Istanbul T1 Tram line is the backbone of public transportation for tourists, connecting almost all of the city’s iconic attractions in a single route. Starting from Bağcılar on the European side and ending at Kabataş by the Bosphorus, the tram passes through the heart of the Old City and reaches Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Galata, and even Taksim Square with a short funicular connection.
As a licensed tour guide in Istanbul for over 20 years, I have witnessed how crucial the T1 Tram is for travelers. With its frequent services and budget-friendly fares, this tram allows you to avoid Istanbul’s notorious traffic while easily reaching landmarks such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower, and Dolmabahce Palace.
In this article, you will find an updated Istanbul tram map and a detailed guide to all major stations of the T1 line. Whether it’s your first time in the city or you want to move around more efficiently, these tips will help you navigate Istanbul like a local.
Do you have an Istanbulkart? It’s essential for using the T1 Tram and all other public transport in Istanbul.
The Istanbulkart is a contactless transportation card that saves you time and money on trams, metros, ferries, and buses.
Click here to learn where to buy and top up your Istanbulkart
Istanbul Tram T1 Map (2025)
You can see the Tram T1 route in Istanbul marked in dark blue on the map above. This line stretches between “Bağcılar”, one of the suburbs of Istanbul, and “Kabataş”, one of the transportation hubs of the Bosphorus shores.
From Kabatas Tram Station, you can transfer to the F1 Funicular to get to Taksim Square. Thus, you can reach the important tourist centers of Beyoglu (Istanbul New City), such as Istiklal Street and Galata Tower.
On the other hand, you can take a ferry from Kabatas to touristic centers such as Kadikoy or Uskudar on the Asian side. In addition, Dentur boats that make Bosphorus cruise tours also depart from here.
Finally, you can reach Dolmabahce Palace by walking from Kabatas Tram Station. In addition, Vodafone Park Stadium of Besiktas, one of the most important football clubs in Istanbul, is also within walking distance from Kabatas.
You can download the official PDF version of the Istanbul Tram Lines Map from the link below.
Click here to download the Istanbul Tram Lines Map (PDF)
Istanbul Tram T1 Line Stations
Istanbul T1 tram stations are actually much more than the 12 stops we have included in this article. The stops in the list only cover the touristic spots of Istanbul. For this reason, these are the stations that foreign visitors should know especially. Each of these stops are within walking distance of important museums, shopping centers and historical monuments in Istanbul.
Tram T1 will be most useful for those who want to visit the Old City of Istanbul. Tram T1, which allows you to reach places such as the Grand Bazaar, Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and Spice Bazaar, will also enable you to reach the other side of the Golden Horn (Beyoglu district).
1. Zeytinburnu Tram Station
Zeytinburnu Tram Station used to be the transit stop most frequently used by tourists on their way to the airport. Transferring from Zeytinburnu to Metro M1 was the most logical way to go to Ataturk Airport, the old airport.
With the opening of the new Istanbul Airport, Zeytinburnu Tram Station lost its former importance. However, as there are very few shopping centers in Old Istanbul, the best way to come to Marmara Forum Shopping Center is still to take the T1 from Sultanahmet to Zeytinburnu Tram Stop.
The Marmara Forum and the Historia, which is the subject of the next title, are two shopping centers close to Sultanahmet, the most touristic place of Istanbul. However, it should be noted that Marmara Forum offers more shops and activities than Historia.
2. Haseki Tram Station
Haseki Tram Station is within walking distance of Historia, one of Istanbul’s medium-sized shopping centers. Historia Shopping Mall stands out as the closest shopping center to the most important accommodation places of the Old City such as Sirkeci, Sultanahmet, Beyazit and Laleli.
There are much bigger and popular shopping malls in Istanbul like Istinye Park, Kanyon, Cevahir, Mall of Istanbul, Akasya and Zorlu Center. However Historia is still the easiest one to get, for the people who stay in the hotels of Istanbul Old City.
3. Aksaray Tram Station
Aksaray Tram Station is considered as one of the public transportation hubs of Istanbul. Because it connects you with Marmaray and Yenikapı Ferryboat Station. Once you leave the tram at Aksaray, you can walk to Marmaray Station in a few minutes and get to Asian Side of Istanbul.
If you take the Marmaray from Aksaray, you can reach Sirkeci (heart of Old City) in just 4 minutes, Uskudar (Asian Side) in 8 minutes, and Ayrilik Cesmesi (Kadikoy district on the Asian Side) in 12 minutes.
Once you get the Marmaray Under-Sea Metro, you travel to Asia Side from underneath the Bosphorus. This allows you to cross the Bosphorus much faster than any sea vessel.
After using the Marmaray to get to Ayrilik Cesmesi, you can easily reach Kadikoy with the M4 connection. Kadikoy is the best shopping and eating place on the Asian side of Istanbul.
4. Beyazit Tram Station
Beyazit Tram Station is located right next to the Grand Bazaar. The closest gate of the Grand Bazaar to the tram station is Gate 7. This gate, which is one of the main entrances of the Grand Bazaar, leads you to the main street, “Kalpakcilarbasi Caddesi”.
