Sightseeing in Istanbul without traffic: tips and tricks

With an area of ​​5,300 square kilometers and more than 16 million people, Istanbul is one of the largest tourist destinations in the world. In this big city, traveling to different parts of the city is a serious challenge for tourists despite the extensive traffic. But there is a wide network of public transportation in Istanbul that makes it easy to travel to different parts of the city.

Many of the sights of Istanbul and the tourist centers of this city are located integrally in its central areas, and to visit them, you can walk part of the routes and another part by means of transportation such as trams and ferries. Using the public transportation system in Istanbul is done easily by using the Istanbul card.

In this article, we will examine the ways of commuting in Istanbul by public transport to escape the heavy traffic of this city.

How to escape Istanbul traffic:

Commute by tram

In Istanbul, there are four main and modern tram lines, one of the most important of which is the T1 line. This line starts from Kabatas ferry terminal and passes by Galata Bridge and many sights of Sultanahmet area.

_{Photo source: tunnel time website, photographer: unknown}

The T5 tram line passes by the colorful and spectacular neighborhoods of “Fener”, “Balat” and “Eyupsultan” on the way to the Golden Horn Bay. The T3 line of the Istanbul tram also travels between Kadıkoy in the Asian part of Istanbul.

Also, two cable train lines (funicular lines) of Istanbul, one on the route of “Karakoy” to Tunnel Square and the other on the route of Kabatash to “Taksim Square”, the T-K tram line is connected to the shopping and entertainment area of ​​Esteghlal Street. and save tourists from walking uphill. At the “Eyup” station of the T-line of a tram, by changing the rail route, you can reach the “Pierre Loti” cafe and its spectacular view.

Use the Marmara subway and underground tunnel lines

Istanbul metro lines are always expanding. These lines extend for about 130 kilometers and connect the new parts of the city.

_{Photo source: isttelkom website, photographer: unknown}

Tourists usually use the M2 subway line between “Haciosman” and “Yenikapi”; This line passes through commercial and shopping centers around Levent, Taksim Square, Shishane in Beyoglu and along Golden Horn Bay.

Marmaray is another type of Istanbul underground rail system that connects to the metro line at Yenikapi station and goes under the Bosphorus towards the Asian part of Istanbul.

Enjoy the cruise in Istanbul

Istanbul’s ferry route is one of the best tourist attractions of this city with spectacular views.

_{Photo source: tours and tickets site, photographer: unknown}

Istanbul boats regularly travel from the Bosphorus to Eminonu, Karakoy, Kabatas and Besiktas on the European side and Kadikoy and Uskudar neighborhoods on the Asian side.

Also, Istanbul ships pass through the Golden Horn Bay once every hour, and during the day several boats go to the Prince Islands or go up and down the Bosphorus Strait.

Use local minibuses and dolmushes

“dolmus” and local Istanbul minibuses are suitable vehicles for commuting between different neighborhoods. Dolmoş means “full” or “full” in Turkish, and dolmoş vehicles, like their name, do not start moving until they are filled with passengers. Istanbul dolmoş are van-like vehicles, usually yellow in color, with several rows of seats. These vehicles travel linearly between two routes. The working hours of the dolmushes are longer than the ferries, and for this reason, they are a good choice for transportation in Istanbul, especially on the routes between Taksim Square to Besiktas Beach and Kadikoy Coastline.

_{Photo source: Selen catalyurekli website, photographer: unknown}

Minibuses are also suitable vehicles for traveling in different routes in Istanbul, which travel longer distances than Dolmuş and move according to a certain schedule. The return routes of minibuses and minibuses are marked on the windshield of these cars. Istanbul minibuses have specific stops to get on and off; But to travel with dolmush, you must inform the driver of your desired destination along the way. Another difference between Dolmush and minibus is that Dolmush drivers receive cash instead of Istanbul cards. In Dolmosh, passengers pay their fares in cash to the driver.

bus; Cheap and quiet transportation in and around Istanbul

There is a wide network of bus lines in Istanbul that sometimes tourists make a mistake in choosing the right line. The most important central bus terminals of Istanbul are located in the underground tunnel of Taksim Square and the parking lot next to Eminonu Wharf.

_{Photo source: Daily Sabah website, photographer: unknown}

Despite the vastness of Istanbul’s bus network and the creation of special traffic routes for them in the city, buses are not completely safe from the heavy traffic of this city. 6 bus lines in Istanbul travel between highways without traffic; But these lines have access to the far commercial and residential areas of the city. In this way, only in some special routes, you can reach the sightseeing centers of Istanbul without traffic and by using the bus.

Use internet taxis

Istanbul taxi drivers have a bad reputation for charging high fares, refusing to use taxi meters, and being rude to foreign tourists. The best way to use a taxi in Istanbul is car rental apps like Uber and BiTaksi. Internet taxi systems in Istanbul are strongly protested by the taxi drivers of this city; For this reason, these applications use yellow and turquoise taxis in a limited way to transport passengers.

Using a bicycle instead of a car

Due to the heavy traffic of Istanbul, the risky driving of drivers in the streets and extensive construction in the city, the use of passenger cars in Istanbul is not very suitable. Many reputable international transportation and car rental agencies have branches around Taksim Square and other places; But traveling by car to visit the attractions of Istanbul can spend a lot of time in traffic.

_{Photo source: Proact Group website, photographer: unknown}

In general, a bicycle is not a suitable vehicle for commuting in Istanbul, and this city does not have the necessary and suitable infrastructure for cycling on the main roads; However, some routes, such as the Marmara coastline on both the Asian and European sides of the city, as well as the routes along the Bosphorus, are pleasant places for cycling.

Various recreational beaches in Istanbul have bicycle rental stations. Prince Islands of Istanbul are also considered as other popular places for cycling among tourists. Apart from bicycles, nowadays many tourists use electric scooters in different parts of Istanbul.

How to use Istanbul card

Istanbul Card is a rechargeable card used for all public transport in Istanbul. You can get this card from the airport, terminals or from ticket counters in selected stations across the city. To get an Istanbul card, you have to pay about 70 lira in 2024 and then charge it from the card readers located at the stations.

_{Photo source: Periodic Adventures website, photographer: unknown}

It is not difficult to use these devices, which are in yellow and blue colors. By purchasing an Istanbul card and charging it, you will benefit from a 30% discount compared to single-board tickets at the stations. Apart from public transportation routes, you can also use the Istanbul Card to use the restrooms available in the city.

Extensive public transport lines in Istanbul

Despite the wide range of transportation lines in Istanbul, the use of these means for people with physical disabilities has serious challenges. Metro lines, trams and ferries are available in almost all parts of the city; But to use them, sometimes you have to climb long stairs or face broken elevators and difficult entrance paths.

Another problem in using public transportation in Istanbul is moving between different lines. Buses and subways are crowded most of the time despite having facilities such as wheelchair entrance space and elevators at the entrance of the stations. Some sidewalks in Istanbul have tactile cobblestones and sound frequencies for physically disabled people; However, the presence of chairs and benches on the way for tourists and inappropriate constructions on these routes cause many problems for people with disabilities. By knowing the conditions in the different transportation lines of Istanbul, you will be able to use these lines properly to escape the traffic of this city.

_{Photo source: Guided Istanbul Tours website, photographer: unknown}

In this article, we have reviewed the ways to pass Istanbul traffic for simple transportation in this city. You can also continue to share your experiences of sightseeing in Istanbul away from the traffic of this city with us and other Kojaro companions.

_{Cover photo from kanal D website, photographer: unknown}