Istanbul - Discover Turkey: Experience the Best of Turkey - page 200

İstanbul. From the international departures hall, follow the 'Metro/Subway' signs down
the escalators and through the underground walkway. The entire trip takes around 60/70/
95 minutes to Sultanahmet/Eminönü/Taksim.
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Taxis cost around " 90/120 to Taksim/Sultanahmet.
Havataş (Havaş) Airport Buses travel to the Havaş ticket office on Cumhuriyet Caddesi
( " 12, 90 minutes), just off Taksim Meydanı, between 5am and midnight; after midnight
there are shuttle services 30 minutes after every flight arrival.
Funicular Railway
The 19th-century Tünel climbs the steep hill from Karaköy to the foot of the İstiklal Cad-
desi ( " 1.40). The three-minute service runs from 7am to 9pm Monday to Friday (from
7.30am on weekends), every five or 10 minutes.
A modern funicular railway climbs from Kabataş to Taksim Meydanı ( " 2). The three-
minute service runs around every three minutes.
Metro
A line connects Şişhane, near Tünel Meydanı in Beyoğlu, and Taksim Meydanı ( " 2). Ser-
vices run every five minutes or so from 6.15am until midnight.
Taxi
Rates are reasonable; Sultanahmet to Taksim Meydanı will cost around " 15, with no even-
ing surcharges.
If you take a taxi over either of the Bosphorus bridges it is your responsibility to cover the
toll. The driver will add this to your fare.
Tram
An excellent tramvay (tramway) service runs past Zeytinburnu (where it connects with the
metro to/from the airport) to Beyazıt-Kapalı Çarsı (for the Grand Bazaar), Sultanahmet,
Eminönü, Karaköy (connecting with the Tünel) and Kabataş (connecting with the funicu-
lar to Taksim Meydanı). Services run every five minutes from 6am to midnight. The fare
is " 2; jetons are available from machines at tram stops.