Anyone entering from Gate 7 can exit Gate 1 by walking along the main street and easily reach Sultanahmet via Nuruosmaniye Street. Nuruosmaniye Street (outside the Grand Bazaar) is a beautiful walking path full of luxury shops.
For someone walking between the main gates, Gate 7 and Gate 1, finding a way in the Grand Bazaar may seem easy. However, on the contrary, it is very easy to get lost in the Grand Bazaar, which has 67 streets and 3000 shops.
5. Sultanahmet Tram T1 Station
Sultanahmet Tram Station is the city’s busiest public transportation hub. Hundreds of tourists from all over the city travel to Sultanahmet via Tram T1, bypassing Istanbul’s unpredictable traffic, and visit the surrounding historical sites.
As you can see from the map above, most of the historical monuments in the Old City of Istanbul are located around the Beyazit, Sultanahmet and Gulhane Tram Stations. Exploring these historical buildings and museums in Sultanahmet will take you all day.
It should also be noted that there is not much for entertainment at night in the Old City. For this reason, those staying in Sultanahmet can use Tram T1 to reach districts with the best nightclubs in Istanbul, such as Galata, Taksim and Besiktas.
Sultanahmet Tram Station is the most important stop on Tram T1.
From this stop, you can easily walk to iconic attractions such as
Blue Mosque,
Hagia Sophia,
Basilica Cistern, and
Topkapi Palace.
This makes Sultanahmet Tram Station the perfect starting point for exploring Istanbul’s Old City.
6. Gulhane Tram Station
Gulhane Tram Station offers you the opportunity to reach Istanbul Archeological Museum and Gulhane Park on foot. Although these two important touristic places remain within the walls of Topkapi Palace, they can be easily reached from the Gulhane Tram Stop.
In order to reach these structures, you need to pass through the “Gulhane Gate”, the secondary gate of Topkapı Palace. When you enter through this door, the most obvious thing in front of you will be the magnificent Gulhane Park. If you follow the path in front of you to the right and go up a slight slope, the Istanbul Archeology Museum will be on your left.
It should also be noted that the Islamic Science and Technology Museum is located inside the Gulhane Park. This little-known museum has some very interesting artifacts.
7. Sirkeci Tram Station
Sirkeci Tram Station is located in the heart of Istanbul Old City. Bustling with people throughout the day, this busy neighborhood has been one of the city’s most important trading and eating spots since the Ottoman period.
Sirkeci Tram Station is located in the middle of a historical square. In one corner of this square, you will see Sirkeci Railway Station (picture above), the last stop of the Orient Express train, which carried passengers between Paris and Istanbul in the past.
Sirkeci is one of the places where you can find the best street food in Istanbul. Here you can find delicious Turkish dessert shops and the best local Turkish restaurants. Especially the restaurants on Hocapasha Street are very good. Kasap Osman, one of the best doner places in Istanbul, is also located here.
One of the most important features of Sirkeci is that Istanbul’s best whirling dervish show is here. You can watch this performance at the Hodjapasha Cultural Center on Hocapasha Street, which is famous for its restaurants.
8. Eminonu Tram T1 Station
Eminonu Tram Station is adjacent to the famous Spice Bazaar. You can buy Turkish delight, tea leaves, saffron, local nuts and, of course, various spices at Spice Bazaar. Although this 300-year-old bazaar is like a small version of the Grand Bazaar, it has a more cozy atmosphere.
Hamdi, one of the best kebab restaurants in Istanbul, is located right next to the Spice Bazaar. In addition, the Rustem Pasha Mosque, where you can see the most beautiful examples of Iznik Tiles, is also here.
Most of the street food tours that have been very popular in Istanbul in recent years start from Spice Bazaar. Because around this bazaar, there are famous delicacies of the district such as doner, kokorec and fish sandwich.
With the opening of the T5 Eminönü – Alibeykoy line in 2023, it has now become possible to transfer between T1 and T5 and to travel the Golden Horn from east to west by rail system.
In this way, it is now possible to reach Fener and Balat, famous for their colorful houses, Ayvansaray, where you can see the Roman Walls of Istanbul, and Eyup, famous for its Pierre Loti hill, with T5.
Would you like to discover Istanbul off the beaten path?
The historical buildings and colorful houses in Fener and Balat are truly worth seeing.
If you want to explore these unique neighborhoods with a private guide:
Check out the details of my Fener & Balat Walking Tour here
9. Karakoy Tram T1 Station
Karakoy Tram Station is located in the middle of a historical square. Karakoy district was the port of the city during the Byzantine and Ottoman periods. For this reason, Karakoy still carries the legacy of its cosmopolitan structure from the past.
Since Karakoy was rebuilt in the 19th century, it has buildings with baroque and neo-classical architecture. For this reason, unlike the Old City, it has European features. In this sense, it also represents the Westernization in the last period of the Ottoman Empire.
You can find wonderful sweet shops and local restaurants in the side streets of Karakoy. It is also possible to walk to Galata Tower and Istiklal Street from Karakoy. Karakoy is also home to Galataport, the Istanbul Cruise Port.
