How to get from Ataturk to Istanbul. How to get to the central part of Istanbul from Ataturk airport. Taxi in Istanbul is interesting
How to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center? This question is too complicated to give a short and unambiguous answer. Firstly, Istanbul has two international airports. City authorities promise to build a third. But for now, the main air gates of Istanbul remain the airports named after and Sabiha Gokcen. Now another component of the question: what exactly is considered the center of the city? After all, the metropolis, which is inhabited by eighteen million people, is spread on two banks of the Bosphorus. So, part of it lies in Europe, and the other in Asia. Based on the vast area of \u200b\u200bthe metropolis, the “city center” is a very loose concept. It is located both in Europe and in Asia. But, of course, its geographical scope is much smaller. In this article, we will look at how a traveler who flies to Istanbul to get from his air harbors to the center. It will also provide information for those who need to get from Ataturk Airport to Sabiha as quickly as possible, or vice versa.
What is the center of Istanbul
Let's just say: it lies within the boundaries of Constantinople. But the historical center of the city is very large. Golden Horn Bay divides it into European and Asian parts. The guidebooks call the central two districts (where the main museums and mosques located) and the focus of evening life - Taksim Square. Aksaray, Gulhane and Laleli are also interesting for tourists. If you are interested in the Topkapi Sultan's Palace, then you need it in Gulhane. If you are in Istanbul on the way, and you have two or three hours allocated for exploring the city, feel free to go to Sultanahmet. Most of the main attractions are concentrated in this area. This is the Hagia Sophia Cathedral, Hippodrome, Cistern and others. Do you want to ride a tourist boat, walk along the Galata bridge, take a walk along the Eminenu promenade? This is the Fatih district (Istanbul). How to get from Ataturk Airport to all of these attractions, read on.
The main air gate of Istanbul
This is the oldest airport in the city. It was built in the European part of the metropolis. Twenty-four kilometers separate it from Sultanahmet Square. The airport has been named after the first president of Turkey and the national hero since the eightieth year of the last century. Ataturk (so affectionately called this air harbor) is the third in Europe and the eleventh in the world in the number of passengers served. Naturally, the authorities of Istanbul pay great attention to the connection of the airport with the city. A metro line is stretched to it. Finding a station (it is final) is not difficult. You just need to follow from the arrivals area to the right, following the signs for Metro-Subway to the escalator, which will lower you to the subway. For a one-time trip, you need to buy a token, and if you plan to use public transport often, better buy the "Istanbul Card". There are direct buses from Ataturk to Taksim, Kozyatagi and Etiler (Istanbul). How to get from the airport to the historical center, we’ll talk below. In the meantime, prices. Taxi fare is fifty lire, ten by bus and four by metro.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport: how to get to the center
The hub connects with the city only one (red) metro line. She does not follow to the very historical center. Tourists need to count six stations and get off at the Zeytinburnu stop. Rising from the ground, you should transfer to the T1 light rail. And he is already driving through all the interesting places: Aksaray, Laleli, Sultanahmet, Gulkhan. To taste delicious fish at the Galata bridge, you need to get off at the T1 "Eminonu" tram stop. When changing to another type of public transport, you need a new token. It should be lowered into the turnstile connector - otherwise do not go to the tram stop. Therefore, it is better to use the "Istanbul Maps." It can be replenished for any amount. With it, moving around the largest city in Turkey will be easier and cheaper. Do not think that taxis in Istanbul are the fastest mode of transport. Traffic jams (a passenger pays for them too) in the metropolis are such that it’s better to take the subway.
How to get to Taksim
This area of \u200b\u200bIstanbul is located in the Asian part of the city. For a long time, only a funicular climbed a high hill. Many travel guides still point out the old way of getting from Istanbul Airport to Taksimo. You need to get to Zeytinburnu on the red line (M1). Then transfer to T1 light rail and follow on it to its final stop "Kabatash". There, to find the lower station of the funicular and on this type of public transport go up to Taksim. But now the way to this center of evening fun has become much simpler. The metro builders still laid a tunnel under the strait and extended a green line to Taksim. So, to get to this area, you need to sit at the Kemal Ataturk Airport on M1. Make a change at the Yenikapi station. And already on M2 (green line) drive to the Taksim stop.
