Istanbul Public Transportation Card
Discover Istanbul's Extensive Public Transportation System and How to Use Your Unlimited Istanbul City Card. Compare it to Istanbulkart and Buy Your Card with Ease!
Document
Specialy designed for tourists
Unlimited Public Transportation
Delivered Directly to Your Hotel
Save 10%
with Istanbul Tourist Pass®
with FREE Digital Public Transportation Guide
What is an Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card?
Specialy designed for tourists
Unlimited Public Transportation
Delivered Directly to Your Hotel
Save 10%
with Istanbul Tourist Pass®
with Istanbul Tourist Pass®
with FREE Digital Public Transportation Guide
Public transportation ranks first among the cheapest ways to visit Istanbul. An Istanbul Transportation Card is required to use public transport at all times. You can access all public transportation lines and types of vehicles in Istanbul with an Istanbul Transportation Card as the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is in charge of the operation of all public transportation in the city.
Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card for Tourists
Unlimited Istanbul Public Transportation Card is a specially designed public transportation card for the needs of tourists. It is valid in every public transportation vehicle including metro, trams, buses, metrobuses, and ferries. There is only one exception, minibuses in Istanbul are still using cash, but don’t worry there is no place you can get by minibus instead of a bus!
If you are in Istanbul as a tourist, then this card is perfect for you! Since public transportation is the cheapest and most of the time the fastest way to transport, you can use this card to get wherever you want to visit in Istanbul. It is a beautifully designed physical card delivered at your hotel by Istanbul Tourist Pass and after using it, you can keep it as a souvenir. The new Istanbul Public Transportation Card has 6 different designs each of them having a symbol of Istanbul. One symbolizes the famous cats of Istanbul, others have drawings of the Maiden Tower, the Galata Tower, a cup of Turkish tea, a ferry, and the famous red tram of Istiklal Street. Cards are delivered randomly so you may have only one of them for your visit; so another reason to come again to collect them all.
You will have a physical card and you don’t need to return it, you can keep it to remember the amazing days you were in Istanbul.
What are the Advantages of the Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card?
- Istanbul Transportation Card gives you UNLIMITED access to all public transportation lines and vehicles.
- You don’t need to give any information like your name and passport number to get it, it is totally anonymous.
- It comes with 1-3-5-7 or 15-day options for you to choose from, so you can decide according to your stay.
- Istanbul City Card is a physical card with a special design on it. There are 6 different designs with Istanbul’s symbols on them, and they are delivered randomly.
- If you purchase your card on the Istanbul Tourist Pass® website, the card will be delivered to your hotel in an envelope on your check-in time.
- After the period of your choice, the Istanbul Transportation Card becomes blocked and can’t be used again so it is only for your use, you don’t need to return it. You can keep it as a souvenir.
- The card is activated on the first day you use and you can use it unlimitedly for the time you choose.
- It is Pre-Paid so after you purchase you don’t need to put money into it.
How to Get an UNLIMITED Istanbul Transportation Card?
Istanbul Tourist Pass is one of the small number of official service providers of the Istanbul City Card. You can buy this card on our website. You can add this card to your Istanbul Tourist Pass at the checkout or you can buy it separately. We recommend you buy it with the Istanbul Tourist Pass, so you don’t need to worry about extra fees and long lines of tickets while you are enjoying the city.
When you purchased your Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card, our couriers deliver your card in a beautifully designed envelope to your hotel just before you check in. So you don’t need to think about where to get there, you will take your Istanbul Transportation Card right away when you get to your hotel, and you can start using it immediately.
Check out our handpicked 100+ attractions coming for FREE with Istanbul Tourist Pass here and plan your trip without worrying about transportation or entrance fees. Istanbul Tourist Pass also has 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 or 10-Day-Pass options and once you pay, you can participate in as many tourist attractions as you want within the allocated time period.
How Much is an Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card?
