ISTANBUL TRANSIT

DOs and DO NOTs

DO

Plan on using public transit.

Loading 50 Turkish Lira of a smart card will give you enough rides to use the subway, tram system, and ferries on the Bosphorus.

The smart card even covers the 1 Turkish Lira entry fee to a clean public restroom.

All mosques have public water closets.

They are spotless clean. 

DO NOT

Pay 40 euros for a car service from Ataturk Airport to your hotel.

Even if you are splitting it 4 ways, you are spending about 13 bucks each, plus driver tip, for a trip that will take twice as long as the train.

The subway is connected to the airport.

You can load up a smart card – with English directions – before entering the train.

You make one easy stop to the subway line that goes into the old city.

It’s about 1 USD for a one way subway ride.

Plus, you get to see neighborhoods, as the trains are above ground about half the ride in.