Getting from the Istanbul Airport to the City Center | Luxury vs. Budget and Everything in Between!

[@WaypointofView]

Book your airport transfer through Tranigo -- www.tranigo.com/en/istanbul?aid=571

[@judithanderson748]

Yes - I got that and my questions are directly from that site.

[@judithanderson748]

Whatever this auto reply is, it/you are not reading my question.

[@WaypointofView]

@@judithanderson748 This is not an auto reply, this is just a pinned comment that is always at the top of the comments... I hope you found our reply to your question. Tranigo simply uses the area of the hotel to give you a quote for the price, once you get further into the booking process, it will ask for your exact hotel address and the transfer will take you directly to your hotel. In your case, your region is Fatih and then you will have the opportunity to provide your exact address later in the booking process. I hope this helps!

[@judithanderson748]

@@WaypointofView Yes! ¡Gracias!

[@vanessabobadilla4703]

I’m visiting turkey in October and I’m probably going to use this service. How far in advance should I book ? Thank you for the great tips

[@johncarroll6056]

Guys, I just wanted to say, I happened upon your Istanbul travel guide, and this video about four days before an unanticipated chance for a solo trip to Istanbul for fun. I’d never been before. Your travel guide and hints took so much of the worry away and gave me great ideas to fill four days. It turned out to be a spectacular trip. Thanks hugely to your guidance. Thank you so much and keep it going!

[@WaypointofView]

Ah John this makes us SO SO happy to hear! We are glad you had a great trip and thrilled to know our guide helped you! If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind writing us a review on our website? waypointofview.com/product/istanbul_guide/#reviews We send post cards to all our guide reviewers.. 🤩☺️

[@onentogar9599]

Such a clever way to explain some of the options for people arriving in IST. Thank you for another useful video combined with excellent narration.!

[@WaypointofView]

Thank you so much for the kind words! And thank you for watching!! ☺️🤗

[@jurgenrudiger]

I guess this was more to promote the private pick up service than explaining the various options.Should have explained how to get the Istanbul card, cost break down of metro and tram, price of Havarista bus

[@1907blauschwarz]

They also have Videos What you Need.

[@sparkygirl9083]

5 dollar for the metro 35 for the private car and 45 min difference in time.

[@holliegarner1822]

They have another video explaining all of that. How to get a travel card, etc.

[@meganjb10]

There are shops you can buy the card in depends on how long you are staying they look like our kiosks at home for now put 500 litre or equivalent £10 or £20 fares are cheap you can check how much is on it when you put it through machine top it up later ,you use the card for all transport if a couple only need one card one a bus flash it on screen twice on ferry, just pass it back, you will use the transport a lot the tram takes you to all you want to see ,

You could've used Yenikapi station to transfer from M2 to Marmaray (B1) for one station (to Sirkeci). I used it just recently and it was quite convenient, it would be faster.

[@HoLeeSheet11]

Istanbul is the world's most visited destination of 2023 😮

[@WaypointofView]

😍😍

[@gokselgok48]

I enjoy introducing our foreign guests who want to come to Türkiye with a free tour of Istanbul and its historical beauties, food and everything that is beautiful. This is a source of pride for me.

[@loccusloccus5315]

Not having built the metro station inside the terminal building, or at least adjacent to it was a big planning oversight.

[@traderman6925]

Terminal okadar çok buyuk ki alanı aslinda yanında hemen.

[@egemensentin]

@@traderman6925Planlama düzgün yapılsa yanında değil içinde olurdu. Yürüme mesafesi gereksiz uzun.

[@sluchy7962]

it's because metro got build after the airport

[@emresamyeli1949]

The only problem with the system is the complition date of the metro line tbf. IGA was designed to connect people with fast metro line of m11 to city center and yht high speed regional train with neighboring cities like tekirdağ and kocaeli. The yht and metro complex is huge and since the airport is also huge, they had to connect the building like this. You only walk 6 minutes to metro station.

[@thomasweigelt6856]

The old airport was way better in this regard.

[@Vrogue85]

I’m visiting Istanbul in May for the first time. I saved for this trip for a while now. I’m definitely going to take the shuttle route lol. Thanks for this video!

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much for watching! We hope you have a great trip!

