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AND NOW UNDER THE SEA WITH MARMARAY TUNNEL BETWEEN TWO CONTINENTS IN LESS THAN 4 min.
 
OPENED OCTOBER 29 2013
 
 
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL
 
We like to give the first time traveler to Istanbul some information and tips about public transportation in Istanbul. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Istanbul has one of the best public transportation system in the world. First of all one ticket card can be used in almost all of the vehicles from the buses to the ferries and metro trains. It is called the Ak-Bil or Istanbul-card, short for smart ticket. You can purchase this card from Akbil -Gişe (Kiosks)s and keep purchasing and adding more Turkish Lira to the card as you need it. It can be used in all of the transportation vehicles except the taxis and the shared taxi, the so called Dolmuş.

Istanbul is the  only city in the World situated on two continents, divided by the beautiful channel called Bosporus and the sea of Marmara. Although the two continents of Europe and Asia are connected by two suspension bridges and another bridge is in the planning stage, during rush hours sea transportation with the ferries are often preferred by Istanbulites.
ON THE SEA
VAPUR, DENİZ OTOBÜSÜ, ARABALI, MOTOR
 
Vapur is the ferryboat, the most commonly used vehicle carrying thousands of people everyday back and forth from Europe to Asia, to Bosporus, Golden Horn and the Prince Islands. Arabalı Vapur is the ferryboat carrying cars as well as people and the Motor is a smaller size passenger boat . Deniz Otobüsü or the sea bus is the fastest among them but it is built like an airplane; once the cabin door is closed there is no access to fresh air or scenery .To me it's best use is when my plane lands late afternoon at the Atatürk Airport and I have to cross the Bosporus bridge to go the Asian side. While it would take a good three hours with a taxi  over the bridge, it will take only half the time when using the Deniz Otobüsü from the near by Ferry terminal at Bakirköy. For all of the above mentioned boats, one can use the Akbil Card or for one time fare you can buy a jeton from the ferry terminal. The ferry terminals are called Iskele. Also there is passenger bus from the Airport called Havaş which can take you to the Ferry Station or all the way to the city Center Taksim. Havaş accepts cash.
VAPUR
ARABALI VAPUR
DENIZ OTOBÜSÜ
MOTOR
MOTOR
VAPUR
ON THE ROAD
OTOBÜS, METROBÜS, DOLMUŞ, MİNİBÜS,TAKSİ
 
OTOBÜS
DOLMUS- MINIBUS
TAKSI
Otobüs or the bus and Metrobüs only accept the Akbil card as payment, which you scan at the scanner located near the bus driver. If you don’t have an Akbil card, relax; Show a 1TL (Turkish Lira) to the passengers at the front seats and somebody will loan their card to you and even give you the change back, GUARANTEED. Metrobüs is the faster bus and has a protected road in the middle of the Boulevard. There is a Metrobüs all the way from the Airport to the Asian side of Istanbul but it is usually very crowded. All “Taksi”s have a taksimeter on the dashboard or by the back rear mirror where you can read the fare. The “Dolmuş” is the shared Minibus. While the bus only stops at bus stations(Durak) the Dolmuş stops and picks up passengers practically any where on the Dolmuş route. Dolmuş and Taksi only accept cash as payment. Dolmuş takes about 7 passengers and if you happen to be sitting in the back of the car, give the coins to the passenger in the middle seat, he will give it to the driver and give your cash back to you. It’s all teamwork.
METROBUS
OTOBUS AND MINIBUS
FAYTON
ON RAILS
TREN, METRO, TÜNEL, TRAMVAY,
 
There are two train stations in İstanbul, both by the sea shore: Haydarpaşa on the Asian side and Sirkeci on the European. The trains departing from these “istasiyon”s not only travel to the suburbs of Istanbul , but one can start in Baghdat and travel to London with the Orient Express, of course hopping in and out to the Ferry in İstanbul and at Dover. Metro routes are mostly in the Historical Peninsula and the Pera area. You can take the worlds third oldest metro from Karaköy called the “Tünel” uphill to İstiklal Street where another nostalgic passenger vehicle, the “Tramvay” will take you to the Taksim Square. Across the Galata bridge from Karaköy in Eminönü is the Metro station where Metro trains travel through the Historical Peninsula over the ground. There are several Metro İstasiyonu in this part of town with trains travelling underground too. On the Asian side (Asya Yakası) an underground Metro web is under construction, however one can travel in the Kadıköy district with the historical Tramvay or an Upper- ground metro train. All train stations like the ferry docks have gates where you have to scan the Akbil card or to put the jeton ınto the slot to get in.
TREN
METRO
TRAMVAY
METRO-TUNEL
METRO
TREN
 
