Istanbul City Card (İstanbulkart) Guide for Tourists: How to Use Public Transport in Istanbul

If you’re planning to explore Istanbul whether you’re a new resident, a student, or a short-term visitor your journey through the city begins with one essential tool: the Istanbul City Card, commonly known as İstanbulkart.

The Istanbul City Card is a contactless, reloadable smart card designed for seamless travel across all public transportation networks in Istanbul. It is the only accepted payment method on municipal buses, metro and tram lines, ferries, funiculars (such as the Tünel and Maçka), Metrobüs, and Marmaray.

Additionally, you can also use a digital version of your card directly through the official Istanbulkart Mobile app, allowing you to travel without a physical card just tap your NFC-enabled smartphone on the reader to board.

How to Get an Istanbul City Card

You can purchase an Istanbul City Card from:

• Istanbulkart vending machines located at every metro, tram, and ferry stations

• Authorized sales points (marked with the Istanbulkart logo), including kiosks and select retail outlets across the city

• Online, via the official Istanbulkart Mobile app (available for iOS and Android), where you can also manage your card digitally

The card has a one-time purchase price of ₺140 (Turkish Lira) as of 2025. This fee covers the physical card itself and is non-refundable. It does not include any travel credit, so you must load funds separately.

As of 2025, the official unlimited-pass fares are:

Once activated, the pass grants unlimited travel across all eligible modes of public transport which includes buses, metro, tram, metrobüs, ferries, funiculars, and marmaray for the full duration, 24 hours per day.

💡 Tip: If you plan to take more than three trips per day, an unlimited pass often offers better value than pay-per-ride fares. For example, three single rides cost around ₺66/day so the 1-day pass (₺700) is only cost-effective for 10+ rides in a single day, which is uncommon for most travelers. However, the 3-day or 7-day passes become economical if you’re using transport heavily across multiple days (e.g., daily ferry trips, cross-city metro rides, and evening tram lines).

How to Use It

Using the Istanbul City Card is straightforward:

1. Tap your card on the reader when boarding a bus, entering a metro station, or passing through a ferry gate.

2. On Metrobüs and Marmaray, you must tap both when entering and exiting to ensure the correct fare is calculated.

3. The system automatically deducts the appropriate fare from your balance.

There is no need to show the card to a driver or attendant, just hold it near the reader (within 5 cm) for a second.

Transfers and Fares

The integrated fare system allows one free transfer within 120 minutes of your first tap. For example, you can take a bus and then switch to the metro without paying a second full fare that is ideal for efficient city navigation.

Current single-ride fares (as listed on the official site) are:

• ₺22 for most standard trips (bus, metro, tram, ferry, funicular)

• Variable fares for Metrobüs and Marmaray based on distance (calculated automatically when you tap out)

Reloading Your Card

You can add balance (bakiye) to your Istanbul City Card in several ways:

• At Istanbulkart vending machines (accepting cash and card payments)

• Through the Istanbulkart Mobile app using a debit/credit card

• At authorized retail outlets displaying the Istanbulkart sign

You can check your balance instantly after tapping your card on any reader or via the mobile app.

Important Notes from the Official Source

• The Istanbul City Card is personal but not nominative which means that it doesn’t require ID to purchase, but each passenger must use their own card. Sharing is not permitted.

• The card is not refundable, but any remaining balance stays on the card until used.

• Damaged cards (e.g., bent, scratched, or exposed to magnets) may become unreadable, so store yours in a safe place, away from electronic devices.

• The Istanbulkart mobile app also allows you to block a lost card (if previously registered) and transfer its balance to a new one.

Why It Matters for Language Learners

As you learn Turkish, using the Istanbul City Card gives you real-life practice with key vocabulary:

• Bakiye (balance)

• Yükleme (reload/top-up)

• İndirimli kart (discount card which are for students, seniors, etc., requiring Turkish residency)

• Transfer hakkı (transfer right)

Mastering this everyday tool not only simplifies travel, furthermore it deepens your connection to daily life in Istanbul.

Standard Operating Hours (Non-24-Hour Services)

For the most up-to-date information, always refer to the official source: https://www.istanbulkart.istanbul

One tap, and you’re not just moving through Istanbul, actually you’re weaving through its centuries.