[@suzannetonkinson8016]

This is so helpful! Appreciate the visual experience!

[@MarkNeal75]

So glad I found your account! I arrive in Istanbul on Monday, my first time there so all your information has been amazing! ❤

[@WaypointofView]

So happy to hear this! Hope you had a great trip!!

[@imasarevans725]

Thank you for taking such great effort about the transportation options. Great video. Will definitely needed for my December visit.

[@Psikotrexex]

This is depending where do you want to go at the city. Some times metro better sometimes driving.

[@Bo-tz4nw]

Great tourist-selfies here, thanks. So interesting you seem to focus mainly on yourselves when visiting town. Keep up the interesting work!

[@patrickarmentrout220]

I am heading to Istanbul in couple weeks and this is so helpful! All of your videos are amazing, thanks for the tips!

[@WaypointofView]

That’s so great to hear! Thank you and we hope you have a great trip!

[@margeanderson2918]

Thank you - just booked airport car service through your link - 81 euro for two people in a mini van, and had we booked through the hotel it would have been at least 100 euro. Your videos are super helpful!

[@WaypointofView]

So happy you like our videos! We are thrilled to help! Hope you have an amazing trip!

[@miketonkinson859]

Excellent advice......thanks Jess &Myles

[@christianalonso32]

This video was super helpful!! Im going for my first time in July and now i feel a lot more confident going across the world and exploring a new city thank you!!!!!

[@WaypointofView]

So happy to hear this!! 🤗 have a great trip!

[@MegaAli213]

You guys are hilarious and kept me laughing. Your smiles exude pleasant personalities and your presentations thoughtful and informative. Desert Storm Veteran 1990-94 ❤

[@DogLover2024-c]

Thank you for the information, just in time, we arrive in Istanbul tomorrow evening. ❤❤

[@WaypointofView]

So glad we could help! We hope you have an amazing time here! Safe travels 🛫

[@mayacardano9905]

Very informative! Thank you!❤

[@mohammadal-dahhan5776]

Your recommendation was very good. I used the service based on your video and it was smooth and easy. The private shuttle was very clean.

[@minimoni5179]

Did they take you to the destination you wanted ? for exemple the hotel you're staying in ?

[@mikeptolemy8111]

Thanks for the tip. Just booked for a trip in May and got my discount!

[@WaypointofView]

🤗🤗 hope you have a great trip!!

[@MrsOz-vf7et]

We are thinking of going in May 2025. How was the weather like? T-shirt or Jumper? Maybe keep a fleece just in case? What sort of temperatures would we expect towards the end of May?

[@jasminewilliams1673]

Thanks this is super helpful for my visit in a few weeks!

[@WaypointofView]

Yay so happy to hear this! We hope you have a great trip!

[@fatimaabid5824]

It’s always better to book a private shuttle as it drops you right at the hotel, it is highly inconvenient to lug around your suitcase and carry on all over the place and if you are travelling with friends it is quite budget friendly as well because you can split the cost . For regular travel and sightseeing Metro>>>Taxi any day!

[@WaypointofView]

Couldn’t agree more! ☺️☺️

[@eliluise]

Can you tell me how much is a private shuttle from airport to Sultanahmet please? I think the cost is high and there are just 2 of us :)

[@fatimaabid5824]

@eliluise I am from Pakistan and I went with 2 of my friends so each of our share was around 4800 pkr which is approximately 550 TL per person. We stayed at Shishane Beyoglu though which is a 5 minutes walk from Istaklal and Galata

[@eliluise]

@@fatimaabid5824 Thank you for the info. The price seems ok. Did you book online? What company did you take? Please give me some details.

[@fatimaabid5824]

@eliluise we booked through our travel agent , the private shuttle picked us exactly on time from Ist airport and dropped us off to our hotel (Aspera Golden horn).

[@Paz243]

It was very fun to watch. Thanks

[@WaypointofView]

So happy to hear that! Thank you!!

[@nearerandfarther]

Great video!! Love it! And it's really helpful information! I'll be looking for that M11 this week!

[@WaypointofView]

Great!! So happy to hear you found our video helpful! We hope you have a great trip!

[@KeithApp]

Im heading to Istanbul next month, and this is greay, useful info. My flight arrives after 9pm, so I think the private transfer is the best option from airport to hitel. The prices are reasonable too.

