Istanbulkart Guide
How to buy, load and use the card that unlocks every form of public transport in the city.
5 min readUpdated August 2026
The Istanbulkart is a rechargeable travel card and the only sensible way to pay for transport here. One card covers the metro, tram, bus, funicular, Marmaray and public ferries, and it can be shared between people travelling together.
Where to buy one
Yellow vending machines stand in every metro station, at both airports and beside major tram stops. You pay a small one-off fee for the card itself, then load credit on top.
Machines have an English option and take cash; card payment is available on many but not all of them, so keep some small notes.
Using it
Tap on entry at metro, tram and Marmaray turnstiles, and when boarding buses and ferries. There is no tap-out.
Transfers within a short window are discounted, so a journey combining tram and metro costs less than two full fares.
- One card can pay for several people — tap once per traveller.
- Check your balance on the reader before you pass through.
- Top up before heading somewhere with no station machine.
Is it worth it for a short trip?
Yes. Single-use tokens cost noticeably more per ride and are not sold everywhere, and the ferries alone justify the card. Even on a two-day visit it pays for itself quickly.