USEFUL LINKS
 
BUS,METROBUS,TUNEL,TRAMWAY
VAPUR-PASSENGER FERRYS
SEA BUS , CAR FERRY
 
TRAINS TO SUBURBS
TAXI RATES AND ISTANBUL MAP
ISTANBULLITE'S USEFUL INFO FOR TOURISTS
Comments from Istanbullite Readers

Here is an e-mail from Mustafa, who just returned from Istanbul yesterday .

When my older brother Cem recommended that I use the Akbil or Smart Ticket to travel throughout Istanbul, i was skeptical.  I had always used the ferry system in Istanbul , but my past experience with public buses was not good.  They were overcrowded and sometimes dirty, schedules were not well known, it was a hassle to pay the driver etc etc.

On my recent trip, I loaded a total of 50 TL (about $28) on the smart card and used it almost exclusively to travel throughout istanbul.  I only took a cab twice; from the airport to the ferry station and back to the airport and only because I had bags.

 The ferries run every 15 minutes or so between major landing points like kadikoy, Karakoy, Besiktas, Uskudar and Eminonu.  This is nothing new, but what I discovered was the convenience of using the Smart Ticket and not having to fumble for change, tokens etc.

 The Metro (subway) is still being built but is great...I will give a practical example.  When about 4-5 inches of snow fell on Monday the 16th, traffic quickly became locked up throughout the Eurpoean side.  I was unfortunately in Levent which was receiving some of the heaviest snowfall.  I needed to go to Besiktas to take a ferry across but people reported that it was taking 1.5 to 2 hours to navigate the approximately 3 or 4 miles to Besiktas.  I took the Metro to Taksim (twice the distance to Besiktas) in 10 minutes, transferred to the Sishane line (another 5 minutes), walked 50 yards to the "Tunnel" and in another 5 minutes (total of 20 minutes) was at the ferry station at Karakoy taking my boat across. ...20 minutes vs 2 hours.

 The subway is clean and efficient...Trains run every 5 to 8 minutes.  At the stations, there are electronic displays showing when the next train will arrive.  Inside the subway trains, announcements of stops are made in Turkish and English.  It is crowded but reasonably so.  You are not packed like a can of sardines.

 The buses were the biggest surprise.  They are clean, efficient, less crowded than before and run very frequently between the major points (every 2 or 3 minutes to major spots like Taksim, Besiktas and Eminonu).  The bus stops have the schedules printed; some are paper schedules but some have electronic displays showing in real time when the next buses are due for each line.  On the bus, the announcements are in Turkish and English.  The Smart Ticket works like a charm.  And most of the time, you can find a seat or stand up without getting claustrophobic.  There are many diffreent type of buses: the IETT official bus, the "Halk Otobusu" (or "People's Bus" which is run by private contractors as opposed to by the City directly, the "Metrobus" which is humongous and has its own dedicated lanes, the new Purple colored buses...I dont know the exact number but I bet there are thousands of buses in service every day.  The good news is that they all take the Smart Ticket.

 I used to be somewhat of a "snob" when it came to taking buses in Turkey.  Not anymore, I am sold...They have made huge improvements.  The whole transportation system is interconnected and schedules are coordinated between buses, ferries, Metro and "Sea Bus".  It is inexpensive and convenient.  In one busy day, I counted 12 segments that I used public transportation for.  My cost was less than 20 TL (about $12).  If I has taken taxis, I would have paid hundreds of liras and would not have saved much time, if at all.

 Thanks Cem for a great tip about using the Akbil or Smart Ticket!!"


 
 

ISTANBULLITE’S TIPS FOR TOURISTS GOING TO ISTANBUL

An ongoing and unfinished effort

TOP TEN MUST SEE:

If you will be visiting Istanbul for few days please check our link FOR OUR TOP TEN PLACES TO SEE:

http://www.istanbullite.com/turkiyephotos8595/istanbultoptenmustsee.html

Among the listed places I would ignore or at least caution you about  Istiklal Caddesi and Taksim area, due to frequent demonstrations lately. If you are going to stay few more days in Istanbul  we can add to  this Top Ten list the following places :


Arkeoloji Muzesi (Archaeological Museum) in Gülhane Park close to Topkapi Museum. This museum is often overlooked by tourists due to the popularity of Topkapi Museum.While Topkapi covers only the Ottomans,  the Archeological Museum has items from at least 8 civilizations and is comparable to the British Museum ın London. Also the  Gülhane Park is a secluded  green oasis in the busy part of the historical peninsula  with a magnificent view of the Leanders Tower and the Asian side of Istanbul.