[@WaypointofView]

So happy you found our video helpful! We hope you have a great trip!

[@Alvaro-ss4hs]

You two are amazing!! Your energy is so much fun and easy going. Thanks for sharing this. I am subscribed and I will be in Istanbul in April. I was considering taking the metro from the airport but now I'm reconsidering. Wish me luck !! I hope I don't get lost 😅

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much for watching and we hope you have a great trip!!

[@ChickyRx]

this was a great amount of information

[@WaypointofView]

So happy you found the video helpful!

[@etaps73]

Just booked a private airport transfer and used your discount code! ❤❤❤

[@WaypointofView]

That’s so great! Glad we could help! Let us know how you like it! 😀

[@joits]

Great video. Reminded me of some old Top Gear episodes when the guys on the show would race each other using different forms of transportation. I was initially going to use either the metro or the Havaist bus to get to my hotel but as I arrive close to rush hour, I've decided to just pay extra and have the comfort of a private shuttle. I appreciate the discount code!

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much for watching.. glad you enjoyed the video! We hope you have a great trip!

[@viktorbohm5963]

Very helpful, thank you for the awesome video, much appreciated

[@WaypointofView]

Thank you so much!!

[@k00parks]

This was such a fun and informative video!! ❤

[@LoriBraendli]

Thank you! This has been very helpful. We have a group of 10 coming in to Istanbul from Switzerland soon and were looking for options to get from the airport to the hotel in the old city. Private transfer for the win.

[@WaypointofView]

So glad you like the video! We hope you guys have an amazing trip! Are you going anywhere else in Turkey while you are here?

[@LoriBraendli]

@@WaypointofView this trip is only 4 days so we will be sticking to Istanbul. I've been down to Side before and loved it. We are looking forward to exploring the city.

[@abbasalichinikamwalla7958]

Turkey like many countries eg Japan etc should have one common transportation card/kart , which could be used in all the cities of Turkiye because a card of one city cannot be used in another city and a tourist loses leftover money from the previous city card he/she has visited. I hope concerned authorities look into the matter. This could save a lot of time, money of the tourist and the hassles for obtaining a card of a new city...🌹☺️

[@jch1774]

Thank you for the useful information. However, when I was trying to book the shuttle in your link, I encountered several questions: 1. How do I decide the pickup time? My flight is scheduled to arrive IST at 17:55 on Friday. Not sure how long does it take to get to the pickup point (including the passport control and custom)? Any suggestion. 2. The reservation phone requests a phone number but I will only have eSIM for data. Without such phone number I cannot go thru the reservation. Suggestion? 3. Once finishing the ride, do I need to tip the driver? If yes, generally how much? TIA.

[@WaypointofView]

Great questions! You may want to also ask them these questions but I can share with you our thoughts based on our experience! As long as you provide your flight number when you reserve your car, they will know when they can expect you. So I would simply use your flight arrival time. With regard to tipping… 10% is customary. And finally for your phone number, use the number you are actively using prior to your trip. This way they can contact you with information about your booking if they need to before you arrive in the country. If you won’t have a number when you arrive then I would just add that as a note in your booking… I hope that helps!

[@akyraisconfused]

Moovit also might be a good option to plan public transport

[@shokhanmohammedfatah3000]

Thank you very much. Your videos are amazing ❤️❤️

[@MrsOz-vf7et]

This ones for Myles - Did you have to come out the station (tap out-tap in) to change from M11 to M2? How long did the change take? How much did it cost you from IST to the last Metro station? How much would it cost on the T1 to go from one end to the other? This is so I know how much to top up the Instanbulkart at the airport. Looks like we might be taking the T1 quite a bit.

[@WaypointofView]

The prices have changed since we made the video but I think it was around 90TL total…. Each ride requires you to tap on (you don’t tap out) I think the airport line is slightly more expensive than the other lines but I believe the other rides are 20TL each as of today… prices change pretty regularly here so don’t be surprised if it is a little different for you… there are plenty of places to top up the cards so don’t feel like it has to be full for your whole trip straight from the airport…

[@tobymartin7707]

Hi Guys, Thanks for the very informative video! We will be coming into Istanbul at the end of July 2024 and I and looking at the Tranigo site now.