From Ataturk Airport by bus
For a long time, this type of land transport was the only link between the air harbor and the Taksim area. If we ask ourselves how to get to Istanbul from Ataturk Airport at night, but in such a way as not to overpay, then after going over several possible options in search of an answer, we will stop on the bus. Passengers are served by the Havatash company. Her buses run from four in the morning until one in the morning. The interval between flights is only half an hour. A ticket costs ten liras, and a trip to Taksim will last about forty minutes (excluding traffic jams). Taxis are an option for the dead of night. The tram runs from six in the morning until midnight.
How to pass the time at Ataturk Airport
So, we landed at Ataturk Havalimani (Istanbul). How to get from the airport to the city day and night, we have already explained. It should be added that Istanbul is a huge metropolis, and the path to its center is not long. Therefore, if you have a pocket between flights for two to three hours, you should not leave the Ataturk Airport. Believe me, there is something to do there, and time will fly by quickly. Firstly, it is duty-free shops. Often in the terminal rooms of the largest hub in Turkey, art exhibitions are organized. There are many coffee houses, restaurants, and even a hairdresser. Wi-Fi is free in all airport terminals. Well, if you want to sleep a bit, then at your service there are waiting rooms of various comforts. There are five hotels in the immediate vicinity of the airport. And one hotel is within walking distance and is connected by a covered passage to the departure area.
What other Istanbul airports are there? Sabiha Gokcen: how to get to the city
This air harbor was built to unload the main gate of the city. One terminal was built in two thousand and seven, and the second in the ninth year. It was decided to name the new airport in honor of Sabiha Gokcen. This is the first woman in Turkey to become a military pilot. In addition, she was the adopted daughter of Kemal Ataturk. Previously, only airliners of low cost airlines such as Sanexpress or Pegasus flew to Sabiha Gokcen Airport. But now quite respectable carriers, such as Turkish Airlines, also land there. It cannot be said that Sabiha Airport was overshadowed by the old hub, but it completely catches up with it. In 2014, it served 23.5 million travelers. And this achievement makes the airport the eighteenth passenger traffic in Europe. Travelers praise the new, modern and comfortable Sabiha terminals. The only negative is the lack of communication with the city. The airport was built in the Asian part of Istanbul, but very far from its center. It is separated from Sultanahmet Square fifty-five kilometers.
Transport connection
Unfortunately, the subway line has not yet been extended from Istanbul to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, and a light rail does not run either. The only means of transportation are taxis and buses. And this remains the subject of frequent complaints from passengers. It's not even about the high cost of a taxi. Traffic jams for Istanbul is a permanent phenomenon. They are not only at night. Therefore, in order to catch the flight, the passenger must take into account that ground transportation can be delayed on the road for an hour, if not more. How to get from Sabiha Airport to Istanbul? A taxi ride will cost from seventy lire (to the Kadikoy district) to one hundred and ten (to Sultanahmet). If you rented a car at the airport, take the E-80 motorway.
From Sabiha to Taksim and Sultanahmet
Now, let's look at how to get to Istanbul by public transport. How to get from Sabiha Gokcen Airport, for example, to Taksim? We leave the international terminal and immediately get to the Khavatash company. Cars run every half hour almost around the clock (from four in the morning to one in the morning). A ticket costs fifteen lire, the trip (excluding traffic jams) will last an hour and a half. Sultanahmet and the surrounding central areas will be more difficult to get to. You can use the services of the same Havatash company and get to the Kadikoy pier, from where the ferry goes to the Eminenu pier. Across the road from the last will be a stop at the high-speed train station, where you need to drive three stops to get to Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
From Sabiha to the train stations
If you plan to travel around Turkey by train, you first need to get to one of the two stations - Khaidarpash or Sirkeci. These stations are located near the marinas. Khaidarpash is near Kadikoy (Asian side), and Sirkeci is next to Eminenyu (European). We have already explained how to get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet. You need to go to the stations in the same way. In addition to Havatash cars, you can use the usual city buses E-10 (makes intermediate stops) or E-11 (express). All of them follow to Kadikoy pier, from where not far from Khaidarpash. If your train leaves the Sirkeci station, you need to use the services of a ferry to get to the European side of Istanbul. But since the fourteenth year, a tunnel under the Bosphorus has been operating - Marmaray. You can go down underground and take the subway. The stop is called “Sirkeci”.
