A Brief Guide on Public Transport in Turkey

Turkey, located at the crossroads of three continents and home to over 85 million people, has a vast and diverse public transport infrastructure. For foreign investors or new residents, here are the essentials that will make daily life easier.

Istanbulkart: One Card for the Whole City

In Istanbul, you can use metro, metrobus, bus, tram, ferry, marmaray and even funiculars with a single Istanbulkart. You can buy it at airport vending machines or station booths. Top up via vending machines or mobile apps such as BiTaksi, Papara or Trendyol Cüzdan.

Marmaray: From Europe to Asia in 4 Minutes

The Marmaray line, passing under the Bosphorus, is the fastest connection between the European and Asian sides. Sirkeci to Üsküdar takes just 4 minutes. The line stretching from Halkali to Gebze is also ideal for suburban travel. It can be crowded at peak hours, but comfort and speed always win.

YHT — High-Speed Train

Ankara-Istanbul takes about 4 hours, Ankara-Konya about 1 hour 45 minutes. YHTs travel at 250 km/h and offer a fast alternative to road travel. Tickets are available on the TCDD official website or mobile app. Eskişehir, Konya and Sivas lines are also active.

Intercity Bus Network

Turkey has one of the world's most developed intercity bus networks. Major brands like Metro Turizm, Pamukkale, Kamil Koç and Lüks Karadeniz stand out with luxury seats and onboard service. You can easily book through platforms like Obilet or EnUygun.

Mobile Apps

• Mobiett: Istanbul bus lines and live arrival info.
• Moovit / Citymapper: Multimodal navigation.
• BiTaksi, iTaksi, Uber: Yellow taxi calling apps.
• Marti, BinBin: E-scooter sharing.

Airport Transfers

From Istanbul Airport, you can use HAVAIST buses, the M11 metro (direct to Gayrettepe) or iGA taxi. For Sabiha Gökçen Airport, HAVABUS shuttles and a metro link from Pendik are available.

Practical Tips Within the City

Traffic in Istanbul peaks between 5–8 PM. Choosing ferries is both enjoyable and strategic. A 20-minute Bosphorus cruise offers an experience no app can replicate.

At Bigist Invest, when selecting an investment region we pay particular attention to proximity to metro/metrobus stations — because location directly drives rental yield.