Transportation Istanbul: Bus, Taxis, Metro and Airport - Boutique Hotel Bentley

Istanbul Transportation:

Getting Around in a Cab in Istanbul

As the driver starts the meter it will flash the rate type: Gündüz means Daylight (06:00 am to 24:00 midnight); Gece means Night (24:00 midnight to 06:00 am). Gece (Night) is 50% higher than the daytime rate.

The Gündüz fare for the 15-minute ride between Sultanahmet and Taksim Square is about US$5.
For the 35- to 75-minute ride from Atatürk Airport to Sultanahmet the Gündüz fare is about US$15 to US$18. From the airport to Taksim Square, about US$18 to $23.
The taxi drivers do not normally allow more than 3 passengers, but some times they can allow up to 5 (depending on the car that they are driving). Turks don't tip taxi drivers, they round up the fare. If it ends up being, say, US$4.75, a Turk will just round it up to $5. In many cases if the fare is US$5.25, the driver will require only US$5, and not bother with the change.

Getting Around in a Bus

Istanbul IETT city buses are the main public transportation line. They are frequent and usually crowded (especially in the mornings and evenings).

Buy tickets before boarding the bus at kiosks labeled I.E.T.T or Bilet, or use the Akbil electronic transit pass. It is not possible to buy tickets on the bus.
There are private buses called Özel Halk Otobüsü which allow the visitors to buy tickets in cash or using the Akbil.

Getting Around in Tram

Using the tram lines could be quite an experience, since there are many old-fashioned lines along the most common, modern ones.
The Akbil electronic transit pass can be used in all the lines, even in the older ones.

The most popular tram is the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas (-Besiktas) tram. This one connects the major tourist areas with three ferry docks, the European railway station and the Funicular to Taksim Square.

The tram, in conjunction with the Metro,  can be used to travel between Atatürk Airport amd Sultanahmet Square.

Getting Around by Metro

Istanbul’s modern rapid-transit system runs from about 6 am until 12 am. The Akbil electronic transit pass can be used here as well.

Even so, Istanbul's ambitious plan to have a modern rapid-transit system is well under way (map). The system runs from about 6 am (06:00) to a little past 12 midnight (24:00). You can use your Akbil electronic transit pass on all Metro lines.
(The last train from Atatürk Airport via the Otogar to Aksaray departs the airport at 01:00 am.) The fare is YTL1.30.

You're most likely to use the Metro line that runs from Aksaray northwest to the city's main Otogar (intercity bus station), then on to Atatürk Airport (map).
Arriving in Istanbul by intercity bus, you can take the Metro right from the Otogar to Zeytinburnu and board the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas (-Besiktas) tram for Sultanahmet Square and Eminönü. (Here's how to transfer).

Another Metro line runs from Taksim Square north through the Levent districts.

Airports

Istanbul Ataturk International Airport:
Completed in May 2004, the new International Terminal at Ataturk was completed in May 2004 and has been conceived to handle more than 20 million passengers per year. It is the major international airport in the city. Located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is 15 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of the city centre. The airport is named in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder and first President of the modern Turkish Republic.

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport:
Named after Sabiha Gökçen, the world's first female combat pilot, the airport is located on the Asian side of the bi-continental city, Istanbul. It was built because the Atatürk International Airport (on the European side) was not large enough to meet the booming passenger demands (both domestic and international). SAW's international terminal capacity is 3 million  passengers/year and the domestic terminal capacity is half million passengers per year.

http://www.sgairport.com/havaalani/eng/start.asp

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