How to get from one airport to another
Quite often, passengers flying by connecting flights choose Istanbul as their destination. How to get from Ataturk Airport to Sabiha? In addition to taxis, there is only one way. These are Havatash buses. You need to get on the car that follows Taksim (read the inscription on the electronic display on the windshield). And there already transfer to another bus that goes to the airport you are interested in. Flights are planned so that you don’t have to wait for the right cars for a long time. Nevertheless, you will have to spend at least two and a half hours on the road.
Istanbul Ataturk International Airport - This is the largest airport in Turkey and the main airport of Istanbul, located in the European part of the city. For 2018, passenger traffic is already 63 million passengers per year. Istanbul Center is 24 km from Ataturk Airport. In this article, we will step by step consider the issue of how to get from Ataturk Airport to the central European and Asian parts of Istanbul by various means of transport. In the article we will give all the necessary maps, prices and you will choose the most convenient option of travel to the city in your opinion.
The following airlines make flights to Istanbul from Russia: Aeroflot, as well as the low-cost airline Victory from in Moscow. Airfare Moscow - Istanbul - from $ 41 two ways. You can see the location of the airport on the city map below.
- The official name of Ataturk Airport in Istanbul in Turkish: İstanbul Atatürk Havalimanı
- Airport code: IATA: IST; ICAO: LTBA
- Ataturk International Airport 2 Terminals: Terminal 1 for domestic flights, Terminal 2 for international flights. Below is the scheme and plan of the arrival and departure halls in the international terminal. The airport has everything you need for tourists: cafes, restaurants, 24-hour luggage storage (cost 15-20 lira per day), a place to relax.
First thing you need to take off after arrival turkish lira at an ATM at the airport, as You can pay for transport and buy tickets only in local currency. In the plan above, you can see where the ATMs are located, they are designated as ATM. To date (2018), the Turey Lira exchange rate is as follows: $ 1 \u003d 4.2 TRY or € 1 \u003d 5 TRY.
Metro and municipal bus tickets are bought as a token in a special machine jetonmatikor in the form of an electronic ticket in a machine called biletmatik. The cost of one trip by metro or bus is 4 Turkish lira (61 rubles) one way.
Metro from Ataturk Airport to Istanbul
Independent tourists will be happy to know that there is a metro line directly from Ataturk Airport to the center of Istanbul. The M1 metro line runs from Ataturk Airport (metro station Havalimani) through the central regions of the European part of Istanbul to the Aksaray bus station. Travel time to Aksaray is 30-35 minutes. The metro runs every 6-10 minutes from 06:00 to 00:00. When leaving the airport from the arrivals area, always look where the metro sign leads.
At the Aksaray metro station, you can transfer from the red line M1 to the blue tram line T1, where you can get to the main ones: Sultanahmet and Sultanahmet Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, European Station.
On the official website of Istanbul Metro Istanbul-ulasim.com.tr. You can find out the current metro schedule, fare, where to buy a ticket and other news of this main transport of the city.
By the way, it is in the European part of the city that I advise you to book a hotel so that it is convenient to get to the airport and walk around the city, between the Aksaray and Sirkeci stops you will find the best hotels in Istanbul, which you can book at the best prices on the Hotellook website.
Bus from Ataturk Airport to Istanbul
The center of Istanbul can also be reached by municipal bus96T. Buses leave for the Bakırköy, Yenikapı, Aksaray Bus Station, Taksim Square, and other areas of the city. Travel time to Taksim Square is about 1 hour. The bus runs approximately every 50 minutes from 07:00 to 21:00.
