How to Get to Istanbul

Check which airport you're landing at before you book a hotel. Istanbul Airport is on the European side, Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side, and they are more than an hour apart by road.

Istanbul Airport (IST)

The main hub and home of Turkish Airlines, far out near the Black Sea coast north-west of the centre. The M11 metro runs from under the terminal to Gayrettepe, where you change to the M2 for Taksim, Şişhane (for Galata) or Vezneciler (a short walk to the Grand Bazaar). M11 also connects with the M7 at Kağıthane, and its western branch now continues to Halkalı for the Marmaray line. The metro doesn't run through the night.

Havaist buses leave from outside arrivals around the clock, with routes to Taksim, Beşiktaş, Kadıköy and the old city. With heavy bags, a bus to near your hotel often beats a metro journey with two changes. A taxi takes around 45 minutes to over an hour depending on traffic.

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)

Used mostly by Pegasus and other budget airlines. The M4 metro runs from the terminal to Kadıköy in under an hour. For the old city, change at Ayrılık Çeşmesi to the Marmaray, which runs in a tunnel under the Bosphorus to Sirkeci, a few minutes' walk from Sultanahmet. Havabus coaches go to Taksim and Kadıköy, and a taxi across one of the bridges can take a long time at rush hour.

The Istanbulkart

This rechargeable card pays for the metro, tram, Marmaray, buses, city ferries and the funiculars. Buy one from the yellow machines at the airports and in most stations, and top it up with cash or a card. One card can be tapped several times for a group. Bosphorus tour boats sell their own tickets.

Getting around the city

The T1 tram is the line you'll use most. It runs from Kabataş through Karaköy, Eminönü, Sirkeci, Gülhane, Sultanahmet and Beyazıt. From Kabataş the F1 funicular climbs to Taksim, and from Karaköy the Tünel, opened in 1875, climbs to the bottom of İstiklal Avenue. Ferries link Eminönü, Karaköy, Beşiktaş, Kabataş, Üsküdar and Kadıköy, and they're often faster than anything on the road.

By train or bus

High-speed trains from Ankara arrive at Söğütlüçeşme on the Asian side, close to Kadıköy, and some continue to Halkalı in the west. Long-distance buses use the Esenler otogar, a large terminal on the M1 metro line.

Entry rules

Turkey is not in the Schengen Area and runs its own rules. Many nationalities can visit without a visa for short stays, while others need an e-Visa, which you should buy only on the official site, evisa.gov.tr. Check the current rules for your passport before you travel.