How to pay for public transport in Istanbul — Istanbul Kart, bank card, or cash?
Based on 1 discussions with 8 participants · Last activity: 2 days ago
TL;DR
The best option is an Istanbul Kart, which works across the entire public transport network. Foreign bank cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted on some routes, but cash is not accepted on board.
What the community said
On routes from Taksim (Havacıst stop), you can pay with an Istanbul Kart or an international bank card. Cash is not accepted on board.
4 days ago Taksim / Havacıst stop
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.
5 days ago
Cash is not accepted on Istanbul public transport. You need either an Istanbul Kart or a supported bank card. UnionPay is generally not accepted.
5 days ago
On the route from Sultanahmet, only cash or a bank card is accepted — the Istanbul Kart is not valid on this specific route.
7 days ago Sultanahmet 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.
8 days ago Istanbul Kart
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.
11 days ago
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.
10 days ago