I'm flying to Istanbul tomorrow afternoon and would like to know the cheapest way to get from the airport (Ataturk) to the Taksim Square area. I'm sure there are many options and some will be easier or more comfortable but I am on a shoestring budget and sometimes like to do things the hard way as the less wealthy locals might have to.
asked Jun 23, 2011 at 19:00
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3Tomorrow afternoon? A short answer: A single public transport token (1.75 TL) will at least take you to Askaray on the metro (I don't think you can change lines on one token). And then the walk isn't that bad. Bit of hill on the other side of the estuary wont that much fun if you've got a load of luggage (should only hit 25C tomorrow).– Tom Hawtin - tacklineCommented Jun 23, 2011 at 19:35
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I think I have one of those tokens from my last trip!– hippietrailCommented Jun 24, 2011 at 0:25
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3transport tokens are now 2 TL (December 2011)– Peter HahndorfCommented Dec 2, 2011 at 8:40
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2Istanbul transport token prices have risen yet again to 3 TL!– hippietrailCommented Sep 16, 2012 at 11:05
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14 TL (July 2014)– greg121Commented Aug 13, 2014 at 13:19
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3 Answers
Municpal bus 96T is probably the cheapest, at 3.00 lira (~$2 USD), but it takes very long (~1.5h at times) and is often packed. Havas bus is faster and costs 10 lira (~$6.50 USD).
If you plan to use public transport a lot, buy the Akbil pass (saves a bit of money and you don't need to dig for coins all the time).
The trip is also possible via metro, but involves changing over twice (Zeytinburnu to tram and a short walk at Karakoy to Tunel). This takes 3 tokens (jetons), and costs 3 x 3 = 9 lira (~5 USD), in 2012.
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1@SigueSigueBen there are funiculars at both Kabataş and Karaköy.– dbkkCommented May 22, 2012 at 15:24
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2@dbkk Yes, but only the one at Kabataş is called a funicular (it is the funicular in Turkish). The one at Karaköy is called Tünel. Commented May 22, 2012 at 15:26
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2Transport tokens rose in price again some time prior to September 2012 to 3 TL! Commented Sep 16, 2012 at 11:05
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There are three public transport options if you are trying to minimise costs.
Take the direct bus between Atatürk airport and Taksim square. This bus is a double fare bus and can be slow. In the early hours of the morning, it can be very fast, however. I travelled from Taksim to the airport in about 20 minutes on this bus once.
Take the metro to Aksaray and transfer to a bus going to Taksim. This will cost you the same as the direct bus but can be faster as the metro skips much of the traffic. The walk between the metro stop and the bus stop is less than 5 minutes and involves an underpass and then an overpass (which crosses over the tramline). The bus stop is called Yusufpaşa and there are several passing buses which travel to Taksim, passing under the aqueduct and then crossing the Golden Horn via Atatürk bridge.
Take the metro to Aksaray and then walk to Taksim square. The walk would take 45 minutes to an hour and there is a hill involved after you cross the bridge. This would be the cheapest since you'd only be paying a single fare.
The tram line between Zeytinburnu and Kabataş is the worst option, especially if you change lines at Zeytinburnu. It travels very slowly (especially between Zeytinburnu and Aksaray) and it does not travel to Taksim, so you will have to walk uphill or pay for a third fare. The best bet with the tram is to change lines at Aksaray, but this involves the same 5 minute walk as going to the bus stop
If you do take the tram, you can get off at the last stop (Kabataş) and, as mentioned, take the funicular up to Taksim at the north end of İstiklâl street. You can also get off the tram earlier at Karaköy, where there is the two-stop Tünel (Istanbul's 100-year-old metro line) that takes you to the south end of İstiklâl, from where it is a pleasant 20-minute walk to Taksim square. Walking from Karaköy up to İstiklâl is also possible and the road goes right past the Galata Tower.
Using the Istanbulkart (Istanbul's Oyster Card) you can make it to Taksim with 4.75 TL.
- Atatürk - Zeytinburnu (M1A): 2.15 TL
- Zeytinburnu - Kabatas (T1): 1.45 TL
- Kabatas - Taksim (F1): 1.15 TL
Buying 3 Jetons would make 12 TL instead. Using the Istanbulkart is only useful if you use public transportation more than that one time since it costs 6 TL to get the card in the first place.
Source:
http://www.iett.gov.tr/en/main/pages/public-transport-fare-schedule/317
http://www.istanbul-ulasim.com.tr/media/24900/ag_2200px_1546px-01.jpg
