About Istanbul

Istanbul is a smorgasbord of scent and sound, infused with the character of two continents.

The city of Istanbul offers a trip unlike any other, encompassing Asian and European cultures to create a heady mix of art, music and food. The amazing Old Town and the Sultanahmet are home to iconic Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. More history is hidden in the Topkapi Palace, where you can glimpse the splendour and opulence of Turkey’s Ottoman heritage.

Just before dawn, there’s an eerie silence in Istanbul before the city erupts into life, when the call to morning prayers reverberates through the ancient markets and winding alleys. Ferry across the Bosphorus to experience a startling contrast between East and West.

Istanbul’s main airport lies 20 kilometres from the city centre. Taxis are readily available and are the most convenient way to reach the centre – they cost around 45 TRY and take 30 minutes in mild traffic. The Havatas Bus to Taksim Square is more cost effective. It departs every 30 minutes on the hour between 04:00–01:00, costs around 10 TRY and takes around 30 minutes. From Taksim Square, catch either a taxi or metro to your end destination.

The ‘Hafif Metro’ is very efficient. There are two main lines: Yenikapı to Ataturk Airport (M1A) and Yenakapi to Haciosman (M2). The M1 runs every 5 minutes from 06:00–00:30 from Monday to Saturday, every 8 minutes on Sunday. The M2 line runs from 06:15–00:30 Monday to Saturday (from 06:30 on Sunday). To use the metro, purchase a token from a machine to pass the turnstiles, or swipe in with an ‘Istanbulkart’ (available at some Biletmatik machines).

Taxis are easy to find – simply stop at a taxi stand or hail one from the street. They’re reasonably priced when compared to those in Western Europe and the US, making them an affordable way to travel. Official taxis are bright yellow with the words ‘taksi’ on top and always have digital meters. Language is often an issue, so always have your destination written on a piece of paper. If you incur toll charges, these will be added to the final charge.

Inner-city bus service hubs can be found in Taksim Square, Aksaray and Beşiktaş on the European side, and Üsküdar and Kadıköy on the Asian side. Bus shelters are easily available on the main routes. Services operate from 06:30–23:30 and destinations are displayed at the front of the bus. Ticket prices vary by destination and must be bought from the white booths near major stops before boarding. Purchase an Akbil or ‘Istanbul Kart’ to save on fares.

Ferries and ‘sea-buses’ are a fun and fast way to move between the European and Asian sides. There are four ferry companies in operation; the fastest and most popular is ‘IDO’. The major docks on the European side can be found in Eminönü, Sirkeci and Karaköy. Tickets cost around TRY 3.00 for a single ‘economy class’ ticket (around 1.95 TRY with an Istanbul Kart), which can be purchased at the ferry terminal. Note that timetables change seasonally.

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