In a city where continents meet and histories intertwine, getting around efficiently can be the key to unlocking its magic. Istanbulkart — the city’s all-in-one public transportation card — is more than just a ticket; it’s your passport to explore every corner of Istanbul with ease. From the shimmering waters of the Bosphorus ferries to the underground hum of the metro, this small piece of plastic opens the doors to metro lines, trams, buses, funiculars, and even public ferries — all with a single tap.
As a licensed tour guide who has navigated these streets and waterways for over two decades, I’ve seen how much smoother a trip becomes when visitors master the Istanbulkart early on. It saves time, reduces costs, and lets you travel like a local — whether you’re heading from Sultanahmet’s historic heart to Taksim’s vibrant avenues, or crossing continents in minutes.
In this updated 2025 guide, you’ll find everything you need to know: where to buy your Istanbulkart, how to top it up, transfer discounts that locals swear by, and even how to claim a fare refund when applicable. With the right knowledge, this little card transforms your Istanbul journey from a series of stops into a seamless adventure.
Istanbulkart 2025 Visitor Summary
Below you can find the updated 2025 visitor summary for Istanbulkart – the city’s essential contactless public transport card – including purchase points, fares, and top-up tips for visitors.
• Card Price: 130 TL (blank card, non-refundable deposit)
• Standard Fare: 27 TL per ride (metro, tram, ferry, bus)
• Where to Buy: Yellow “Biletmatik” machines at metro, tram, ferry stations – Sultanahmet, Taksim
• Top-Up: Add credit at “Biletmatik” machines (approx. 30 seconds, cash or credit card accepted)
• Refunds: Available for unused distance on Marmaray & Metrobus via station refund machines
– Refunds only for personalized cards (Turkish ID/residence permit). Tourist cards not eligible.
• Tip: One card can be used for multiple passengers if enough balance is loaded
• Travel Hack: Buy your card at the airport to start using public transport immediately
• Last Updated: August 2025
How to Buy Istanbul Travel Card?
You can buy Istanbulkart from yellow-black top up machines at metro, tram and ferry stations in Istanbul. You can select Istanbulkart on the main screen and collect the card from the section below for 130 Turkish Lira.
You do not have to pay exactly 130 Lira to buy Istanbulkart from Biletmatik machines. For example, when you give 200 TL to the machine, it delivers the card to you and adds 70 TL change into the card as credit.
Where to Buy Istanbulkart in Sultanahmet
In order to buy Istanbulkart from Sultanahmet, you can use the yellow-black ticket machines located next to Sultanahmet Tram Station. To find the station, you can follow the tramway in the direction of the Grand Bazaar, taking Hagia Sophia behind you.
It will be enough to walk for five minutes from the road called Divanyolu Street where the tram tracks are located. After finding the Sultanahmet Tram Station, you will see the machines I mentioned on your left.
Where to Buy Istanbulkart in Taksim
In order to buy Istanbulkart from Taksim, you can use the yellow-black ticket machines at Tunel station with code F2, Nostalgic Tram stations with code T2 or the underground metro in Taksim Square with code M2.
F2 Tunel Station is the southwestern beginning of Istiklal Street and is closer to the Galata Tower. M2 Metro station is the northeastern end of Istiklal Street and is in Taksim Square. The T2 Nostalgic tram carries passengers between these two points.
Price of Istanbul Travel Card for 2025
Istanbulkart price is 130 Turkish Lira as of 2025. However, this is the fee for the blank card and when filling out the card, remember that each ride costs 27 Turkish Liras per person. For example, if you feed 200 TL into the machine, you will also get 70 TL travel credit in addition to the card deposit.
What makes Istanbulkart so useful is that it can be topped up easily and it is simple to use. Moreover, you can use it to pay for others (friends, family etc…). Therefore, if there are others who accompany you, you don’t have to buy two separate cards. As long as you have enough credits in your card, there is no limit to how many people can use it.
Another feature of Istanbulkart is that it offers discounts for transfers after the first use. The card, which charges the full price in the first time, allows you to get on the other 3 vehicles used within the 2-hour time window, cheaper each time.
Transfer Discounts for Istanbulkart 2025
Istanbulkart transfer discounts allow you to travel for a little less each time you use the card for the second, third and fourth time. For example, while you charge 27,00 TL the first time you use the card, you pay 19,33 TL for the second time, 14,67 TL for the third time and 9,27 TL for the fourth time. Prices were last updated in August 13, 2025.
These prices are valid for the metro, tram and ferry, which are the most used public transportation vehicles by tourists. However, it should not be forgotten that some transportation vehicles have different tariffs.
