From the airport to the city centre Istanbul
FromSabiha Gökçen airport, we recommend you take the Havabus municipal shuttles in front of the airport. There is a service every half-hour (interrupted at night between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m.). The shuttle serves several stops, and stops at Taksim. Tickets cost 121 TL (cash payment). It takes about an hour to get to the Beyoğlu district, but with traffic jams (especially in the morning and at the end of the day), the journey time can be doubled. FromIstanbul airport, the M11 metro line has recently opened, so by changing at Gayrettepe you can easily get to Taksim. Another option is to take the Havaist shuttle bus, located at the airport entrance. The ticket costs 204 TL to Taksim, and you can only pay with Istanbulkart. Machines in front of the shuttles allow you to buy and recharge this card, which can also be used on all other means of transport in the city. The shuttle bus terminus is at Taksim. The journey takes about an hour. As both airports are off-center, getting to the European side by cab is likely to be expensive, costing between 600 and 700 TL.
Arrival by train Istanbul
Sirkeci Station, or Europe Station, is located in the heart of Istanbul (accessible by streetcar, get off at Sirkeci Station). It hosts international trains from Bulgaria, Greece and, about once a year, the mythical Orient-Express! Haydarpaşa Station or Asia Station (in Kadıköy) is the second major station in Istanbul (accessible by boat to Kadıköy). From both stations, there are various connections to Ankara, Eskişehir, Izmir and Edirne. Reservations or consultations on the website in English (www.tcdd.gov.tr).
Public transport Istanbul
Istanbul is one of the most congested cities in the world, so it's best to take public transportation that will get you around quickly and cheaply. There is a card that gives access to all public transport in Istanbul (boats, metros, streetcars, buses, funiculars, metrobuses): Istanbul kart. You can get it from the vending machines at the streetcar stations and at the airport. The card costs 25 TL and must be recharged. It is possible to buy single tickets which cost 13 TL and allow 2 passages.
Boats are an important means of transportation. You can take one like you take the subway, and they connect Istanbul to the surrounding cities like Bursa or Gelibolu as well as Turkey to the Greek islands. But above all, they allow you to go from Europe to Asia. The main landing stages on the European side are : Eminönü, Karaköy Beşikatş and Ortaköy, and on the Asian side: Üsküdar and Kadıköy.
Bike, scooters & co Istanbul
Cycling in Istanbul is at your own risk! In the heart of the city, this practice is strongly discouraged because it is dangerous. However, there are a few cycle paths along the Bosphorus like in Moda, Florya, Bebek... It is possible to rent a bike in Istanbul. Electric scooters(Martı) have recently appeared everywhere in the city. You need to download the Martı app on your phone, look on the map where the nearest scooter is and scan the QR code to unlock and use it. The rental price of a scooter is 2 TL, it costs 6 TL for 5 minutes and 25 TL for half an hour.
With a driver Istanbul
It is possible to book in advance on the Internet a private transfer from the airport to the hotel. It is more comfortable than cabs and there is a fixed price depending on the area. This option, more advantageous for families or groups, will cost less than taking several cabs. You can visit https://www.tavport.com/en/, https://progotravel.com/. Taxis are easily identified by their yellow color and are available everywhere, at any time. Taking a cab is a common thing for the inhabitants of Istanbul. However, taxis have a bad reputation, especially in the tourist areas. Prices vary depending on the route and the traffic jams. Every cab has a meter that tells you how much you have to pay, so make sure that the driver turns it on, otherwise change cabs. Avoid giving large bills, and prefer small bills. Especially in the Sultanahmet area, use public transportation instead. Dolmuş(dolmouche) are private, inexpensive collective cabs that operate 24 hours a day. They start only when they are full (usually it goes pretty fast) and run specific routes. Once on board, you tell the driver your destination and he will tell you the price to pay. The main routes are: Beşiktaş-Taksim; Taksim- Bakırköy; Sariyer- Beşiktaş; Üsküdar-Kadıköy.
By car Istanbul
A French driver's license allows you to drive a vehicle in Turkey. However, we do not recommend renting a car in the center of Istanbul, unless you are trained to drive locally. Indeed, it turns out to be very sporty: it is up to the one who will be the first, and this gives rise to many scuffles and fender-benders. The drivers respect some rules of the road.... but not all! And they are adept at honking their horns. This is not necessarily a sign of irritation, it can also mean "I'm passing", "I'm overtaking" or "go ahead".
Accessibility Istanbul
The traffic in Istanbul is very dense, use tramways, subways and boats as much as possible. For any trip, count wide because you are never safe from a traffic jam. The city is not really accessible for wheelchairs or strollers, but some metro stations have elevators. As a pedestrian, be careful when crossing and don't imitate the Stamboulians who cross at the red light, the cars won't stop!
Tourist traps Istanbul
When you arrive at the airport, don't let yourself be talked into taking the shuttle by private airline touts, who can sometimes be quite insistent. When boarding the shuttle, make sure it's a Havabus or Havaist shuttle, and pay attention to the destination.
