Is taxi reliable in Istanbul or should I use public transport?

By law, all taxis in Turkey are required to use a taximeter. The only exception is pre-arranged transfers (e.g., to/from the airport), which don't use meters.

Uber, Yandex, inDrive and BiTaksi do not operate in Turkey as separate-driver ride-hailing services: ordering through any of them normally dispatches a regular licensed city taxi. The app does not guarantee a different fare or a more reliable vehicle.

To avoid joining the airport-taxi queue, try finding a cab in the departures area just after it drops off passengers: a driver who has delivered someone to the airport would otherwise return to the city empty. This may bypass the airport cooperative, although an available taxi is not guaranteed.

Alternative option: every neighborhood in Istanbul has a yellow taxi stand with a dispatcher — approach them and write your destination via a translator app (English isn't always spoken). These have fixed prices that don't change by the end of the ride. Worth comparing the price to Trip.com's transfer rate — if the stand is cheaper, go with them. These local neighborhood taxis are praised as fair and reliable, unlike airport taxi drivers who often triple the fare for tourists.

Turkish intercity buses are comfortable and great for exploring the country. All buses have luggage compartments, and bus stations have storage lockers (emanet). Transport cards are a one-time purchase.

Public transport in Turkey is excellent overall, especially for intercity travel. Once you try it, it's hard to go back to taxis or rental cars.

In Istanbul, public transport beats taxis hands down: the metro and Marmaray are fast, trams and metrobuses run in dedicated lanes. Taxis are only worth it if money and time are no object.

Istanbul taxis are hit or miss. Better to use Uber (if you have a card to link) or book a transfer through major aggregators like Trip.com or Booking.com — they're generally transparent with pricing.

In Istanbul, only the red Istanbulkart is valid. Fares are charged at full price depending on the transport type, but the card is still the cheapest and most convenient way to get around the entire city.

Ordering a taxi via app from Istanbul airport is deliberately made inconvenient to protect airport taxi operators. Drivers often try to overcharge tourists. Pre-booked transfers cost about the same as a taxi, so it's better to arrange one in advance.

Most tourists in Istanbul avoid taxis — public transport is well-developed, and neither locals nor visitors trust taxi drivers. Authorities have started cracking down on the industry.