prefer clean notes, so keep the crumpled ones for the tea shop.

For a couple staying under a week, a moderate top-up covers most journeys, and you can add more at any station in about twenty seconds. If you load too much by mistake, the IETT office in Karaköy behind the Tunnel can refund the balance.

Using it

Tap once on the way in. You do not tap out, and the fare is the same wherever you get off, which is unusual and very convenient. Change onto a second service within the transfer window and the next leg costs less than the first. One card can also be tapped several times for a group travelling together, which saves buying one each for a short visit.

About the HES code

Between 2020 and 2022 Turkey required travellers to link a HES code to their travel card during the pandemic. That requirement has been withdrawn and you no longer need one to use public transport. If you find older guidance online telling you to register, it is out of date.

Our advice

Buy the card at the airport or at the first station you reach, load a sensible amount, and use the ferries as much as you can. On our tours we handle transport for you, but the days you are exploring alone are better with a card in your pocket.