[@WaypointofView]

So glad you enjoyed the video! We hope you have an amazing trip!!

[@travelleryildirim3013]

Cool Vlog and welcome back 🇹🇷 great Idea to make a competition 🎉🎉

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much!!

[@jessyleong903]

Thanks for this video. This has help me make a decision.

[@WaypointofView]

Hope you have a great trip!

[@tennesseedreamermusic]

Awesome video you guys! It was great to meet you both the other day at the Kebab joint - I'm still staying in Kadiköy and soaking up all the goodness! I leave in 2 weeks but am already thinking about when I can come back haha. What an incredible city Istanbul is!!

[@WaypointofView]

Ahh so happy to hear this and it was so wonderful to meet you!! We hope you enjoy the rest of your time here and maybe we’ll run into you again! ☺️☺️

[@tomris225]

Very helpful!❤

[@WaypointofView]

So happy to help! Thanks for watching!

[@latifah-1968]

Superr video,I like guy's vacation Istanbul with you ❤️, thank you for advice a private shuttle ❤. BIG HI 👋 FROM BALLWIN MO

[@binderchannel9454]

Do it with metro all the wey to Geyreteppe from there you can switch to Taksim and Isteklal blvd.

[@hatehaters6563]

i live in istanbul yhe last time i went to eminonu sirkeci was 9 years a go.

[@orhanturkoglu1982]

Very helpful thanks for the advice ❤👏👏

[@WaypointofView]

Absolutely, happy to help! ☺️

[@Aarif98]

There use to be the option of a shared shuttle. Don't see that option anymore. About 5 euros per person. About 5 years ago

[@stephenchen856]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks for watching!!

[@noorummyusuf]

Oh my God such a useful amazing video! Thank you so much guys! Subscribed!

[@WaypointofView]

Thank you so much for the kind words!! ☺️☺️

[@NirenderAggarwal]

Enjoyed the video. I am arriving in Istanbul in mid-November. When requesting a pick up time from the airport using a private car service, how much time should you allow after landing? I am flying from London.

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

3:04 ... view out of the window: You flew Pegasus ??? Oh no, that's brave

[@tayloralcantaraa]

Amazing guide video. Thanks for that. Its gonna be usefull.

[@WaypointofView]

So happy you found it helpful, thank you for watching!

[@lapelegrina3431]

thanks, thats very useful

[@ayeung5239]

This is such a fun video, good job! As for road traffic, what are the peak hours in Istanbul near the old city?

[@wrcguyedits]

he should have switched to Yenikapi line at Taksim. rookie move taking the funicular 😅

[@martineaton8955]

Love your video and great timing for us, we are flying into Istanbul soon and i've been looking at the best options, we are both in our sixties staying in the Old City and after watching your video its a no brainer so we will book the same ride as yourself Jess, please could you inform me which to choose was it the Standard Sedan or Minivan and which provider? Thanking you both, Martin and Christine.

[@WaypointofView]

Hi there! So happy to hear you guys found our video helpful! We just checked with the company we booked through and the specific van they provided us was through TTG, but they assured us all the shuttle companies they partner with have nice vehicles.

[@meka4996]

Very nice! Thanks

[@WaypointofView]

Thank you!!

[@RyanSmith-ix8ee]

Fun video. Must have missed the cutoff due to time difference as the promo code didn't work for me on PST.

[@vernond3515]

I am visiting at the end of the month, how much should I take in cash for the 10 days? Is card payment widespread in Istanbul or is it a cash society?

[@vernond3515]

@@osamassamosa5979 I actually cancelled, so I'm afraid I can't answer your question :/

[@samebrahim8743]

Greetings from DC. ….!!!Love love love your clips. I’m visiting Istanbul with my better half in September. Any non rip off hotel suggestions…?

[@arbhatiaa]

Hello sir just wanted to know that I'm planning to travel to Istanbul in December so is it a good time and what's the weather like

[@jorgehall8959]

I just got back home from Istanbul and the uber taxi driver I think pulled a fast one. I think the meter read 980 and he showed me he was putting 980+320 as a final price, but I couldn't argue cause 1. i had no idea if this was normal or not and he didn't speak anything other than Turkish and 2. we were in a hurry to get into the airport.