For example, vehicles that provide transportation between the European side and the Asian side, such as Metrobus and Marmaray, will charge more. Buses crossing from one side to the other in Istanbul also charge extra.
How to Get Refund on Istanbulkart?
In order to get refunds on Istanbulkart, you need to be using vehicles such as Marmaray or Metrobus, which have a long route. These vehicles travel a very long distance from the suburbs on the European side of the city to other suburbs on the Asian side.
When you use Marmaray or Metrobus, a price much higher than the normal fare is charged to your travel card the first time. The system assumes that you will go to the last stop and charges the full fare. However, when you get off at the previous stops, the fee is refunded.
To get a refund, you need to find the refund machines at the station exits. There are many of these machines at the central stations to avoid queues. You can get a refund by touching your card to these devices, which you can see from the picture above.
Istanbulkart could be returned to kiosks after being used in the past. The money you paid for the card itself was a kind of deposit and was refunded. So the reclaimed card was sold to someone else. However, in recent years it is not possible to return the card itself. Since there are millions of Istanbulkarts in the market, it has no monetary value anymore.
How to Top Up Istanbulkart?
In order to top up Istanbulkart, you can use the yellow machines at metro, tram and ferry stations. For example, at the tram station you see in the picture above, the yellow-black machine with “Biletmatik” written on it is an Istanbulkart top up machine. These machines enable passengers to top up only in 30 seconds.
To the left of this Istanbulkart machine, you see a second machine with “Jetonmatik” written on it. Those who need a one-time ticket can buy a one-way tram ticket from this token machine. However, one-time tickets are more expensive than the Istanbulkart tariff.
FAQ – Common Issues for Visitors Using Istanbulkart
Using Istanbulkart as a tourist in Istanbul comes with specific rules and limitations that many visitors only discover during their trip. Below are answers to the most common questions from travelers, based on real user experiences and updated regulations for 2025.
Do tourists get the same discounts and refunds as locals?
No. The fare discounts and refund options described in this guide apply only to personalized Istanbulkarts, which require a Turkish ID number. This means they are available to Turkish citizens and foreign residents with a valid residence permit.
Visitors using the standard anonymous (often red) tourist card do not receive transfer discounts, public holiday free rides, or partial refunds on long-distance lines like Marmaray and Metrobus.
Can tourists personalize their Istanbulkart?
Not without a Turkish ID number. Personalization requires registration via the official Istanbulkart website or app, which is only possible with a Turkish ID/residence permit.
Is there a top-up limit for tourist cards?
Yes. Anonymous/tourist Istanbulkarts have a monthly loading limit — historically around 500 TL, though this may vary based on recent policy updates. If you use the same card for multiple travelers, you can hit the limit quickly, especially during longer stays or heavy travel days.
Why didn’t my card get a free ride on a public holiday?
Only personalized cards receive public holiday gratuities and partial refunds for unused distance on lines like Marmaray and Metrobus. Anonymous/tourist cards are charged the full fare each time.
Can I share my Istanbulkart with another traveler?
Yes, but with a tourist card this means each ride will be charged the full fare with no transfer discount, and you may reach the monthly top-up limit faster.
Conclusion
In summary, Istanbulkart is a very useful public transport card for both Istanbulites and tourists visiting the city. Since it is very difficult to use public transportation in the city without an Istanbulkart, I recommend you to get this card while you are at the airport.
On this site, there is more detailed information about the means of transportation you can use Istanbul Card. For example, you can take a look at the article called Istanbul Metro Map about the metro system in Istanbul.
In addition, if you want to learn about the tram, which is by far the most used means of transportation in Istanbul, I recommend the article called Istanbul Tram T1. In this article, you can see how to use public transportation between the most popular tourist destinations such as Sultanahmet and Taksim.
Written by Serhat Engul
Do kids under 12 pay require a travel card as well?
Public transportation is free for the kids under the age of 6. So the answer is yes! On the other hand, Istanbul Museums are free for the kids under the age of 12. That means they do not need Istanbul Museum Pass.
Hi, I thought that an Istanbulkart can only be used for five passengers maximum at one go. There is no limit now? Because i plan to use mine for my group of eight, and I thought I needed an additional Istanbulkart for the remaining three people. Thanks for your response!
Hello Barbara, I have never heard about your argument. There is no limitation as far as I know. I checked from the official site of IstanbulKart and there is nothing mentioned about maximum number of usage for multiple people. I also googled “8 people Istanbulkart limitation” in every logical keyword combination (in Turkish) and there has never been a limitation like that. It must be a misunderstanding.
