Istanbul Istanbulkart: Public Transport Travel Card

About this tour

The Istanbulkart is the single travel card that gets you around Istanbul on the metro, trams, buses, and the ferries that cross the Bosphorus. One tap covers every mode of transport at discounted fares, so you're not fumbling for tickets at each stop. Reload it online or at any station, and refund whatever's left when you leave. It's how locals get around, and it makes the city simple to explore on your own schedule.

Highlights

• One card for metro, tram, bus, and ferry
• Discounted fares on every ride
• Reload online or at any station
• Tap and go with no separate tickets
• Works citywide across all transit lines

Using Your Istanbulkart: Hours and Practical Tips

Istanbul's public transport typically runs from around 05:00 to 01:00, though exact times vary by line and route. Service is frequent, especially at peak hours, so you rarely wait long, and select routes keep running through the night if you're out late. Your Istanbulkart works the same across all of them, from the metro and trams to city buses and the ferries across the Bosphorus.

There's no dress code to worry about, so just wear whatever's comfortable for a day of walking and riding. Dress for the season and keep in mind that stations and vehicles are often air-conditioned in summer and heated in winter. To skip the biggest crowds, ride during off-peak windows like late morning and early evening rather than through the morning and afternoon rush.

Weather in Istanbul

Today 75°F24°C 61°F16°C Rain 78%

Tomorrow 67°F20°C 59°F15°C Rain 5%

Sun, Oct 25 71°F21°C 58°F14°C Rain 0%

Mon, Oct 26 67°F19°C 61°F16°C Rain 17%

Tue, Oct 27 64°F18°C 60°F16°C Rain 33%

Wed, Oct 28 60°F16°C 57°F14°C Rain 34%

Thu, Oct 29 61°F16°C 54°F12°C Rain 34%

Local time 2:54 AM, UTC+03:00

Available Days / Times

• Monday : 10:00, 11:00, 14:00
• Tuesday : 10:00, 11:00
• Wednesday : 10:00, 11:00, 14:00
• Thursday : 10:00, 11:00, 14:00
• Friday : 14:00
• Saturday : 10:00, 11:00, 14:00
• Sunday : 10:00, 11:00, 14:00

Last updated: Oct 22, 2026