[@WaypointofView]

Perhaps.. it depends.. did you cross the Bosporus on your way to the airport? Depending on which way you drove, there could have been a toll which he would add at the end… but also you could be right… it could have just been the driver adding to the fare… 😅 hope you otherwise had a great trip!

[@jorgehall8959]

@@WaypointofView from Bayrampasa to IST. Loved it, would like to spend more time in Istanbul. I never told him we were late or anything, but he drove like we were trying to get away from the police :D

[@WaypointofView]

@@jorgehall8959hahah well that is very very normal there! 😂😂

[@vandervandervilt576]

Informative

[@francaisavecdounia]

I’ve just discovered your channel and I love your content. Is it possible to negotiate another coupon code ?

[@MrsOz-vf7et]

This is how travel guide videos should be made👏🏼. Do it yourself and show others. What is the best option if we are landing at IST after midnight? I guess private taxi would be safer than the metro? Is Uber safe after midnight?

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much! I would not be too worried about safety but I definitely wouldn’t want to bother with navigating the metro getting in so late. Unless you are traveling on a really tight budget, I would save learning public transit when you are more fresh in the light of day 😂! Also I think the metro stops running at midnight anyway. Uber is just going to get you a yellow taxi so also no real concerns from a safety standpoint… if you aren’t going to have service when you first arrive, calling an Uber can be annoying because in order to get on the WiFi you have to go to a kiosk and scan your passport so that can be frustrating to deal with when you first arrive.. especially if it is late at night and you are jet lagged from a long flight.. if you are debating between an Uber and a private car, I would get the private car so you can start your holiday off with a nice easy ride into the city since the difference in price is pretty negligible!

[@MrsOz-vf7et]

​@@WaypointofView Thank you. We booked our flights yesterday. Landing a 12pm noon. So Metro should be fine. We'll have our eSIMs ready to go so data shouldnt be an issue. How is the weather like end of May? T-shirt or jumper? Maybe carry a fleece just in case?

[@WaypointofView]

⁠@@MrsOz-vf7ethonestly the weather here can be very unpredictable and vary a lot.. you could have perfectly clear sunny days.. windy days.. rainy days.. or some combination. definitely plan to bring some kind of light jacket and then I would just say check the weather forecast as it gets closer to determine your packing list :) Edit: yesterday the high was 87 and it was perfectly clear. Today the high is 75 and it’s cloudy lol 😅😅😅.. so like I said, hard to predict/ it really varies..

[@Ghozylla226]

Bro... where metro card machine located in Istanbul Airport ?

[@farisal-salihi3780]

Thank you for a very useful video. I have heard many bad things about Uber service in Istanbul. Long waiting time and the fees that you are charged by the driver are higher than what you see in the Uber app. Many say that it is a scam and warn against using Uber or even a standard taxi service. If you can test the Uber and give us a recommendation of whether it is good to use in Istanbul or not.

[@WaypointofView]

Unfortunately I would say what you have heard can be true, but it is by no means across the board.. It’s not every taxi driver, but yes, taxi scams and frustrating situations when trying to use taxis/ Uber do happen here… ex/ long wait times, not being able to find someone to accept your ride, cancelled rides, accepting the ride and then messaging saying it’s going to be more $$ than the app shows, starting the base fare off higher than it should be, taking the “long” route to drive up the fare, and finally inputting a higher fare in the app at the end of the ride than what the meter shows. We have seen it all! Again it’s not every time but it does happen. Our general rule of thumb is to avoid taxis (and Uber) whenever possible here.. there are sometimes you just can’t avoid it.. but if you can, you should.

[@samramirza5352]

Please, can you recommend how to buy tickets for the attractions we are reaching Istanbul next week . Can we buy the tickets online?

[@sufii_2020]

Which taxi shall I take to city centre from the Istanbul airport

[@Cyclingthecities-mt9gz]

Wow, it is very helpful video for me as I am visiting Istanbul in 2 weeks. Do you have any tips how to save on roaming fees for mobile internet connection?