Hi Serhat, you say that the deposit on the card is refundable (7L). However, what about any unused balance on the card itself? Is this refunded, too?
Also, any idea if there are public transport options from the new Istanbul Airport yet? I will be travelling there with my family in early June 2019… less than two months from now.
Thanks, in advance!
Hi Nitish, you can refund the price of the card but not the unused balance. You need to empty it, before you return it. The New Istanbul Airport’s metro line is still under construction. You can use “Havaist” shuttle buses in order to get to the airport. You can pay the fare via Istanbulkart.
Can you buy Istanbul card in Yenikapi ferry terminal?
Sorry, I am not sure about it!
multumesc pentru sfaturi !
Cu plăcere. I think it means: you are welcome. 🙂
cat costa HAVAIST dela aeroport pana in piata Taxim ?
The cost of airport shuttle should be 18 Turkish Lira from Istanbul Airport to Taksim. You can also check How to get from Istanbul Airport to Taksim blog post.
Hello
Please let me know the fare of bus 16s or E-10 for Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Regards
Hello. It should be 2,60 Turkish Lira. It operates between the Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Metrobus Station (Uzuncayir).
Hello serhat. I am planning to come to istanbul soon and guide is just Amazing. Thank you so much for sharing really informative and helpful stuff…
Kindly guide me that how can i get cheap wifi or internet while traveling? As in i will be needed to see tracks and nearby things.
Hi Mehak, thank you for the feedback. However I don’t know the answer of this question. I do not have up to date information about this issue.
Hello
First of all, i would like to thank you so much for this extra website.
I have one question : I heard that you can get some credits back on your card if you use the metro (you can get it by checking the card when leaving the station in a yellow machine). Is it true ?
Hi Alan! Yes, but it’s only for Marmaray. Marmaray runs between Gebze and Halkali. Gebze is out of Istanbul on the Asian Side, Halkali is also far end in the European Side. Marmaray charges much more than other vehicles. On the other hand, you can get some refund if you use it for a shorter ride. For example if you get on the Marmaray from Sirkeci (nearest stop to Sultanahmet Old City), it charges 5.20 Turkish Lira. Next stop is Uskudar on the Asian Side, if you leave the Marmaray there, you get 2.60 TL back through those refund machines. It’s not the same yellow machine where you top up your Istanbulkart. It’s a smaller device which can be found in Marmaray Stations.
Hello, I try to get the refund in the machines in Marmaray, but it always get a red screen, not green like others passanger around me, so I never get the refund. I am only taking it for 2 stations, what am I doing wrong?
Hi Ivana, frankly, it is not possible for me to give you a clear answer. But my guess is maybe you are getting on and off at the last stations of Marmaray on the same line, so there is no longer any distance to refund.
So let’s say there are 30 stops on Marmaray. If you get on the train from the first stop, you get a refund if you get off at the middle stops. But those who get on from the last stops pay less fare, so there is no refund.
I tried to get refund on my card after riding few stops on the Marmaray line and I was also greeted with a red screen saying I have to individualise my card to get the refund. How can I register my personal information on the card to be able to get refunds.
Hi Hashim, You can access the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality’s Istanbulkart personalization page by clicking this link. There appears to be an English option in the upper right corner.
Hello SERHAT ENGÜL.
Please may I confirm with you the maximum amount of passengers allowed to use 1 IstanbulKart ?
Many thanks
Tanya
Hi Tanya, I don’t think there is any limitation. You can use it as many times as needed, provided that there is enough money in it.
Thank you for this! Very thorough. One question… Can you top up with credit card?
Thank you!
Hi Lisa, you can not top up with credit card. Only banknotes (5, 10, 20, 50 TL) are accepted.
Hi, Is any other Currency accepted?
No, you can only use Turkish Lira to purchase or refill an Istanbul card.
Thanks dear! How and where can we check the balance of the Card?
At Metro, Tram, Marmaray and Ferry stations, there are machines called “Biletmatik” in yellow to fill Istanbulkart. You can place the card in the rectangular magnetic slot in these machines and see the balance on the screen.
Normally, when you place the card in the relevant compartment and feed money, you load credit on Istanbulkart. However, even if you do not feed money, the current balance of the card appears on the screen.
Hi Serhat
I am coming from Sahiba Gocken Airport and going to Sirkeci.
My plan is to take MR60 to Pendik and then Marmaray to Sirkeci.
Is this correct and how much will this cost?
