What's the smartest way to use public transit in Istanbul?
Get an Istanbulkart from any metro station kiosk or the booths at major ferry terminals — the card costs 100 lira and you load credit separately. Every tap is cheaper than a single-use token, and transfers within 90 minutes cost almost nothing extra, which matters when you're chaining a metro leg to a ferry to a bus. The T1 tram line connects Sultanahmet to Kabataş reliably and runs frequently enough that you don't need to time it. Ferries run by Istanbul Deniz Otobüsleri cross the Bosphorus between Eminönü, Karaköy, and Kadıköy on a schedule worth downloading — they're faster than the bridge traffic and considerably more pleasant. The metro system is expanding, but coverage still has gaps, particularly in Beyoğlu and the older districts, so budget for the occasional dolmuş or taxi. Avoid the airport taxi queues; the M11 metro runs directly to Istanbul Airport and costs a fraction of the flat-rate cab fare.
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