Prior to booking my trip to Istanbul, I scouted out the public transportation. Verifying public transportation or the availability of a ride share app are essential to my planning. I’m a budget traveler and not embarrassed to say it. Saving money is important to me. I also like public transportation because I get a different perspective of the city. The public transportation in Istanbul was pretty effective. I took it from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) airport to my hotel and then everyday to and from the major attractions. When I had issues or didn’t want to wait in the cold, I was able to take an Uber. For the most part, it was cost effective and I can’t complain.
Getting A Metro Card At The Istanbul Airport
The hardest part about the public transportation journey was understanding how to get a card with credits on it to use the metro or bus. It doesn’t help that I’m suspicious of strangers standing at the machines that are trying to help people for no reason and that’s what happened here. When I went to the ticket machine, there was a long line of people that wanted to top off their cards and get their tickets. These local types, typically don’t have patience for tourists and I’m well aware of it. There was a guy helping people and he ultimately helped me too but in my mind, I questioned what was in it for him and if this is where my identity is getting stolen and my credit card getting a fraud alert (which didn’t happen).
What I did learn from the guy is you only need one card with sufficient credits and you can use it for multiple riders. Hard to believe or comprehend since most public transportation require each rider to have their own card, but it’s true. In other countries where you get a card with credits and tap in at the first stop and tap out at the second so they know how much to charge, Istanbul is just tap one to ride as far as you want. This means one stop cost the same amount as riding twenty stops.
Once I had the card and knew how to use it, I felt invincible. =)
Istanbul Public Transportation, From SAW Airport To Hotel
As a budget traveler, I always verify the cost different of flying into nearby airports. To not do so is irresponsible in my book. Travel is a long game when played correctly. As such, Istanbul has two airports: Atatürk (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW). The price for SAW was $350 cheaper. The travel from IST to my hotel would have been $40 using Uber and taken 45 minutes. From SAW to my hotel was $8 using the metro and bus and took almost 2 hours. I hope it’s obvious that I went for the cost saving public transportation adventure for $8.
Starting with the Metro at SAW, and yes, many major cities around the world have amazing Metro/train stations at the airport, I got a ticket, hoped on the train, and rode it to the end of the line. At the end of the line, at Kadikoy, I transferred to a train that took me the rest of the way. Using Google maps, I was able to get off the train and navigate myself to my hotel in a short walk.
T1 Above Ground Daily To Attractions
Every morning that I woke up, I was able to use Istanbul public transportation and take ride the bus from outside my hotel down to where the T1 above ground train that goes to Sultanahmet, where the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and everything else is at, for a very affordable price. The T1 runs along a main artery full of attractions and food. You’ll see familiar global brands and local stores that are worth exploring if anything is calling to you.
The T1 runs from 6am to 11pm. It was always working when I needed it. It was quick, efficient. Climate controlled. No real weirdos. I didn’t feel like I was a target for pick pocketers or anything like that. There were visual indicators in English of which direction the train was going, which stop was next, and what side of the train the doors would open. I seriously can’t complain. Major compliments to the city of Istanbul for having an awesome tourist friendly solution.
Use Uber To Fill Istanbul Public Transportation Gaps
When public transportation didn’t cut it for me, for whatever reason, there was Uber. Say what you want about Uber, but it works. They are not a sponsor of this website, it’s just a good service that seems to be available pretty much everywhere. I had two situations where I needed to use Uber. There was no issues. The driver showed up, I got in the car, he verified my name and destination, and then dropped me off. What more can you ask for. All that crap about surge pricing, whatever, go deal with a taxi where it’s surge pricing x2 24/7 and there’s no recourse if they steal your bags or kick you out of their car.
Avoid taxis if you don’t want that be the lasting memory of your trip. Taxi drivers are horrible ambassadors for every city. They will lie to you, cheat you on the fare, and leave you stranded. It’s an unfair characterization for the good taxi drivers out there, but I am confident based on all my travels, that the majority of taxi drivers are there to exploit you not help you, so stay away. Taxi’s are the last last last result and even then, I’d still consider walking.