Thank you
Hi Devanshu, Yes you can take the MR60 bus in order to get to Pendik area. Then you can get the Marmaray all the way to Sirkeci. However, sometimes Marmaray trains do not go directly to Sirkeci. They empty the whole train in Sogutlucesme transportation center (to send the empty train back to busy stations) and you may have to wait for the next one.
MR60 will cost you only one ticket price which means 2.60 Turkish Lira. Marmaray will charge probably 5.20 TL. Once you get off the train at Sirkeci, make sure you get your refund from the small machines in the courtyard of the station. Have a good journey!
Thanks Serhat, very useful.
Just to confirm, i will get a 2.6TL refund in Sirkeci?
My other questions is – suppose i have 5 TL in my Istanbulkart, will it allow me to board marmaray and let the balance go negative?
You are welcome. I do not know how much does it charge from Pendik to Sirkeci. It refunds different amounts depending on the length of your journey. It does not work unless you have enough money in it. There is no negative balance.
It doesn’t seem possible to get the card or the money on it refunded anywhere. Apart from that it’s a great card.
Hi Joshua, newsstands selling Istanbul cards must also receive a refund. Some follow the rules, some do not.
Hi Serhat
I am coming from Sahiba Gocken Airport and going to elite world hotel
My plan is to take a taxi to there
how much will this cost?
Thank you
Hi Mona, I am not quite sure about it. The taxi fares have changed recently. I assume it would cost around 60-70 Turkish Lira.
Thanks Serhat🙏🏻
Hello SERHAT,
Thank you for a very detailed article. I have a question though. I’m planning to stay in Istanbul for around a month. Is there a month pass or something similar to that where you can pay for the entire month and have unlimited transportation?
Hi Ghaith, yes there is something called Mavi Kart which means Blue Card. However it’s only for locals. It needs an application and you need to be a Turkish Citizen to get it. I tried to find its advertisment page in English but there was none. Here is the link to the product page (though it’s in Turkish).
Hi,
I asked a metro staff where to refund the Istanbulkart and he said it’s not refundable. FYI.
Hi Bilal, thanks for your contribution. I will check and update.
Salaam Serhat,
insha’Allah, we intend to visit Istanbul in April. We are staying in Atasehir Area. If you can give me some information to explore around Atasehir and rest of main attraction in Istanbul. How much will be your price for the half day tour and are the attraction tickets inclusive with your tour. Please advise me. We are family of 2 Adult 2 kids.
Thank you
Hi Aksham, Atasehir is the modern area of the Asian Side of Istanbul. You can visit the Shopping Malls around (Palladium, Brandium etc). You can pay a visit to Bagdat Street. It’s a 10 kilometres long avenue with nice restaurants and shopping areas. If you are looking for a tour organization, you can contact to BarefootPlus Travel.
I just checked instanbulkart website and google translated something about the Mavi Biletmatik being capable to be used to purchase a instanbulkart with a credit or debit card? Do you know if its posible to do this? I always just try to use my debit or credit card, I try not to use cash, thanks in advance
Hi Roy, the name of what you are talking about is Mavi Kart, meaning “Blue Card”. However, this product is a monthly transportation card that can only be purchased by Turkish citizens. It is true that it is paid by credit card, but the price is 275 Turkish liras. This card would not be useful for someone who comes to Istanbul for touristic purposes anyway. You have to pay cash to top up your regular Istanbulkart.
Hi Serhat,
Thanks for the tons of useful information in your website. I’ve red almost everything and it was very helpful for my family to visit Istanbul 2 weeks ago.
However this article – for Istanbul card is outdated. Here are the changes that your reader should know:
1 – The card is NOT available for sale in the machines, but only from newspaper and other kiosks.
2 – They charge 15-20 TRY for a blank card, THAT SHOULD BE REGISTERED WITH HES CODE. Without HES code, the card is not activated and you cannot put money on it.
The HES code is needed for tourist to enter Galata tower and some big stores and shopping malls, so it is good for you to update this information on this site.
BR
Ivailo
Hi Ivailo,
During the pandemic, I attempted to update the entire site. Since there are about 200 articles, I could only complete 2 out of 3 in a long time. The Istanbul Card article was one of the articles I kept for last. Because due to the pandemic, I do not use public transportation as much as I used to. Yes, Hes code has made it difficult to use Istanbulkart, but it is a temporary measure after all.
By the way, Istanbulkart is not bought from ordinary top-up machines, but there are special machines that sell Istanbulkart in big metro stations like Taksim. What I meant in the article were those official machines.
Many thanks for all this information. I will update as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Serhat
Hi Im a british disabled lady 67yrs travelling alone in a small disability scooter (scooter suitable for buses/transportation), is their any concession on the trams need a pass for 3/4 days in total.
