Istanbul Transportation Tips by SirRichard

'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: There is a modern tram that goes up and down Divan Yolu Caddesi.
There are several lines, even one going to the airport in 45 minutes. To go to/from the airport, you will have to transfer in "Zeytinburu" stop, go out and then crossing by the bridge take a different train (inserting a new jeton).
Trains start at 6 in the morning and the ride costs 1 million (about 0.60 euros). Buy the jetons at the entrance stands.
For a detailed map, look at the web below...

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Website: http://www.metropla.net/eu/ist/istanbul.htm

'Mode': TO
Category: Airplane
Getting TO/AROUND: The Ataturk International airport is located 24km (15 miles) west of Istanbul. There are 2 terminals.
You can get here by BUS from Taksim, every half hour between 06:00-23:00. (Price: 2,400,000 TL, aprox 4 USD). A Taxi to Taksim could cost U about 12 USD.
There's also a light RAILWAY from Aksaray to the airport (400.000 TL), with the following stops: Aksaray, Emniyet, Ulubatli (Topkapi), Bayrampasa, Sagmalcilar, Kartaltepe, Bus Terminal, Esenler, Terazidere, Davutpasa, Merter, Zeytinburnu, Bakirkoy, Bahcelievler, Atakoy, Yenibosna, Airport.

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Phone: (0)212 663 6262
Website: http://www.ataturkairport.com
Other Contact: oksan.kirogullari@tav.com.tr

'Mode': TO
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: If you are looking for cheap flight tickets or tours around Turkey, at the beginning of Divan Yolu (the avenue from Hagia Sophia to the west) you will find a lot of small travel agencies offering discounts for students, and so.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Bus
Getting TO/AROUND: There are daily buses from Istanbul to Teheran, first step to the classical land travel to India. The bus takes 40 hours and costs about 60$ return.
For tickets, go to any of the little agencies beneath the Laleli Mosque, in Ordu Caddesi.

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'Mode': TO
Category: Train
Getting TO/AROUND: This is the first highlight of Istanbul that you will see if you arrive by train from Greece. At this station arrived the famous Orient Express and it keeps some of the flavour of those 1920-30 years. Some of the waiting rooms are the original and the “Orient Express Restaurant” is decorated with Agatha Christie’s photographs and other memorabilia of that era.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: Even if you are not going to any specifical place, taking at least once the local ferries is a nice experience. Here they work as local buses, as they daily carry people from their residences (most in Uskudar, asian side) to the center (Sultanahmet, Europe), in less than 15 minutes.
Buy the “jetons” (little coins used as tickets) at the ticket offices in Eminonu, by the Galata Bridge, and cross the Bosphorus. You will have an unforgettable view of Istanbul from the sea!!

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'Mode': TO
Category: Ship/Boat
Getting TO/AROUND: If you wanna spend one day at the Princess Islands (a group of islands where istanbulians spend summer by the sea) there is a new hidrofoil that takes you there faster than the normal ferry.
You can take it from the last pier in Eminonu, close to the Galata Bridge.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Other
Getting TO/AROUND: This nice old tram, recently refurbished, is the only vehicle allowed along Istiklal Caddesi. It goes from the Tunnel entrance, in Pera, to the Taksim Square. Costs 0,60 euros and is all made of wood, San Francisco style…

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Subway/Metro
Getting TO/AROUND: This underground funicular connects the Galata Bridge with Istiklal Street, at Pera, up the hill. Is the oldest Subway train in Europe, and is the best way to get to Pera from Galata, as climbing there by heat in summer is really suicide!
The fare is about 0.60 euros. Once you get in you will feel the freshness of a subterranean place, a nice contrast with the suffocationf heat outside.
From Galata Bridge, take the left side of the bridge and go till the first big street with traffic (not the little pedestrain one you will find first), cross that street and you will find a little entrance in the corner (see photo) with a “Tunel” sign on it.

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'Mode': AROUND
Category: Car/Motor Home
Getting TO/AROUND: Taxis are really cheap here (30% cheaper than in Spain I guess). Istanbul is really a city to walk through, but if you are going from Taksim to Hagia Sophia, better take a taxi, it could be too much walk for a summer day… A ride like that will be no more than 5-6 euros.
Last time I was in Istanbul (1997) I found many “illegal” taxis, but this time (2003) all of them had its taximeter, so just be sure the counter runs and relax…

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