Istanbul City Card is a prepaid public transportation card that gives you unlimited access to public transportation for the number of days you choose. It is valid in every public transportation vehicle including metro, trams, buses, metrobuses and ferries. It is a beautifully designed physical card delivered at your hotel by Istanbul Tourist Pass and after using it, you can keep it as a souvenir. Up to 10% advantage in buying with Istanbul Tourist Pass®
| CARD TYPE | ISTANBUL TOURIST PASS CUSTOMER PRICE | REGULAR CUSTOMER PRICE |
| 1 DAY UNLIMITED | € 23 | € 25 |
| 3 DAYS UNLIMITED | € 40 | € 45 |
| 5 DAYS UNLIMITED | € 63 | € 65 |
| 7 DAYS UNLIMITED | € 80 | € 85 |
| 15 DAYS UNLIMITED | € 110 | € 120 |
Budget-Friendly Travel in Istanbul
Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card provides budget-friendly travel in Istanbul. Istanbul Transportation Card for locals takes more than 7 Turkish Liras for the first use each time you take public transport of any kind and discounted transfer fees apply from the second use onwards. However, keep in mind that the time between the first use of public transportation and the transfer should not exceed two hours. Up to five transfers are discounted after using your card.
However, the price does not change in the fourth and fifth transfers and remains the same as the 1.38 TL fee in the third transfer. But the UNLIMITED Public Transportation Card is an all-you-can-use card with one payment In other words, with Istanbul UNLIMITED Transportation Card, in a very big city like Istanbul, the price difference provided is too important to ignore. A few bucks here and there can make or break your budget.
Easy to Use
Using the Istanbulkart is simple. You do not have to touch or contact the card reader, either. When using the card, holding it to the card reader from a distance of 5-10 centimeters is enough for the machine to detect it. If the payment has been accepted, you will hear a specific sound notifying you to proceed and you will also be able to see the remaining amount of money on the screen of the card reader. If there is not enough money on the card, the text "Yetersiz Bakiye" will appear on the screen. You will also hear a different sound alerting you to top up. You will be able to quickly and easily recharge your Istanbul Transportation Card from the nearest top-up point.
Using the Unlimited Istanbul Transportation Card is even easier. Since it is unlimited, you don't need to think about the balance of your card! Just enjoy riding around all the public transportation vehicles.
How Much is an Istanbul Transportation Card?
For locals, Istanbulkart offers several advantages, some of which can be listed as saving time and being a budget-friendly option for urban transportation. That's why the locals of Istanbul always carry an Istanbul Transportation Card. The card is versatile and useful as it is valid for all types of public transportation in Istanbul. You have to personalize your Istanbul Card so if you are here only a couple of days, then it can be too much work to do. So there is another card only for tourists.
The card itself costs about 200 Turkish Liras. You can buy it from the yellow machines located in all public transport stations except for bus stations. The price of travel in Istanbul is shown below based on modes of transportation.
- Istanbul Transportation Card Full Fare (one way) 20 TL
- Blue Card (monthly subscription/for residents only): 1500 TL
Pre - Paid
Istanbul Transportation Card is a pre-paid, rechargeable card. This means that you can have two options to choose from. Upon purchasing your Istanbul Transportation Card, you can either top up with an estimated sum that you deem enough for the whole duration of your trip. Or, you can pay as you go, which means you can top up your card with small amounts of money as you spend. If you are staying over 3-4 days, it is a better idea to top up the card from the get go, so you don’t have to worry about running out of money and missing the bus/metro/ferry. No matter which option you choose, you are always able to recharge your card anytime you desire.
If you are a traveler coming from another city or country, you can use Istanbul Tourist Pass® to visit the best places in Istanbul and participate in cultural activities, just like the locals who prefer IstanbulCard for transportation to every point of Istanbul. The working principle of IstanbulTouristPass® is similar in that it is pre-paid and affordable: You choose from 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10-Day-Pass options and once you pay, you can participate in as many tourist attractions as you want within the allocated time period. While the IstanbulCard is a physical card that allows you entry to all public transport in Istanbul, Istanbul Tourist Pass® is an all-digital pass that you can use to access 100+ top attractions in the city for a pleasant journey!
