Istanbul Guide

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from the airport) and on to Sultanahmet and Eminönü. It then crosses the Galata Bridge to Karaköy (to con nect with the Tünel) and Kabataş (to connect with the funicular to Taksim Meydanı). A second service runs from Cevizlibağ, closer to Sultanahmet on the same line, through to Kabataş. Both services run every five minutes from 6am to mid night. The fare is ₺5; jetons are available from machines on every tram stop and İstanbulkarts can be used. A new tram line (the T5) connecting Eminönü with the Alibeyköy otogar (bus station) and running through the western Golden Horn suburbs has been under construction for some time. The first section, consisting of 12 stations, opened in early 2021. A small antique tram travels the length of İstiklal Caddesi in Beyoğlu from a stop near Tünel Meydanı to Taksim Meydanı (7am to 10.20pm). Electronic tickets (₺5) can be purchased from the ticket office at the Tünel funicular, and İstanbulkarts can be used. Another small tram line follows a loop through Kadıköy and the neighbour ing suburb of Moda every 10 minutes between 6.55am and 9.20pm. Jetons cost ₺5 and İstanbulkarts can be used. Ferry The most enjoyable way to get around town is by ferry. Crossing between the Asian and European shores, up and down the Golden Horn and Bosphorus, and over to the Adalar (Princes’ Islands), these vessels are as efficient as they are popular with locals. Some are operated by the government-owned İstanbul Şehir Hatları (İstanbul City Routes; % 153;

FERRY TRAVEL Ferries ply the following useful two-way routes:

¨ ¨ Beşiktaş–Kadıköy ¨ ¨ Beşiktaş–Üsküdar

¨ ¨ Eminönü–Anadolu Kavağı (Bosphorus cruise) ¨ ¨ Eminönü–Rumeli Kavağı (Bosphorus commuter line) ¨ ¨ Beşiktaş–Eminönü–Kadıköy–Kınalıada– Burgazada–Heybeliada–Büyükada–Bostancı (Princes’ Islands ferry)

Transport Getting Around İstanbul

¨ ¨ Eminönü–Kadıköy ¨ ¨ Eminönü–Üsküdar ¨ ¨ Karaköy–Kadıköy ¨ ¨ Karaköy–Üsküdar

¨ ¨ Üsküdar–Karaköy–Kasımpaşa–Fener–Balat– Hasköy–Ayvansaray–Sütlüce–Eyüp (Golden Horn Ferry) There are also limited services to, from and between the Bosphorus suburbs. İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri (p211) operates car ferries between Eminönü and the Harem İskelesi (Ferry Dock).

www.sehirhatlari.com.tr) ; oth ers by private companies, including Dentur Avrasya ( % 0216-444 6336; www. denturavrasya.com) , Turyol ( % 0212-251 4421; www.turyol. com) and Mavi Marmara ( % 0850-480 6767; www.mavi marmara.net) . Timetables are posted at iskelesi (ferry docks). On the European side, the major ferry docks are at the mouth of the Golden Horn (Eminönü and Karaköy) and at Beşiktaş. The ferries run to two annual timetables: winter (mid-September to May) and summer (June to mid September). Ferry schedules vary, with popular routes usually func tioning between 7am and 9pm or 10pm. The possibility of future 24-hour services has been flagged – check www.sehithatlari.istanbul for updates. Tickets are cheap (usually ₺5) and it’s possible to use an İstanbulkart on most routes.

There are also deniz oto büsü (sea bus) and hızlı feri bot (fast ferry) services, but these ply routes that are of less interest to the traveller and are also more expensive than the conventional ferries. For more information, check İDO (İstanbul Deniz Otobüsleri; % 0850-222 4436; www.ido. com.tr) . Taxi İstanbul is full of yellow taxis. There are also Turquoise taxis, which are newer, more comfortable and slightly more expensive. Some driv ers are lunatics, others are con artists; most are neither. If you’re caught with the first category and you’re about to go into meltdown, say ‘yavaş!’ (slow down!). Driv ers in the con-artist category tend to prey on tourists. All taxis have digital meters and must run them, but some of these drivers ask for a flat fare, or pretend the meter doesn’t work so they can