The center of Istanbul can be reached by express bus Havataş company. The bus follows the route Ataturk Airport (Havalimanı) - Taksim Square. Travel time from the airport to Taksim Square is about 40 minutes, depending on city traffic. The bus runs every 30 minutes from 04:00 to 01:00. You can easily find the bus stop by the Havataş sign.
Fare: 12 Turkish lira (182 rubles) one way (data for 2018). An express bus ticket is bought directly from the driver.
If you need to get to the Asian part of Istanbul, it will be most convenient to catch a ferry departing from the Bakırköy area of \u200b\u200bthe European part to the Bostancı and Kadıköy areas of the Asian part. Travel time to the Kadikoy district is 20 minutes. The ferry runs at intervals from 24 minutes to 1.5 hours from 07:50 to 20:40 on weekdays, on weekends from 09:00 to 22:20. The ferry departure point, Bakırköy district, can be reached by Havataş bus.
Fare: 7.50 Turkish Liras (114 rubles) one way. A ticket is bought at the box office in front of the ferry.
Taxi from Ataturk Airport to Istanbul
You should be very careful with a taxi from the airport in Istanbul: there are frequent cases of cheating, especially for women passengers. My friend, for example, had only dollars with her, a taxi driver took her to the center, took $ 100, did not give change, turned around and left. Therefore, if you want to take a taxi, I advise you to remove the Turkish lira from the ATM and, just in case, rewrite the taxi number, and also make sure that the driver turns on the counter. The fare to the center by taxi at different times of the day can vary greatly, because if you get into a traffic jam, the meter will still tick.
It’s even easier to take a taxi out of place, but pre-order a taxi transfer over the Internet in a Russian company. A Russian-speaking driver will meet you with a sign and take you to your destination without any problems. The fare will be fixed and will not increase, and on the site you can immediately calculate the price of the trip. A taxi ride will be much more comfortable than using public transport, and you will be taken directly to the door of your hotel.
Ataturk Airport will no longer accept passenger flights from April 6, 2019!
However, it will continue its work until 2022 for cargo planes and VIP delegations. In the future, they plan to set up a public park at the airport.
The way to get to Istanbul from the airport will depend on the area where you are heading. If you plan to settle in the historical center, the Sultanahmet district, then it will be most convenient for you to use the metro (with a tram), which will take you 60 minutes and 12 lire. If you are heading to the tourist area of \u200b\u200bTaksim, then a bus is best (11 lire and 40 minutes). The distance from Ataturk Airport to Istanbul is approximately 20 km (Sultanahmet), and 29 km to Taksim. Taxi prices to the Sultanahmet area start at $ 26 (and from $ 10 per shuttle seat). To get from Ataturk to another Sabiha Gokcen airport, you will have to overcome 70 km.
Transport in Istanbul is well developed and quite comfortable. New metro lines open every year, and commercial buses from Ataturk already go to other nearby cities in Turkey. The only feature of the route is forced transfers, which should be taken into account both in terms of load (crossings with luggage), and financially, as The cost of your trip to the city center is summed up from several tickets. Please also note that metro and bus tickets must be purchased in local currency - lira. You can pay with taxi drivers in dollars, and the transfer is paid in advance online in your currency.
If you are interested in not only getting to Istanbul, but also having fun there, be sure to read our detailed digests in the new Travel Blender project. For example, you can find out. For those who prefer to explore the country through its gastronomic wonders, we have prepared a voluminous guide "Restaurants and cuisine of Istanbul, where you should book a table." And if you are a fan of nightlife, be sure to read our guide to Istanbul's wine cellars and bars to enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
Istanbul - the charm of the East
Istanbul is the largest and one of the most beautiful cities in Turkey, located on the shores of the Bosphorus. On the one hand, this city is full of oriental flavor, on the other - due to the proximity of Europe - it is a dynamically developing center of arts and sciences. The former capital of the Ottoman Empire and Byzantium welcomes millions of tourists every year in both the winter and summer seasons. Due to its historical heritage, artifacts of ancient eras are perfectly preserved here: churches, mosques, palaces and squares, as well as historical bazaars.
