BiTaksi and InDriver apps — order taxis without street flagging
Mar 11, 2026Eminönü · Experience date Apr 9, 2026
BiTaksi is the main taxi-hailing app in Istanbul — shows licensed yellow taxis, upfront fare estimate, driver tracking. Download before you arrive. InDriver lets you name your price — drivers accept or counter-offer, usually 10–20% cheaper than BiTaksi. Uber operates in Istanbul (called Uber Taksi) but uses the same yellow taxi fleet at similar prices. Street taxis are metered — insist the meter is running ('taksimetre açın lütfen').
Contributor: Anna Kowalski Tram T1 — essential for Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar, Galata area
Feb 26, 2026Taksim · Experience date Feb 20, 2026
The T1 tram runs from Bağcılar through Eminönü, Sultanahmet (Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia), Kapalıçarşı (Grand Bazaar), and Beyazıt. Connects to the Galata Bridge area. Useful for exploring historic sites. Crowds on tourist segment can be intense — keep hand on bag. For commuting to Beyoğlu from Eminönü: take the nostalgic tram up the hill via the Tünel funicular instead.
Contributor: Anna Kowalski Metrobüs — fast but crowded, useful for crosstown European side trips
Feb 15, 2026Taksim · Experience date Feb 10, 2026
The Metrobüs is a Bus Rapid Transit line running in dedicated lanes across the Bosphorus Bridge (15 Temmuz Köprüsü). Runs from Avcılar in the west to Söğütlüçeşme on the Asian side. Very fast (40–50 minutes from Avcılar to Kadıköy) but notoriously overcrowded during peak hours. Best used for going from central European Istanbul to the far western suburbs. Fare: 17 TRY with Istanbulkart.
Driving in Istanbul — not recommended for newcomers
Feb 13, 2026Beşiktaş · Experience date Nov 21, 2025
Istanbul driving is aggressive, signs often unclear, and parking nearly impossible in central areas. Traffic laws are loosely enforced. Foreign driving licenses are valid for 6 months. If you must drive: use Waze (better than Google Maps for Istanbul traffic). Park at shopping malls (first 1–2 hours free) rather than trying to find street parking. Monthly parking garage: 3,000–6,000 TRY in central areas. Honestly, the ferry + metro combo beats driving for most journeys.
IETT bus network — comprehensive but complex
Jan 26, 2026Eminönü · Experience date Nov 22, 2025
Istanbul has 500+ bus routes operated by IETT. The IETT app and Google Maps both show routes and real-time arrivals. Buses are air-conditioned and use Istanbulkart. Useful routes: 25E (Kabataş–Bağcılar express), 38E (Beşiktaş–Sarıyer coastal route), 12B (Kadıköy–Bostancı). Buses avoid the metro station bottlenecks but get stuck in traffic. Best for: reaching neighborhoods not on the metro network. Not great for time-sensitive journeys.
Contributor: Carlos Rivera Taxi apps vs street taxis — price difference in Istanbul
Jan 19, 2026Eminönü · Experience date Feb 3, 2026
Street taxis in Istanbul have a reputation for price scams on tourists: detours, 'broken' meters, or false charges. Using BiTaksi or Uber shows the fare upfront. For a trip Taksim to Grand Bazaar: 120–150 TRY on BiTaksi, potentially 200–300 TRY with a street taxi who sees a tourist. Always use apps for unfamiliar routes. At the airport arrivals, go straight to the official taxi stand — ignore anyone offering 'taxi' inside the terminal.
Contributor: Anna Kowalski Parking in Istanbul — avoid driving to Beyoğlu and Kadıköy
Jan 9, 2026Şişli · Experience date Feb 9, 2026
Parking in Beyoğlu, Taksim, and Kadıköy is nearly impossible. Street parking: İSPARK app for paid municipal lots, 15–30 TRY/hour in central areas. Shopping mall parking is the practical solution — AVM (shopping mall) parking is first 2 hours free with minimum purchase, 10–15 TRY/hour after. Never park on yellow lines — towing is common and fine + retrieval costs 500–800 TRY. In Beşiktaş and Şişli, underground İSPARK garages are easier to find.
Contributor: Carlos Rivera