Türk Islam Eserleri Müzesi(Turkish Islamic Art Museum)

Close to Blue Mosque, old carpets, calligraphy etc.

Mozaik Müzesl (Mosaics Museum)

In the vicinity of Blue Mosque, beautiful mosaic samples from Byzantium’s Grand Palace ruins.

Kariye Camii (Chora Church)

In the historical Peninsula, famous for it’s interior of the building, covered with fine mosaics and frescoes.

ŞEHZADE MOSQUE SÜLEYMANİYE MOSQUE

Two of Master Architect Sinan’s 16. Century  masterpieces. Both in the historical penınsula and very close to each other.


Golden Horn  Ferry Boat Trip

Most Istanbulites have taken the Bosphorus boat trip but are not knowledgeable about this one. The ferry dock is by Eminönü side  of the Galata Bridge by the fish& bread boat restaurants. Walk behind the bus stations and car lots all the way to the water of Golden Horn. There you will see the ferry dock. Every hour a small ferry boat departs to Eyüp(Third most sacred place of Islam). The boat trip takes 30 minutes and the ferry  makes frequent stops on both shores of Golden Horn. In Eyüp you can visit the famous Eyüp  mosque and also take the lift up the hill of  Pierre Loti for a breathtaking view of  Istanbul while sipping Turkish Tea !

By the way the doc for Bosphorus Boat Trip is also by the Eminönü side of the  Galata Bridge right across the Valide Mosque. Ignore the sales people who approach you for boat trips. Look for these signs only: and

ORTAKÖY AREA 
A district on the European side of Bosphorus by the Boğaziçi Atatürk Köprüsü (Bosphorus Bridge) A popular area with restaurants, cafes and tea houses, antique stores, gift shops, galleries. Also boats from here depart to Kiz Kulesi (Leander’s Tower )

TİP:

The best way to visit museums is to buy a “Müze Kart” Museum Pass which is good for 72 hours in most museums including Topkapi. Hagia Sofia etc.

https://www.muze.gov.tr/buy_museum_pass

INFORMATION  ABOUT TRANSPORTATION IN ISTANBUL

Please check our following link:

http://www.istanbullite.com/home8595/istanbultransportation.html

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION FOR ISTANBUL TOURISTS

Please check our following link:

http://www.istanbullite.com/home8595/istanbulturkeytravel.html

RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES

Istanbullite.com does not specialize in fine dining.  Rather than fine dining restaurants we like adventurous dining experiences and explore street food.  On rare occasions we go to upscale restaurants by the Bosphorus, usually  with fellow istanbulian friends who know the price structure and fresh fish prices. You can check our following link for some street food but also  for few restaurant recommendations:


http://www.istanbullite.com/ifood/streetfood.html


I personally like two Turkish chains: SIMIT SARAYI  for endless breakfast and lunch choices with fine pastries, sandwiches, fresh fruit juices etc. And SULTAN AHMET KÖFTECISI for the famous  Turkish hamburger or meatballs.


Also for very reasonably priced good food (no alcohol) in historical settings and scenic view, I will recommend the following facilities all run by the IBB (Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality):


http://tesislerimiz.ibb.gov.tr/Default.aspx


For  touristic restaurants (with Alcohol ) I will recommend the KUMKAPI area(in the historical Peninsula).Fish  restaurants (like Oktoberfest; tables on the streets) with Roman music and street musicians.


Çiçek Pasaji on Istiklal Caddesi in the Pera District.


For sports Bars Beşiktas District’s Çarşı Area by the Bosphorus before Beşiktaş games.


For a general idea about some Turkish food and how a Turkish -American mixes and matches two cuisines see:


http://www.istanbullite.com/ifood/istanbullitesfood.html



ART and Paintings


Of course there are several but my two favorites are both on the Galata/Pera area.

Pera Museum
and
Istanbul Modern

and finally for Nostalgic writings in Turkish and English visit our site:



http://www.istanbullite.com/home8595.html

 
ILK KAR OCAK 2012 .COURTESY OF MUSTAFA OZMERAL
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