Most of the public transportation vehicles in Istanbul are free for people over the age of 65. However, only Turkish citizens can obtain a kind of concession card by presenting their identity cards. As far as I know, there is no such application for foreigners.
Hello Serhat,
Thank you for the post, it’s very informative!
Are there any biletmatik in Sabiha Gökçen airport that you can purchase Istanbulkart from?
Is payment by card, such as Visa possible or is it cash only?
I need to go to Kadiköy from SAW, is it better to take the metro or Havabüs?
Hi Lena, frankly, I don’t know if Sabiha Gokcen has Biletmatik. However, I think there must be a shop that sells Istanbulkart.
As far as I know, the Kadikoy metro line has not been extended to SAW yet. Construction work still continues. For this reason, you have to go to Tavsantepe, which is the nearest metro stop from SAW. In my opinion, for a first timer in Istanbul, it is not worth the hassle.
I think you can get rid of the need to buy an Istanbulkart in the first place by taking Havabus and paying the fee in cash. Otherwise you will have to go to the nearest metro station by another bus anyway. It is most logical to go to Kadikoy with a single bus.
I just returned back from Istanbul and I had my istanbulkart with balance 185 lira inside it, but we’re planing to visit Istanbul again next year, so does this balance inside the card will be still working or it will be expired?
Hello Noha, no Istanbulkart balance has no expiration date. It will be valid even years later. However, if not stored well, the card’s magnetic stripe may be damaged in the long run.
I hope inflation will slow down and the credits on the card will still mean something next year.
Hi ! Great Blog and Very Informative. As you mentioned for your friends and family you can use one card. So we are a family of 3 , so I can scan the same card for all of us?
Hi Apeksha yes one card can be used for more than one person. I personally used it for up to 5 people. So you, as a family of 3, will not have any problems.
You are welcome!
Do you think it would be cheaper to use the metro card for 3 people to go between places or would it be cheaper to get a taxi? I can’t seem to find rough prices for taxis and unsure of the metro fairs either.
For example, would be cheaper for 3 person to take metro from IST airport to Sultanahmet or would be cheaper to take a taxi? Thanks in advance
Hello Meena, as in all major cities of the world, taking a taxi in Istanbul is much more expensive than traveling by public transport. Even if you are 3 people, taking a taxi is more expensive than traveling by metro.
Hi,
Does the Istanbulkart expire? Just came back from my trip to Turkey and I’ve kept my card which still has a bit of money on it. Do you think it can still be used if I visit the country again in a few years?
Thanks in advance.
Hello Zahaa, no, the credits in Istanbulkart do not expire. The money in the card will be permanent for years. So if you come back to Istanbul, you can use it.
Hi,
Thank you for the very useful information i found on your blog!
Do you know in the Aksaray area where can we buy the Istanbulkart?
Hi Alina, actually Aksaray is one of the busiest spots in Istanbul. I have never bought an Istanbulkart from there. You can buy it from places similar to the kiosk you can see in the image in the article.
Or you can find it at Marmaray’s Yenikapi Station, which is within walking distance from Aksaray Tram Stop. Aksaray is a chaotic place and finding something there can be a problem.
Hi, your website is the most useful informative website on Istanbul tourism!! We will be arriving Istanbul via air flight and land at IST airport, where in the airport can I purchase the IstanbulCard? Thanks a lot…
Hi Andrew, thanks for your review of the blog. Unfortunately, I don’t know where you can buy Istanbulkart at the airport. It is probably sold in shops that sell newspapers and magazines.
Hello. Thank you so much for the information on this website. I have a question. Is there a limit to how much I can top up an Istanbulkart in a month? I bought one in December when I arrived. I have been using it and topping it up to get around.
However, in the last few days it would not accept a topup, not even in BİM or Mırgos or or online or at the ticket machine. I had to buy a new one. The card was still working though. Is there some kind of limit?
Hi Marsha, as far as I know there is no such limit. However, these are cards with magnetic stripe that can easily be corrupted. Maybe there was an error in the machine you were trying to top up.
I have not encountered such a problem. However, there are 3 Istanbulkarts in my wallet for such situations. Having more than one card is a must for those who use public transport in Istanbul every day.
It doesn’t make much sense to load a lot of money into a card as it can be lost and corrupted at any time. For this reason, I deposit around 100 TL on each card, which will provide approximately 10 metro passes, and I use the other as I run out of one.
Hi Serhat bey, I have one question about the refund system, I have been using the Istanbul kart for several months now and there’s no issue getting the refund at the machine, but recently when I get off from the Marmaray station and trying to get the refund at the machine but it failed to work, it shows Turkish word and the screen display was red in colour. I was wondering if the refund has already been cancel by the government, or could it be because of a broken metro card I have ?
