Istanbul Card 2025 – Public Transportation Card Explained

If you plan to use public transport in Istanbul, getting an Istanbul Card is a must. This prepaid, contactless card makes it easy to hop on buses, trams, the metro, funiculars, and ferries, saves you money, and lets you use the public WCs. This ultimate Istanbul Card guide walks you through everything you need to know, from where to buy it to how to use it.

The Istanbul transport card, known as IstanbulKart in Turkish, has been the go-to Istanbul public transport card since 2009. It’s the size of a standard debit/credit card, making it easy to carry in your wallet.

There are different types available, but for tourists, the best option is the anonymous (Anonim) Istanbul card or Blue Istanbul City Card, which doesn’t require registration or a photo.

This Istanbul travel card can be used on nearly all public transport in the city, except for the minivans called dolmuş. If you’re sticking to the main tourist areas, you won’t need them anyway, as the metro, tram, and ferry systems cover most city attractions.

Whether staying for a few days or just having a long layover, it’s wise to get an IstanbulKart as soon as you land. Fortunately, you can buy one at Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport machines to explore the city immediately.

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy something through them—at no extra cost to you. It helps support my blog and lets me share real, first-hand travel tips. Learn more

Istanbul Card prices for 2025

Public transportation in Istanbul is affordable, and using an Istanbul Card makes it even cheaper.

There are two main types of Istanbul city cards for visitors:

• Red Istanbul Card (IstanbulKart) – The standard, anonymous card used by locals and tourists. It’s a prepaid, reusable option that offers discounted fares.
• Blue Istanbul City Card for Tourists—This is an unlimited Istanbul public transportation card specially designed for tourists for a set number of days. It is ideal if you plan to use public transport frequently.

Disclaimer: My Istanbul Card pictured above is an old design that works just fine.

Istanbul red card costs 130 TRY. However, Istanbul public transport prices change pretty often, and while I keep this post updated, prices might be slightly different when you get there. The IstanbulKart has no credit, so you must load it, which I explain below.

The Blue Istanbul City Card for Tourists is valid for 1-3-5-7-15 days and includes the card price in the package and optional add-ons for Museums and the Bosphorus Tour. More information on this is below.

Istanbul transport ticket prices without the Istanbul Card for 2025

While Istanbul does offer single-use tickets, relying on them can get expensive if you plan to use public transport multiple times during your stay.

That’s why getting a travel card in Istanbul, either Istanbul Kart or the Istanbul City Card for Tourists, is the best option for convenience and savings.

However, you can still use electronic tickets for occasional rides if you don’t want to purchase an Istanbul public transportation card. These are available at the same black-and-yellow vending machines that dispense Istanbul card for public transport and are placed at metro entrances, piers, or around the city.

Electronic Istanbul public transport ticket prices for 2025 are as follows:

• Single-use ticket: 40 TL
• Two-pass ticket: 70 TL
• Tree-pass ticket: 110 TL
• Four-pass ticket: 135 TL
• Five-pass ticket: 160 TL
• Ten-pass ticket: 305 TL

Istanbul transport prices with the IstanbulKart 2025

The standard fare for buses, trams, ferries, and metro rides with an Istanbul transportation card is 27 TL for the first ride. If you transfer to another line, your fare decreases with each transfer. For instance, when using Istanbul Card 2025, the second transfer will cost you 19.33 TL, the third 14.67 TL, and all the others up to five transfers will cost 9.27 TL.

The Metrobus system, a 50 km bus rapid transit line with 45 stations, operates on a separate fare system. Unlike other public transport options, the Istanbul transport card price for Metrobus rides depends on how many stations you travel to (more on this in the benefits section below).

Here’s the updated IstanbulKart price 2025 for Metrobus public transport:

• 1 stop traveled – 19.33 TL
• 2 stops traveled – 23.13 TL
• 3 stops traveled – 27.00 TL
• 4-9 stops traveled – 30.86 TL
• 10-15 stops traveled – 33.90 TL
• 16-21 stops traveled – 35.46 TL
• 22-27 stops traveled – 36.63 TL
• 28-33 stops traveled – 37.42 TL
• 34-43+ stops traveled – 40.08 TL

Note that some prices also differ by route and means of public transport, but with a card, they always start from 27 TL. I found a PDF document with detailed information and graphs for prices, but it’s in Turkish.

Where to use the Istanbul Transport Card

The Istanbul Card transport system covers almost all forms of public transportation in the city, making it a must-have for getting around efficiently.

You can use it on buses, Metrobus, nostalgic trams in Kadıköy and Taksim, the Marmaray train, Istanbul’s electric tramway, and funiculars at Kabataş and Taksim (Tunnel).

Istanbul card validity also covers IDO ferries, city line ferries, Turyol and Dentur Bosphorus cruises, cable cars, and even TCDD railways.

If traveling from the airport, the card works on Havabus from Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Havaist airport shuttles from Istanbul Airport.

Surprisingly, you can even use it to pay for public restrooms, which makes it one of the most convenient transport cards I’ve ever had!

Can two people use one IstanbulKart?

Yes! IstanbulKart allows multiple-person use. Up to five people can share one card while traveling together.

If you are traveling with a partner, family, or friends, no one will stop you from using a single card for multiple tickets. If you’re traveling with children under six years old, they ride for free.

However, there is a downside. When Oto and I shared one Istanbul Card, we missed out on specific discounts and cashback benefits (more on that below).

How to check your Istanbul Card balance

Checking your Istanbul public transportation card balance is easy. Use the same machines where you purchased or topped up your card. Tap your Istanbul Kart on the machine to display your remaining balance. If needed, you can reload it immediately.