Bus from Istanbul Airport (Havatas)
Cost
Expectation
Travel time
For whom
Indus tourist
The bus from Istanbul Airport to the Taksim district under the Havatas brand runs almost around the clock. however, if your flight is from 1 night to 4 in the morning, you will not be able to use the bus. The route does not involve transfers, however, you will have to get from the place where the bus stops to the hotel. The fare is 11 lire. This is a good option that will save travelers without small children and bulk luggage.
Timetable:
from 04:00 to 01:00
The final stop of the route:
taksim district
Travel time:
40 minutes, excluding traffic jams
Expectation:
Comfort:
medium: comfortable buses, luggage places, ordering tickets online
Price:
11 lire (approximately $ 3.7)
For whom:
light, without small children, knowledge of the route, knowledge of the language
How to find a bus stop from Ataturk:
The Havatas bus stop at Ataturk Airport is located next to the exit area of \u200b\u200bthe terminal building. It is easy to recognize it by the large white buses parked next to it with the company logo on the case.
Cost
Expectation
Travel time
For whom
The red metro line of Istanbul comes to the airport station - the station is called Havalimanı. It is easy to get to it from the arrival terminal, but you will have to go to the central areas of the city with a change to a light rail. The total price including transplant will be from 12 lire (about $ 4), on the way you will spend more than 60 minutes without traffic jams. Metro in Istanbul is a great option, but because of the load on the route with 2 transfers, we do not recommend this method to mothers with young children and older tourists. The metro does not go at night.
Timetable:
from 06:00 to 00:00
Route:
Havalimanı stop (Airport) - Zeytinburnu station - transfer to T1 light rail to Aksaray, Laleli, Sultanahmet, Gülhane stations (if you are going to Sultanahmet district) or to Kabatas station (Taksim district)
! Important: from Kabatas station you have to get to Taksim by funicular for an additional fee
Travel time:
Expectation:
about 10 minutes
Comfort:
Price:
4 lira per metro ticket
4 lira per ticket
4 liras for a cable car ticket
For whom:
traveling alone, couples with children from 6 years
How to find the metro station at Istanbul Airport:
To find the metro station, leaving the hall of the international arrival terminal, go right almost to the end. Follow the signs for "Metro / Subway", go down the escalator, the subway entrance will be on the right.
Istanbul has two airports – ataturk International Airport (or simply Ataturk) and sabiha Gokcen International Airport, named in honor of the adopted daughter of the “father of all Turks” Sabiha, Turkey’s first female military pilot.
If you plan to stay in the historical center of Sultanahmet or in the business district of Taksim, it is more convenient to fly to Istanbul at Ataturk Airport - it is located in the European part of the city 24 kilometers from the main tourist area.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located in the Asian part of the city, 35 kilometers from the historical center, where it is customary to settle with tourists. Therefore, the road from / to Sabiha is much longer and will cost more, especially if you decide to take a taxi. This should be borne in mind when booking a ticket to Istanbul and choosing an arrival airport (some Russian airlines fly to Ataturk, and some to Sabiha).
Also, no matter what airport you fly from Istanbul, you must remember that, no matter what kind of transport you use, enormous traffic jams and transport overlays are possible along the way (with the possible exception of the metro). In addition, the airlineTurkishairlines Strictly complies with the rule that registration for international flights is closed no later than 60 minutes before departure. Given the possible traffic jams on the way to the airport, the lines for inspection at the entrance to the airport building and for registration, whichTurkishairlines total for all flights of the airline (commoncheck- in), many passengers are simply late and have to pay in full or in part the ticket for the next flight. This is important to know, especially when planning a departure from Istanbul by the Turkis.
So, from Ataturk Airport to get to Sultanahmet:
By metro + tram
This is one of the fastest ways, which in the case of large traffic jams in Istanbul (and they happen all the time) is also the most reliable. Travel time is approximately 45 to 60 minutes.