Hi John, frankly it is very difficult to answer this question without knowing the details. You may have traveled on a non-refundable line or a non-refundable distance.
But let me share with you an incident that has happened to me several times. For example, I once got on Marmaray from Sirkeci (Old City) and got off at the first stop on the Asian side (Uskudar). Although it was certain that I could get a refund in this scenario, several times I did not.
While thinking about the reason for this, it occurred to me that I used the same card while entering the public toilet of the subway. If you enter the toilet inside the station after using the card, the devices in the next station cannot detect when you last used the card.
Maybe they fixed this issue. However, since I have had bad experiences a few times, if I need to use the toilet in the subway, I provide access with my spare card.
2023 February UPDATE: Yes, I got a warning on the same red screen today. It seems that non-personalized Istanbulkarts will no longer be refundable on Marmaray (and other long-distance transportation vehicles).
Hello, Mr Engul. Thank you so much for the explanation. However, I am curious if tourists without registered Istanbulcards, can enjoy the refund after using the Marmaray? A friend of mine said the refund machine did not work for him. I would really appreciate it if you could tell us whether any restrictions for Istanbulcards exist as of January 2023.
Best wishes!
Hi Maria, you can get a refund whether Istanbulkart is registered or not. I have 3 Istanbulkarts and I registered only one. Istanbul residents registered their cards as there was a registration requirement during the Covid process. Otherwise it wasn’t very common before.
I regularly use my other two unregistered Istanbulkarts and they are also refunded. There’s no way the refund machine can know if I’m a local or tourist when using these cards. In other words, everyone, domestic and foreign, can get refunds on the determined routes.
The restrictions on Istanbulkart that started during the Covid process have been completely lifted. Currently, those who register their cards are generally the ones who top up online. I didn’t bother registering all my cards as I like to load them manually. It’s not mandatory.
2023 February UPDATE: Sorry guys, I realized today that my last answers about the Istanbulkart refund system were wrong. Since January 1, there are no refunds for non-personalized Istanbulkarts.
Since January 1st, I have been to the European Side very little since it is low season. I guess I used my personalized card on those trips. The rest of the time I traveled by car.
That’s why I didn’t notice this change. Today, when the credit ran out on my main card, I used my spare (unregistered) card and a warning came on the screen that my usage rights were limited. I did not get a refund.
Hi there, I have a blue Istanbul card and I don’t have any difficulties with the refund process in Marmaray and Metrobus, but one of my friends who bought his card 3 month ago has some issues and no refunds make happen with his card (Every time the refund machine gets red), since I don’t understand Turkish I couldn’t find anything on the web about this, do you have any suggestions or thoughts?
Hello, yes, unfortunately Istanbulkart’s refund system has changed. Non-personalized cards are not refundable for travel.
The same warning came to my unregistered card today. It gives a warning that your right to use with an unregistered card is restricted.
Thank you for this information.
We (3 person) are traveling to Istanbul next week and I was planning to take public transport. We are landing around 5PM in SAW airport and I suppose that (next to the fact that it is cheaper) it will take us less time to get to Çemberlitaş (M4 and T1) than with a taxi in rush hour.
I’ve read that there are yellow boxes for the istanbulkart right at the exit of SAW. But if I understand you correctly, those machines don’t distribute the istanbulkart itself and I need to search for a newsstand first?
Hello Zed, I explained in the article that it is not possible to obtain Istanbulkart from standard Istanbulkart filling machines at tram stations. For example, the machines in Sultanahmet do not have such a function.
However, at the metro station in Taksim Square, I saw big Istanbulkart stations different from the standard machines. I think it was possible to buy the card itself as well as filling the card.
Perhaps one of these comprehensive machines could have been placed at Sabiha Gokcen Airport. However, I can’t say for sure as I haven’t experienced it myself.
At the end of the day, there is definitely a way to get an Istanbulkart at the airport. If you ask the tourist information office, I think they will help.
Have a nice trip!
Hello, Serhat. A few months ago I read that the Istanbul transport authority, IBB, will begin to accept contactless credit cards for fare payments at the fare gates.
London, Sofia, and Beograd are among cities in which this has already been implemented. I was in Sofia and Belgrad last year and used my MasterCard effortlessly for fare payment.
Has this gone into effect in Istanbul yet? If not, has a start date been published?
JT
Hello JT, unfortunately I don’t know about this. Yes, as you said, it would be very practical if credit cards could be used for entrances in public transportation. However, I have not seen anything like this in Istanbul yet.
