We have now spent 8 weeks living in Istanbul, and I have to say that we have thouroughly enjoyed the city. One of the main reasons for that enjoyment is the fact that we are able to get around it so easily and explore all the cool nooks and crannies that it has to offer.
This is all thanks to the super effiecient and affordable Istanbul Metro system. The entire system includes ferries, buses, trains, undergrounds and even a gondola!
But the Istanbul Metro is so Intimidating!
Trust us, we know! When we first arrived we tried to figure it out through the website, but that just led to more confusion! It just looked like a crazy spiderweb of lines, and we couldn’t fathom how we would ever be able to figure out how to get anywhere!
But by just getting on and overcoming the intimidation factor, we realized that it is all actually very well thought out, and super easy to navigate once you get the hang of it.
The Istanbul Metro is affordable!
It took us a day to figure out just how cheap the Islanbul Metro really is. But once we did, there was no stopping us! By purchasing an Istanbul Card (see video below) you will be able to travel from one corner of the city to the other, for literally 50 cents! There are no zones and you can travel the full length of whatever transit you are on, for just one entry.
On top of that, as you transfer from one bus to the next, or the train to the bus, or the bus to the boat, you will get a special transfer fare that works as follows:
The Istanbul Card charges 3,50 TL (50 cents!) for the 1st ride and allows you to travel at a discount when you change vehicles on the same line. It charges on the 2nd time: 2,50 TL, 3rd time: 1.90 TL, 4th time: 1,20 TL
You can spend rainy days hopping on the above ground trains to get a great cheap tour of the city, or hop on one of the multitudes of ferry boats that ply the waters across the bosphorous on those beautiful sunny days! The options to get around the city are literally endless!
No matter what transit option you choose, you can be sure that your experience will be a good one! All transit options run frequently and efficiently!
But how do I know what bus or train number to catch?
The easiest way to figure this out is to use your google maps app. Simply enter in the destination that you want to go to and the app will do the rest! Check out the screenshots of one example below!
It is truly amazing how technology can assist us in these days, and we have been thouroughly impressed with this particular technology. The app will lead you directly to the bus stop you need to wait at, will give you the estimated time of arrival, plus it will even tell you if it is crowded or busier than usual!
Are You Ready To Ride the Istanbul Metro?
If you haven’t tried the Istanbul Metro, you really should. Leave the hassles of traffic behind as you weave your way through this magical city by bus, train, or even by ferry! You will not only see so many wonderful things pass by your windows, but you will get a true taste of how the Istanbul locals go about their daily business.
Bon Voyage!
