Lonely Planet İstanbul Guide

minutes from 6am to midnight. 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 neighbouring 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; www.sehirhatlari.com.tr) ; others 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.mavimarmara.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 functioning 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 otobüsü (sea bus) and hızlı feribot (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) .