"Tramvay Metro" Istanbul Transportation Tip by WulfstanTraveller

Istanbul's public rail transit is growing steadily and this is certainly true of the tramvay, the streetcar line on the European side that extends from western suburbs through the heart of the old city and up to the Beyoglu area across the Golden Horn. It goes down the major east-west street of the old city, Ordu Caddesi/Yeniceriler Caddesi/Divan Yolu, passed Istanbul University through Beyazit, to Sultanahmet, where it turn to go passed Ayasofya, down passed Gulhane Park and the Sublime Porte, to Sirkeci and the train station, to Eminonu with the ferryboat terminals and the Misir Carsisi (Egypt Market), and now across the Galata Bridge to Karakoy and along the Bosphorus shore to Kabatas. At Kabatas, it joins with the Kabatas ferry terminal and the lower station of the new funicular that takes one straight up the hill to Taksim. In Taksim, in connects to the new udnerground Metro that goes north to Levent and new residential/business districts of high rises, and it also connects to the historic Tramvay that takes one down Istiklal Caddesi back to Tunel and Karakoy (see my other tip on Tunel, etc.). In the western part of the old city, the tramvay Aksaray station on Ordu Caddesi is a very short walk from the station to the other underground Metro line that heads west.

The tramvai is fast, easy to use, and efficient, with trains running frequently. It makes it a lot easier to travel around the city. Jetons (tokens) are inexpensive and available at giris booths at or near the stops. One can also get a reusable token for which one can pay for a certain amount of trips, that gives a slight discount.

Mode: AROUND
Type: Subway/Metro