Hello, great article. Thank You. I thought I read somewhere that you could get a 24hr Istanbulkart? Seems like that might not be correct. I also wondered if there are any machines in the Istanbul Cruise Port that disperse the card and enable it to work and be top upped? And are there currency exchange places at the Cruise port in order to top up the card? Thank You in advance
Hello, no, there is no such thing as a 24-hour Istanbulkart. However, there are single-use tram, ferry and metro tickets.
There is definitely a currency exchange office in Galataport. There are also two tram stations close to the cruise port. One of them is “Findikli” and the other is “Tophane” tram stations.
Istanbul card can be filled from the yellow top up machines at one of these stations. I think Tophane tram stop is located closer to Galataport.
So, conclusion is…. You can’t get refund for Marmaray if you have nonpersonal Istanbul Kart. So, if you want refund you need to have personal Istanbul kart? How we can get personal Istanbul kart for visit of Istanbul in duration of 4 days? We are 3 adult persons. We have to buy 3 Istanbul Kart? How we personalize them?
Hello, unfortunately, there is no refund in public transport without personalizing the Istanbulkart. After purchasing the card, you can access the official website of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality via this link and personalize your card by following the instructions. I guess you will have to enter the number on the card along with your credentials.
I don’t know if everyone needs a separate card. In the past, a family could travel in Istanbul with a single card. However, when it comes to refund, I think everyone will need a separate card.
Merhaba Serhat,
Thank you for the great post! Super duper helpful. I have 2 questions:
1. Can Istanbulkart used for shuttle bus HViST-16 from Istanbul airport? Meaning, purchasing Istanbulkart in the airport after arrival may be the first thing to do.
2. You mentioned that Istanbulkart can be used for ferry as well. Does that meant I can purchase ferry ticket from IDO Bursa Ferry?
Thanks in advance for your prompt reply
Sophia
Hi Sofia, I don’t know if Istanbulkart is available in airport shuttles. However, if it does, it is useful to have a large amount of credit in it. I guess airport shuttle will be quite expensive compared to city transportation. Because the airport is quite far from the city center of Istanbul.
Istanbulkart is valid for Istanbul ferry transportation. This means that it can be used for short ferry rides between the European and Asian Side. The Istanbul-Bursa ferry you mentioned is between cities and you cannot use Istanbulkart for that. You need to buy tickets online.
You’re such a gem! Thank you so much!
You are welcome Sophia. Have a nice trip!
Dear Serhat, your page is very great indeed,
We plan to have a week in Istanbul at the end of September visiting as much as possible. We are a couple.
What is your recommendation for the amount to upload to Istanbulkart (we are quite interested in everything so relatively lot of travel and walk.
Thank you in advance
Gabor
Dear Gabor, thank you for your feedback on the blog. After the price adjustment in August 2023, Istanbulkart charges 15 Turkish Liras for each person on each ride.
For this reason, I think a couple visiting Istanbul for 2-3 days should load at least 200 TL on the card. You can use the card on the tram, metro and ferry.
Serhat
Hi Serhat, your post is informative but please let me share my experiences for future travellers. If they will stay in Istanbul for a long time then one Istanbulkart is not enough like in my case I use more than 100TL per day.
The marmaray will charge the highest rate irregardless of which station you will go down and no refund. Then the card has a top up limit of 500TL per month, you can’t personalized it unless you have an ID number from Türkiye.
From the airport I was able to buy Istanbulkart without a problem but that’s not the case with other yellow machines I tried at least 10 machines so one time I had no choice but to accept someone’s offer to buy his card not knowing that I can only top it up 300TL for this month.
I tried using my 2016 Istanbulkart but expired. I’ll try buying another card from a newstand if another concern will occur I’ll let you know.
Hello, thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure this additional information will be useful to foreign visitors reading this page.
Update September 2023 :
– istanbulkart costs 70 TL
– there are 2 versions, a personalized blue one, for which you need Turkish citizenship / residency; and a red one for torusits
– the red one is limited to 500 TL / month, so if you’re using it for 2 or more people, the limit will be reached quite fast
– also for the red one, there is no refund (for Marmaray and metro bus), no reduction when switching lines (you pay 15 TL each time, except for Marmaray, where you can pay up to 26 TL, I think) and no gratuity on public holidays
Dear Bogdan,
Thank you very much for the updates. You have collected really valuable information and meticulously put it into writing, I am grateful for that. I am sure that it will be a guide for those who read this page.