10. Tophane Tram Station
Tophane Tram Station is adjacent to Kilic Ali Pasha Mosque, a 16th century Ottoman mosque. When you arrive in Tophane, Istanbul Cruise Port and Istanbul Modern Art Museum are within walking distance.
Tophane is one of the most central places of Beyoglu. From here, you can walk to Cihangir, one of the coolest neighborhoods of Istanbul. Cihangir is famous for its shops selling antiques. In addition, Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence is also in Cihangir.
One of the best breakfast places in Istanbul, Naif is only a 5-minute walk from Tophane Tram Station. Also, Kilic Ali Pasha Hamami, one of the best Turkish baths in Istanbul, is right next to the stop.
11. Findikli Tram Station
Findikli Tram Station is very close to Istanbul Cruise Port and Istanbul Modern Art Museum. In addition, Nusretiye Mosque, an Ottoman structure with baroque architecture, is very close to the tram stop.
Mimar Sinan University, one of the fine arts faculties of Istanbul, is located right next to the Findikli Tram Station. This university is dedicated to Mimar Sinan, the most prolific architect in Ottoman history.
12. Kabatas Tram T1 Station
Kabatas Tram Station gives you the opportunity to walk to Dolmabahce Palace, one of the most important historical monuments of Istanbul. You can take the ferry from Kabatas to the Asian Side, or join the Bosphorus cruise tours or go to the Prince Islands.
Kabatas Tram Station is located at the intersection of Beyoglu and Besiktas districts and is very close to the city’s most luxurious hotels. Hotels such as the Ritz Carlton Istanbul, Swissotel the Bosphorus and Hilton Istanbul Bosphorus are within walking distance.
It is also within walking distance from Kabatas Tram Station to Vodafone Park stadium of Besiktas, one of the city’s most popular football clubs. From here, you can take a bus to Besiktas and enjoy a walk along the Bosphorus shores.
How To Buy A Ticket For Tram?
If you are visiting Istanbul for a short time and only plan to take the tram once, you can purchase a single-use ticket from the token machines (called Jetonmatik) located next to each station. However, this is the more expensive option and not ideal if you will be using public transportation multiple times during your stay.
The best and most economical way to travel on the T1 Tram (and all other public transportation in Istanbul) is to get an Istanbulkart. This is a rechargeable contactless card that looks like a credit card and can be easily purchased from kiosks near the stations. You can top it up as needed and enjoy discounted fares, especially when transferring between the tram, metro, ferry, and buses.
Conclusion
In summary, the T1 Tram line is the most convenient and widely used means of transportation for tourists in Istanbul. Thanks to this line, you can easily reach most of the historical landmarks and museums featured on the Istanbul Tourist Map, from Sultanahmet to Kabataş, without getting stuck in the city’s heavy traffic.
If you also need up-to-date PDF maps for Istanbul’s public transportation network, make sure to check out our detailed Istanbul Metro Map article. There you will find not only the metro and tram lines but also ferry and metrobus maps that will help you navigate Istanbul with confidence.
Written By Serhat Engul
What a fantastic, wonderful and helpful article. For someone who has never been to Turkey, I feel like I already know this place and can get around like a professional.
Thanks you very much
Hello Romeo, thank you for your review and nice words. I hope you would have great time here in Turkey.
Sallam
Government of Turkey should pay you for writing such beautiful information about Istanbul transportation.
You are fantastic.
Allah bless you
Thank you Abdul Mohammad. This is one of the most encouraging comments I have ever seen. It’s nice to see that my efforts were not in vain.
Very useful, thank U!
Hi Ursa, thank you for the feedback. Have a nice holiday!
This guy and the website is just amazing. If you are planning to do things on your own, read out all here. Each and every information is available here.
Dear Shyam, thank you for your kind review. Have a nice trip!
Very informative and useful blog. Those yellow taksi’s are a rip off, and charge fees according to their own needs instead of using the distance meters.
Thanks for the feedback Rita. Yes, you are right about the taxis. Let alone tourists, even us Istanbulites have problems with taxis. I don’t use a yellow taxi unless I have to.
Fortunately, Istanbul’s tram, metro and marmaray lines are developing in a way that does not require the use of taxis. Soon, the rail system will cover the whole touristic areas.
So useful and helpful information. Thanks
Dear Bahria, thank you for the feedback on the post. Have a nice trip!
I think this is the best article to travel Istanbul alone even without a guide.
Dear Arshad, thank you for your kind words about the article. Have a nice trip!
Thank you for all of the information you have provided. It is really helpful for me to plan our trip to Istanbul next year. Kind regards.
Dear Anne, thank you for your feedback regarding the blog. I’m glad my articles helped you with your travel planning. I wish you a nice holiday in Istanbul.
I find your article very informative.. Could you please tell me if any station T1 is near to Taksim Square?
Hello Yagya, among the T1 stations, the closest to Taksim Square is Kabatas Tram Station. However, it takes a long time to walk and you have to go uphill.
For this reason, you can use the F1 Funicular connection. F1 is a one-stop underground metro running between Kabatas and Taksim Square.
Your info is the most amazing and helpful in the internet. Keep up the good work!
Hello Nur, thank you very much for the feedback!