How to pay for public transport in Istanbul — Istanbul Kart, bank card, or cash?

In September 2026, a participant recommended buying a ticket on Trip.com as an alternative for those who do not need an Istanbul Kart and have no foreign-issued bank card. She reported that payment was possible with any card issued in Russia. Conditions change — confirm with an official source before you travel.

Street ticket terminals offer a choice of credit card or Istanbul Kart payment. Istanbul Kart payment sometimes fails (cashier said it's a system glitch, usually works). UnionPay works intermittently — one ticket went through, a second payment failed on both street terminals and indoor ticket booth terminals.

On Havaist routes between the two airports, Istanbul Kart is also not accepted — payment is by bank card only (cash is not accepted either, same as other Havaist routes).

On the route to Eminönü, only cash is accepted — Istanbul Kart doesn't work here. The bus is small, so there's a risk of not fitting in during busy hours.

At the ticket booth (kassa) you can pay for transport in cash. From the driver, cash is only accepted on the Sultanahmet route — other routes require a bank card or Istanbul Kart.

On routes from Taksim (Havacıst stop), you can pay with an Istanbul Kart or an international bank card. Cash is not accepted on board.

You can top up your Istanbul Kart using a bank card, which is handy if you want to avoid unfavorable exchange rates at the port.

Cash is not accepted on Istanbul public transport. You need either an Istanbul Kart or a supported bank card. UnionPay is generally not accepted.

On the route from Sultanahmet, only cash or a bank card is accepted — the Istanbul Kart is not valid on this specific route.

The Istanbul Kart is the universal option, accepted across the entire transport network (metro, buses, trams, ferries). Visa card payment is not available everywhere, so having an Istanbul Kart is recommended.

Without a Turkish phone number or a card that works in Turkey, paying for transport online in advance is difficult. The easiest solution is to buy or top up an Istanbul Kart on the spot.

There are two main ways to pay for transport in Istanbul: a foreign bank card (where accepted) or an Istanbul Kart. Cash is not accepted on board.