Istanbul Public Transportation Card for Locals: IstanbulKart
Istanbul Transportation Card is preferred by people who want to go from one spot to another via public transportation in the city. As Istanbul is a metropolitan that stretches over two continents, transportation can get quite costly. Istanbul Transportation Card offers a few advantages to prevent that.
First of all, there is no need for different cards, tickets, or tokens to carry around. One card allows you to access all sorts of public transport modes easily, quickly, and on an affordable price. Since it is a prepaid card, you can load as much as you want and pay as you go. In the meantime, there are no problems such as cash or waiting in line to top up. There are booths all over the city, inside metro stations, as well as corner shops and kiosks that help you top up your IstanbulCard in under 30 seconds. It is truly fast and time efficient! This is the best decision for you if you are staying for a long time.
How to Get an Istanbul Transportation Card?
You can purchase your Istanbul Transportation Card from Biletmatik on the bus/service floor of Istanbul Airport. In Sabiha Gökçen Airport, you can buy an Istanbul Transportation Card from the kiosk on the Street level.
In the city, you can get the Istanbul Transportation Card at every metro, tram, Metrobus, and ferry station. You can also buy your Istanbul Transportation Card, from kiosks and stores near the stations and start enjoying your trip in Istanbul instantly.
Alternative to Istanbul Transportation Card: Tickets
If you find the investment into an Istanbul Transportation Card redundant as you will only need to use public transportation a few times, you may want to check its best alternative: tickets.
Sold at the yellow machine booths by the metro entrances, where you top up your IstanbulCard, you can find tickets that allow you access to public transportation in seconds.
The advantage of this option is that you do not have to worry about HES code matching or whether you have enough credits in your Istanbul Transportation Card. The downside of this option is that, on the other hand, its cost. There are up to ten pass tickets that allow you to use ten separate times. If you will be using several transfers, however, keep in mind that the UNLIMITED Istanbul Transportation Card is a more budget-friendly option.
Istanbul Transportation Card for Children
Children under the age of 6 do not need to hold an Istanbul Transportation Card. This is only applicable when they are accompanied by their parents while using public transportation in Istanbul.
FAQ
Where You Can Use The Istanbul Transportation Card?
You can use Biletmatiks located on the floor of -2 at Istanbul Airport, which is also called the public transport arrival floor.
You can also buy it from Havaist Airport Shuttle Bus Station tolls located on the same floor.
Where to Buy an Istanbul Transportation Card at Sabiha Gökçen Airport?
You can get an Istanbul Transportation Card from the kiosk on the street level opposite the exit of the arrivals terminal.
You can also buy it from IETT's (Istanbul electric tramway and tunnel establishment) supervision booth at the public bus station after you go out of the terminal if you will choose the public bus option to reach your destination.
Where to Buy an Istanbul Transportation Card in the City?
You can easily get the Istanbul Transportation Card at every metro, tram, Metrobus, and ferry station. You can also buy Istanbul Transportation Card, from kiosks and stores near the stations to start traveling within Istanbul./p>
How to Check Your Istanbul Transportation Card Balance?
You can use kiosk machines to check your remaining balance during your Istanbul trip. If you want to check your balance online, you can do that instantly by downloading and using the Istanbul Transportation Card mobile application.
Can You Top Up the Istanbul Transportation Card Online?
IstanbulCard offers the opportunity to top up online as well as at top up points. You can quickly do the recharging process online via this website and right after topping up your card you can start using your pass to travel freely in Istanbul.
Where Can You Use the Istanbul Transportation Card?
The card is valid for all public transport options in Istanbul. These include nostalgic trams in Taksim and Kadıköy, buses, Metrobus, tunnels, funicular ride at Kabataş, cable car, city lines, TCDD railways, at Istanbul Airport.
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