Best wishes,
serhat
Hi,
I just wanted to confirm Bigdan’s comments on the top up limit, no gratuity on holiday (Republic Day) and the full price for each travel. My experience dates from 31 Octobre 2023.
We used a red card for two and reached the limit after a few days (we moved a lot). I am not sure about the amount in TL per month, but I can confirm that there is a limit. I tested several machines, at different locations, in cash (with different amounts) and by card.
I had the chance to fall on a worker who knew about the existence of this limit and told me to buy a new card.
On Republic Day, I tought that the public transports would be free as explained a bit averywhere on internet, but the normal fares were deducted from my card.
And I noticed during my stay that I did not receive any discount during my transfers. Not even for the first traveler.
For the rest, I really enjoyed my stay, public transportation is really easy to use. It would be useful to have a map of the bus network as it is difficult to use them easily without internet.
Kind regards,
Jos
Hello Jos,
Thank you for sharing with us your experiences on using Istanbulkart in public transportation in Istanbul for foreign tourists.
Kind regards,
Serhat
I will be arriving by cruise ship and only plan to use the tram two times (one ride from Tophane to Sultanahmet and one ride back at the end of the day).
Is it possible to purchase two single-ride tickets using the machines at the Galataport tram stop?
Do the machines take credit cards?
Thanks in advance.
Hello Peter, one, two, three, five and ten pass tickets can be purchased for public transportation in Istanbul. You can buy these from yellow and black machines called Biletmatik.
However, I don’t know if credit cards are accepted. As far as I know, only cash payments can be made. I think in your case it would be appropriate to buy a two-pass ticket.
Thank you for your reply.
Wondering if there’s a currency exchange place by the cruise ship terminal to get some local currency?
Thanks again
The place where the Istanbul Cruise Port is located is already a giant shopping center known as Galataport. There should be a currency exchange within the complex.
Dear Sir/ Madam,
I bought Istanbul Card yesterday at 11am for two people, and paid for two days I paid €9.47 + €20, total of €29.47. We used the card yesterday and today around 6pm the card is finished and I have to top up again, is this normal? Thanks
Dear Hassan Taki, Istanbulkart top up machines only accept Turkish Lira. 30 Euros is approximately 900 Turkish Liras as of November 2023. You can travel dozens of times with this money. I don’t understand how you could pay in Euros. Each Istanbul Card is worth only 70 Turkish Liras, or 2.5 Euros. If you filled the rest as credit, it should be enough for days. So it’s not normal.
Hello Dear Serhat,
I would like to thank you for your nice page and best advises!
You are so helpful and great person.
I need your advice, as I will fly from Sofia to Vietnam in Feb 2024. So we are a group of 6 pax and we have long stop over in Istanbul – nearly 8 hours. So we are planning to go out of airport and have some really good dinner somewhere in Taksim.
From 2022 when my friend was in Istanbul still keeping a card for Istanbul metro. Well, my question is whether we can use that card as we refill it with certain amount of TL. And we shall use 2 lines of the metro – M11 and M2 to get to Taksim.
Another thing I would like to ask you is what your recommendation for nice place in Taksim for food would be.
With gratitude
Mariana
Dear Mariana, thank you for your kind words. Yes, your Istanbulkart can be refilled and used even if it is old (if it has not been physically damaged).
I have 3 Istanbulkarts and the newest one must be 3 years old. I don’t even remember when I bought the others. For this reason, those who plan to visit Istanbul again should keep their cards.
There are many nice restaurants in Beyoglu (Taksim Square, Istiklal Street and Galata). If you like meat, I recommend Munhasir Restaurant as a kebab restaurant. As for luxury restaurants, there are 360 Istanbul and Mikla.
I wrote an article about this. If you wish, you can access the article on the 12 best restaurants in Beyoglu here. I wish you a nice holiday in Istanbul.
Hello Serhat,
I have a doubt I think I understand that tourists when we spend 500TL we have to buy a new Istanbulkart.
And we are also not reimbursed when we use Marmaray.
Thank you for your great help.
Hello Matias, unfortunately I have no information about this subject. I’ll edit this answer after I do some research. However, since it is currently a busy tourist season in Istanbul, I do not have much time to update the articles. I will get back to you soon.
Is it true that to get a refund on Marmaray, it is only applicable to residents or personalized Istanbul Kart (registered)?
Yes, as far as I know, in order to get a refund from Marmaray and other means of transportation in Istanbul, your card must be personalized on the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality website.
To personalize, you are asked for an ID number when you enter this official website. In the first line, there is a field where you can enter a Turkish or foreign ID number. I do not know if tourist ID numbers are accepted.