Benefits of Istanbul public transportation card

Istanbul is a huge city, spanning two continents with several dozens of neighborhoods, and using transportation frequantely can easily add up your costs. That’s why the Istanbul Card for public transport is an essential.

One card for all public transport

The biggest advantage of the Istanbul transport card is its convenience. You can use it for the Istanbul metro, buses, trams, ferries, and even airport shuttles without needing separate tickets or tokens.

Whether boarding the nostalgic tram on İstiklal Caddesi or hopping on the Metrobus, a simple tap is all it takes—no need to wait in line or carry multiple single-use tickets.

Contactless and easy to use

The card is contactless, meaning you don’t even need to take it out of your wallet. Hold it within 8 cm of the reader, and payment will be processed instantly.

You’ll hear a sound, and the screen will display the fare amount. If you don’t have enough balance, the screen will show “Kontör Yetersiz” (Insufficient Credit).

Significant discounts and cashback

The biggest perk of the Istanbul Card system is the fare discounts, which automatically grant a 32.5% reduced fare for the first ride compared to single-use tickets. For example, instead of paying 40 TL per ride, Istanbul Kart users pay 27 TL

Note that when you change the means of transport to Metrobus, you don’t pay a discounted price; the card will charge you the full Metrobus fare. However, you get a discount if you change from Metrobus to another means of transport.

Metrobus and Marmaray cashback feature

On Metrobus and Marmaray routes, you can even get money back for unused stations. The system charges the full fare from your entry point to the final station when boarding.

However, if you exit earlier, you can claim a refund by tapping your card on a “Return” machine in English placed at the exit stations. The screen will show the cashback amount. Remember that Metrobus refunds are not given in the same station; you must travel to at least one station to get a refund.

This is where Istanbulkart’s multiple-person use becomes inefficient. When we used one card, the cashback was only calculated for the last tap, meaning we received half of what we would have gotten with two separate cards.

For instance, if we were supposed to get 14 TL, we only received 7 TL because the machine gave us back for only the last tap.

Pay for public WCs

Lastly, your Istanbul Card is the only way to pay for public restrooms across the city, including those in streets and parks.

Where to buy an Istanbul Card & how to top it up

Getting an IstanbulKart and topping it up is easy, as the city has plenty of machines and kiosks selling them. Look for the black-and-yellow devices labeled Biletmatik at metro stations, tram stops, ferry terminals, and Metrobus stations. These are the ones where you buy and top up your Istanbul travel card.

Many corner shops and small kiosks also sell and top up the card—look for the sign Akbil Dolum Noktası.

These machines only accept Turkish Lira in cash, so if you’re buying one at the airport, you must withdraw money from an ATM or exchange some cash. I use a Wise international card for lower withdrawal and exchange fees.

The machines take 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 TL notes but don’t accept coins or give change back. While some machines claim to accept debit/credit cards, they may not always work for topping up your balance.

As mentioned above, the Istanbul card price 2025 is 130 TL at official vending machines. However, some corner shops and kiosks may charge slightly more.Remember that the card is non-refundable, and after purchasing it, you’ll need to add credit to start using it.

Blue Istanbul City Card for tourists

If managing your Istanbul public transport pass feels overwhelming—whether you’re worried about keeping enough balance, standing in line to top up, or want a stress-free experience—then the Blue Istanbul City Card is the perfect solution.

This unlimited Istanbul public transportation card is ideal for visitors staying a few days and frequently using public transport. With this IstanbulKart for tourists, you get unlimited rides on buses, trams, ferries, and more, so you don’t have to worry about calculating fares or buying single tickets.

The card comes in six unique designs featuring famous Istanbul landmarks and offers multiple day-pass options: 1, 3, 5, 7, or 15 days of unlimited travel. You can choose a pass that best fits your stay and move around the city freely. Moreover, you can add museum visits and the Bosphorus Tour to your card.

Blue Istanbul City Card prices

Below are the prices for the Istanbul City Card; however, due to economic changes, prices change frequently, and the picture below is of 2022.

The cost of the Istanbul City Card:

• Unlimited 1-day pass: 554 TL / + museums and Bosphorus Tour: 2 534 TL
• Unlimited 3-day pass: 1 038 TL / + museums and Bosphorus Tour: 3 018 TL
• Unlimited 5-day pass: 2 070 TL / + museums and Bosphorus Tour: 4 050 TL
• Unlimited 7-day pass: 2 637 TL / + museums and Bosphorus Tour: 4 617 TL
• Unlimited 15-day pass: 3 940 TL / + museums and Bosphorus Tour: 5 920 TL

Where to buy the Blue Istanbul City Card

Purchasing the Istanbul City Card for tourists is as easy as buying the standard Istanbul Card. The dedicated machines are at airports, metro stations, and key locations throughout the city. They accept debit and credit cards.

Summing up: istanbulKart vs Istanbul City Card

If you’re wondering whether to get the İstanbulKart or the Istanbul City Card, the right choice depends on your travel style and how often you plan to use public transportation.

The city’s standard public transport card is the red Istanbul Card, widely used by locals and tourists. It works on all forms of public transport, and its main advantage is its affordability—you pay per ride but at a discounted rate compared to single-use tickets.

You can also use one card for multiple travelers, although it limits some benefits like Metrobus and Marmaray cashback. İstanbulKart is ideal for those staying longer than a few days or traveling occasionally rather than constantly.

On the other hand, the Blue Istanbul City Card is designed for tourists who plan to use public transport frequently within a short visit. It offers unlimited travel within a specific day pass, making it a great choice for those who don’t want to worry about balance or topping up.

This card is perfect if you plan to move around the city several times daily using different transport modes. However, it is slightly more expensive than using an İstanbul Card for the same number of rides.

Ultimately, choosing between Istanbul City Card vs İstanbulKart depends on how much you’ll be using public transport during your stay.