Public Transit
Buses
Istanbul's municipal buses can be taken to many destinations in and outside the city. The buses, which can be identified by the acronym IETT (Istanbul Electricity, Tramway and Tunnel), accept tokens or electronic transit pass.
Privately owned bus companies, regulated by the city, also operate on major routes. These private buses may accept cash or electronic transit pass.
Metro
Istanbul's rapid Metro system offers a cheap and efficient way to travel.
There are currently four metro lines. The M1 and M2 lines are especially useful for visitors to Istanbul.
The M1 Aksaray - Ataturk line connects Ataturk Airport and Aksaray Square via the main intercity bus terminal in Istanbul.
The M2 Sishane - Haciosman line is a good option for reaching commercial and financial areas in the north. Trains leave from Sishane (located in Tunel Square) and Taksim Square.
The other two lines are M3 and M4. In the west of Istanbul, the M3 Basaksehir-Olimpiyatkoy line serves Basaksehir, Kirazli and the Olympic Village.
The M4 Kadikoy-Kartal line provides swift travel from the Asian shore of the Bosphorus to stops along the shore of the Sea of Marmara.
Funicular
Istanbul’s Füniküler (funicular) runs between Kabataş on the European shore of the Bosphorus, south of Dolmabahçe Palace, and Taksim Square, the busy centre of Beyoğlu.
This short underground funicular tram is a crucial link in Istanbul’s transportation system, linking the Bağcılar-Kabataş tram and the Kabataş ferry docks to the Metro and Nostalgic Istiklal Caddesi tram at Taksim Square.