After passing through passport control at the airport, you need to focus on pointers to metro. After a rather long journey by signs, you will arrive at the airport ataturk Havalimani Metro Station. Once you get on the subway, you need to catch the train going towards Aksaray (it is impossible to make mistakes and take the opposite direction, since the airport is the terminal station of this red line). You need to go to the sixth station after the airport - Zeytinburnu. At Zeytinburnu, transfer to t1 light rail heading towards Eminonu or Kabataş(pay for the fare again with a token or pass a card through the turnstile for several trips). A tram passes through the entire historical center of Sultanahmet, and you just have to get off at the stop nearest to the hotel you booked.
From Ataturk Airport to get to Taksim:
More options on public transport:
By metro + tram (as described above - ataturk Havalimani metro \u003d\u003e transfer at Zeytinburnu station to T1 light rail, then get to the Kabataş stop) After exiting the tram at Kabataş, you then need to use the funicular (F1), which will take you directly to Taksim Square.
Metro - Ataturk Havalimani metro \u003d\u003e 17 stops on the red line to the final Yenikapi, where to transfer to the green line M2 and get a few stops on it to Taksim station (the square of the same name).
Due to the number of transfers and travel time (up to two hours), both methods cannot be called convenient.
Therefore, if your hotel (in Sultanahmet or Taksim) is located far from public transport, you doubt whether it can be easily found, you have bulky luggage, you travel in a group of two or more people - then we advise to order taxi-transfer in advance with a large international company.Such a transfer will prove to be a more reliable method and often costs much less than a taxi directly at the airport. In addition, Istanbul taxi drivers do not try to “cheat” you, since the cost of the trip is known in advance and will not change (without unpleasant surprises). It is also convenient that the driver will wait at the airport at the exit of the arrivals area with a sign that says your last name.
Ataturk Airport: how to get to the city by metro, taxi and bus. How to get from the airport to Taksim and Sultanahmet. Step-by-step instructions for those traveling to Istanbul.
To begin with, there are two airports in Istanbul. One is located in Europe (Atatürk), and the other in Asia (Sabiha Gokcen Airport). The first is considered the main one. The second - additional (here, as a rule, flights are operated by low-cost airlines). I already wrote about how to get to the center from Sabiha Gokcen Airport in my previous article (read it if you want). Today, I will very briefly tell you how to get to the city from Ataturk Airport. In fact, this is not difficult.
Let's define concepts
Istanbul is a big city. Therefore, with a certain degree of conventionality, several different regions can be considered here as a “center”. Most of the attractions are concentrated in Istanbul on the historic Fatih Peninsula (in the Sultanahmet area). Here is Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, Topkapi Palace, the Basilica Cistern and many other important sights of the city. However, the word “center” is also often understood, for example, in the Beyoglu district (with the pedestrian Istiklal Street, Taksim Square and the Galata Tower). Getting here from the airport is easier.
Therefore, if you are in Istanbul for the first time, be sure to read the article, the link to which is given below. It will help you better navigate the city, as well as understand in which part of Istanbul it is better to rent a house. I repeat - Istanbul is a very big city. Therefore, it is very important here.
Three different driving options
You can do this at once in several different ways: by subway, by Havabus bus, or, for example, by taxi. With the latter option, I think, there is no need to explain anything. Airport Taxi will cost around 25-30 dollars. You can catch it near the exit from the international terminal.
They stop right there the busesHababus.
They run from 4 a.m. to 1 a.m. You can get with their help at a stop near Taksim Square. The fare is 12 lire. Schedule and all detailed information can be viewed on the website havabus.com.
However, this option only becomes relevant if your flight arrives late at night. In all other cases cheaper and more convenient to get to the city by metro.
It is open in Istanbul from 6 a.m. until midnight. One of the stations (Havalimani) is located right at the airport. The only thing to note here is that you will have to walk to it for quite some time. There are crossings, escalators, and entire "streets" of shops. The comrades themselves drive around the airport to such miniature cars.
You, in order not to get lost, can simply navigate along the arrows.
