Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting Around
Tram
Best for…
Travelling between Sultanahmet and Beyoğlu.
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An excellent
tramvay
(tramway) service runs from Bağcılar, in the city's west, to Zeytin-
burnu (where it connects with the metro from the airport) and on to Sultanahmet and
Eminönü. It then crosses the Galata Bridge to Karaköy (to connect with the Tünel) and
Kabataş (to connect with the funicular to Taksim Sq).
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Services run every five minutes from 6am to midnight.
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The fare is 2;
jetons
(transport tokens) are available from machines on every tram stop.
Funicular
Best for...
The steep uphill climb from all tram stops to İstiklal Caddesi.
›
A funicular saves passengers the steep walk from Karaköy to İstiklal Caddesi. Known as
the Tünel, the three-minute service ( 1.40) operates every five or 10 minutes from 7am to
9pm Monday to Friday (from 7.30am on weekends).
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Another funicular connects the Kabataş tram stop with the metro station at Taksim Sq.
The service operates between 6am to midnight and
jetons
cost 2.
Tickets & Passes
If you plan to use public transport during your time in the city, consider purchasing an
İstanbulkart
. These rechargeable
travel cards are simple to operate: as you enter a bus or pass through the turnstile at a ferry dock, tram stop or metro sta-
tion, swipe your card for entry and the fare will automatically be deducted from your balance. The cards offer a consider-
able discount on fares and they can be used to pay for fares for more than one traveller (one swipe per person per ride).
The cards can be purchased for a refundable deposit of 10 and charged with amounts between 5 and 150. Unfor-
tunately, they are a bit difficult to access - you need to find a kiosk displaying an 'Akbil' or 'İstanbulkart' sign. The most
