Means of transport Istanbul

This private company manages certain maritime links in the city of Istanbul. The deniz otobüsü - fast boats - mainly cover long distances. They also allow you to go to the Princes' Islands and across the Marmara Sea: to Bursa, Bandırma or Yalova. In any case, get the leaflet indicating the lines and timetables, available at all ticket offices. The most important port is Yenikapi.

Below are the main lines of the visits that can be made to Istanbul.

Towards Saint-Sauveur-in-Chora. From Taksim, 77MT (Edirnekapı) and 87 (Edirnekapı).

From Eminönü to the Golden Horn. The 47 (Yeşilpınar) and 47Ç (Güzeltepe) completely follow the shoreline to miniatürk.

Sarıyer-Kilyos (151). To the northwest, the seaside district. Bus 40 from Sariyer and then take a dolmuş.

Üsküdar-Beykoz (15 or 15E). Near the mosque. A little over an hour. Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi, Çengelköy, Vaniköy, Küçüksu, Kanlıca

Whether you land on the European or Asian side, the Havabus shuttle is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to reach your destination. Always be there 5 minutes before departure: the shuttles are usually extremely punctual. All schedules are available on the website. From Sabiha Gökçen, go to Kadıköy (45 min) and Taksim. Depending on the traffic, the travel time can double, so count wide preferably. During busy periods, you may have to let a bus pass due to lack of space.

The company serves the entire country. You can go from almost anywhere in France to anywhere in Turkey. The service on board is impeccable, the meals are copious and of good quality. The staff is welcoming and courteous. Kids are not to be outdone with a bunch of gadgets, toys and notebooks for games and colouring: they won't see time pass, and neither will you! Entertain yourself with a wide choice of films. For small budgets, there are economical flights that offer very affordable prices.

This is where most low-cost flights land. It is located on the Asian side. We advise you not to take a taxi, which is very expensive from this airport, and which will swallow up all the savings you have made by travelling on a low-cost flight. Choose Havabus buses (departures from the airport every half hour from 4am to 1am, to Taksim and Kadıköy). Smaller than the other airport, you will find the post office, restaurants and bars, two banks and a currency exchange office. On arrival and departure, you benefit from the duty free shop.

There are two funiculars in Istanbul, with the same fare as other transportation in the city and which make the same trip between Kabataş and Taksim :

Funicular: very convenient. It connects the Zeitinburnu-Kabataş streetcar line with Taksim.

Tünel or "Old Metro". It is the second oldest subway in the world (1871) after London's, and it is still in operation. It was built by the Frenchman Eugene Henri Gavand to connect the city's business districts. It avoids the Galata slope and runs until late at night.

The Turkish low-cost airline offers daily flights from Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Nice and Istanbul. There are connections between Orly-Sud for Paris and Sabiha Gökçen airport in Istanbul. Wide choice of domestic and international flights available. Check carefully the dimensions (size and weight) of the baggage imposed by the airline. Please note that during the flight, drinks and snacks are available for a fee. This low-cost airline, for its affordable prices, offers you a comfortable trip with a quality service.

It is one of the two main stations of Istanbul and the only one located on the European side of the city. Its history is rich, it remains essentially famous for having been the terminal station of the mythical Orient-Express train which made Paris-Istanbul between 1895 and 1977. Today it is mainly the Istanbul suburban trains and international trains to Europe that transit through the station Sirkeci. Oriental style, the exterior and interior of the station are decorated with earthenware and stained glass windows very nice.

Istanbul Şehir Hatları AŞ Genel Müdürlüğü is a transport company based in Istanbul. No: 63/A, 34440 Beyoğlu/İstanbul. The company offers ferry and cruise services on the Bosphorus, as well as boat rental and shipyard services.

This private company is one of the first competitors of the municipality's boats. It offers various trips between the two shores, cruises on the Bosporus and trips to the Princes' Islands. The advantage of these private boats is that they provide the connection Kabataş-Üsküdar (from 6:45 am to midnight every day, a boat every 15 minutes), unlike the municipality, for the same rate as city boats. Possibility to eat on board. Timetables to be consulted on the website.

This bus station is located far from the city centre and can be reached by metro via the M1B line (Yenikapı- Kirazlı). It is necessary to count one visit every 10 minutes. Buses from the town hall also go there: from Taksim (83-O), Beşiktaş (28-O), Mecidiyeköy (500-ES, this one comes from the Asian side) and Eminönü (91-O). It is the largest bus station in Istanbul and it is from here that most buses depart for major cities. Choose your bus company upstream because it is difficult to make your choice on site because of the reelers.

The city manages almost all of Istanbul's maritime links. Ideal transport to travel on both sides of the Bosphorus, there are many ports, so that it is as easy to take the boat as any other means of transport. It is also possible to visit the Princes' Islands. Boats have the advantage of avoiding the city's endless traffic jams and thus saving you time. There are departures every 15 minutes between Europe and Asia. It is also a great way to discover Istanbul.

Located in Karaköy and close to the Galata Bridge, this port welcomes cruise ships. You can easily see it from the historical city (Golden Horn side). It includes a tourist office. In addition to hosting ships, it is also a shopping center and a cultural space. It is a huge project that was born in 2022 and should attract tourists. The architecture of the port is sober and it has an underground terminal, a world first! If you don't like shopping, a path along the Bosphorus has been developed.

A fleet of luxury Neoplan, for a comfortable and functional trip. Hot drinks and snacks are offered throughout your trip, and you can watch movies or play video games. They serve about the same cities as Varan (normal, they are two big competitors) and the prices are almost identical: not necessarily cheap! But since the family that owns the company is from Karadeniz, they offer destinations in the Black Sea region, including the beautiful city of Trabzon.

They are orange and flanked by "Atatürk Havalimanı". A trip to the old city takes about 35 TL and to Taksim about 50-55 TL. These fares are subject to large variations depending on the price of gasoline. The coastal road (sahil yolu) is generally used. The driver may or may not search for the address. A luminous point indicates the Gündüz day rate (from 6 am to midnight), two points indicate the night rate (gece, from midnight to 6 am, increased), to be checked! Up to 4 people can be accommodated.

This private company also provides numerous trips between the two shores, with the possibility of paying with the Istanbulkart card. It is also possible to travel to the Princes Islands from Karaköy, Eminönü (every hour). The company offers cruises on the Bosporus from Üsküdar and Kadıköy (departures every hour). Many platforms are served and the rates are similar to those offered by the city hall shuttles. Check the schedules on the site, possibility to book tickets in advance.

Don't be surprised if a cab honks its horn as it passes you by: it's its own way of letting you know that it's free, and it's up to you to wave if you're interested! Easily identified by their yellow color, four or even five people can get in. In the heart of the tourist area, scams are possible, but not uncommon: ask for the meter no matter what. And as with the bus, beware of traffic jams! Recently, Uber has become fashionable in Stambouli, but beware: this company is prohibited by Turkish law.

The Marmaray is a metro that runs under the Bosphorus and connects the two continents in just 7 minutes, avoiding traffic jams. It serves the stations of Kazlıçeşme, Yenikapi, Sirkeci, Üsküdar and Ayrılık Çeşmesi (Kadiköy). Very practical if you are in Sirkeci and want to drink a salep quickly, while admiring Léandre d'Üsküdar's tower. The company in charge of this metro being different, you will have to pay a passage to the turnstiles to access it. The Istanbulkart card does not work here, so be prepared.