They, like Danko with a burning heart, will show you the way in the dark.
How to get by metro to the area of \u200b\u200bIstiklal Street and Taksim Square
Step number 1. On the red subway line we reach the Yenikapi station.
Step number 2. We pass onto the green branch and continue on to Taksim or Sishane station (this is the beginning of Istiklal Street, not far from the Galata Tower).
The metro map is presented below.
Everything - you are in place. The only thing to note here is that each transplant is paid separately. About buying Istanbul Card and money exchange, I will write below.
How to get to Sultanahmet by metro
Everything is a little more complicated here. So ... According to the signs, we get to the entrance to the metro, change money, pay for travel, and go to the city.
Step number 1. We get to the Zeytinburnu station and exit to the surface.
Step number 2. We take the T1 tram and go to the desired stop (Laleli, Sultanahmet, Gulkhan). Look at the map that is closer to your hotel.
That's all. You can pay for the metro and tram using the so-called Istanbul Card. About what it is, I will write separately.
How to change money and buy Istanbul Card directly at the airport
First of all, what is it and why is it needed. Istanbul Card is a single travel card for all (more precisely - almost all) modes of transport in Istanbul. With this card you can pay for travel by metro, tram, bus and even by funicular or ship). You can buy it in two ways:
- At the kiosk.
- In special devices at the stations.
It costs 6 lira (sometimes a little more). Another 5-10 lira you will need to subsequently throw on the card itself. Of course, in order to carry out this operation, you first need to change the money. This can again be done in two ways.
- At the banks at the airport.
- In stores that you meet along the way.
Moreover, in the second case, the course may even be more profitable. All you need to do is go to the checkout and ask if you will be exchanged for money here.
Money changed. Now you can go buy an Istanbul Card and throw money at it. I repeat: you can buy the card itself at the kiosk, but in order to throw money at it, in any case, you will need such a yellow machine.
They stand right at the entrance to the subway. We put the card on the screen, select the Russian language, put money into the device and send it to the account. All. Now you can pick it in any vehicle.
One trip aroundIstanbulCard costs 2.15 lire. But with each transfer within 120 minutes you will receive discounts. The first transplant will cost you 1.45 lira, the second 1.15 lira, all subsequent ones - 0.85. In practice, it works like this: we went into the subway - paid 2.15 lire; switched to another station - paid another 1.45. Transferred to the tram - paid another 1.15.
You can also buyIstanbulCard one for two or even for the whole company. But in this case, all trips will be paid at the full rate (2.15).
How to organize a trip to Istanbul and save
Personally, we traveled to Turkey from Vilnius with a UIA flight for 120 euros (price for a two-way flight). From Minsk such a flight cost almost twice as much. You can read about all the nuances of ticket search. If you are very lucky to buy tickets to the largest city in Turkey, you can even for 40 euros (round-trip). The main thing is to know where to look for such offers.
As for rental housing, I advise you in this regard to use two sites: RoomGuru and AIRBNB. The first one looks a bit clumsy, but it compares prices at different sites and quickly shows where a particular number is the cheapest. The second - offers instead of hotels apartments and rooms "from the owners." Often you can remove them even cheaper than hotels. Especially considering the many bonuses AIRBNB. You can get the first one, for example, by registering here at this link.
Travel Insurance for Turkey thing is optional. But! It costs cheap, you can even issue it online, and therefore I personally do not see much point in saving here. Personally, I always buy insurance for travel. Here are collected reliable insurance companies. And the site itself is made so that you can immediately compare the offers of different companies. Remember: insurance insurance is different. Therefore, for example, I really like that on this site you can immediately see which insurance has more options included and is better suited to you in terms of price / quality ratio.
Excursions in Istanbul are a popular thing. The city is big, so there are a lot of guides here. Personally, I usually walk around the city without a guide, but if you just can't live without them, I advise you to look for them on sites such as. Often, here you can find something really cool and original (from unusual quests to excursions with a professional photo shoot). As for me, this is still better than classic walks in the style of "Look left, look right."