[@WaypointofView]

Not sure who your mobile carrier is and what kind of international plans that might have, but you can always purchase a SIM card (we use Turkcell) once you arrive here.. or you can consider getting an E-sim. We always use Airalo for E-sims. :) airalo.tp.st/6mpltnen

[@Cyclingthecities-mt9gz]

@@WaypointofView Thank you, I've already installed Airalo. Let's see, how it works. Thanks again for your useful hints. 😉 👍

[@Wayeeh]

Best way from Fatih to Istanbul Airport by train or Bus ? Thank you in advance

[@debyyong]

what hotel is that you visiting?

[@jcbehnke]

Having just lived through the public transport route today on my first visit to this city, never again. Taxi all the way. This video does not do justice to how packed the trains are and how far you have to walk in each station. The airport metro has you walk down 6 or so escalators probably 1000 feet underground, then a ton more walking after that. At the Gayrettepe transfer to the M2, you walk seemingly forever. Carrying a couple of bags, it’s a nightmare. Again, you will be packed like a sardine in all trains, escalators, walkways, etc. Plus, you will exit from you final transport and STILL have to walk more to your destination! Take a taxi!

[@Son96601]

Just get a taxi from the taxi lane outside the airport lol. It's like £30 to somewhere like Ataşehir.

[@marcupetru8201]

At the airport can we pay whit card for metro tiket (istanbulkard), or it work only whit cash?Thank you!

[@vanessabobadilla4703]

Question ??? How far in advance should someone book a car ???

[@urbiankorsten2563]

What is the name of the roofop bar?

[@sparkygirl9083]

Great Video thank you

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks for watching!!

[@rasul407]

@@WaypointofViewcould you recommend any hotel inside the airport without leaving the area?

[@KeithHez]

Do you happen to have a promo code for that transfer site?

[@khalidnasharuddin]

Hi. May i know what time the Metro close? I reach ST airport at midnight. Thanks

[@ahtiwana]

When booking private transfer, where do we use your discount code?

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks so much for watching! You enter the discount code at the very end on the check out page where you enter your credit card information. You need to first select the pick up/drop off locations, dates, time.. then you click on “search.” Then you select the car and click on “book.” Then it will take you to a page to enter all of your personal information. Once you click on “select payment methods,” it will take you to the page to enter your credit card information, and on this page there is a spot to enter the discount code. Once you enter the discount code, it will show you the updated total price before you have to complete the transaction. Hope this helps and we hope you have a great trip!!

[@GameBro-Bro]

Thank you for the video. What's the name of the shuttle service you took?

[@WaypointofView]

www.tranigo.com/en/istanbul?aid=571 ☺️

[@jamiewojciechowski205]

Hello there and thank you both for this video. One question, since I will be arriving in Istanbul from outside Turkey, do the Istanbul card machines at the airport take credit card or will I need to get cash before buying the Istanbul card?

[@WaypointofView]

Not all the machines are the same but there should be at least one that will accept credit card.

[@tamarabrooks8721]

What was the name of the restaurant?

[@abdulkhabir8221]

Hi Mate. Thanks for a great video. May I know for the public transport. Can we tap with credit card without buy the Istanbul card?

[@WaypointofView]

In theory yes.. we have tested this out and have not been able to get a credit card to work but we did get a debit card to work. The rides are much more expensive this way than with the IstanbulKart (just the other day on the ferry, it was around 30tl with the IstanbulKart and I think 50tl with a debit card). If you plan to take much public transit while here, probably best to still get an IstanbulKart… it will end up paying for itself…

[@pupalluna]

Hi. Nice video, really helpful. We used your suggestion for the airport transfer but your discount code doesn't work, oh well. Still was ok. Thanks

[@WaypointofView]

Ah so sorry about that, it seems like there was an error with the code but it has been corrected now. If you have already reserved without the discount, you can contact them via WhatsApp and they should give you the appropriate credit. If you have not yet booked and you are still interested, the discount code is now working properly. :)

[@ayasallat]

Is the code still active?

[@mikealley3618]

We plan on a visirt to Istanbul as an embarkation port for our cruise with maybe 36 or so hours in the city. Where is the cruise port in relartion to the airport and could you recommend a hotel that enables us to see some sights but not be too far from cruise terminal?

[@WaypointofView]

There are plenty of nice hotels right by where the cruise ships dock in Istanbul. There are two ports and both of them are very near the tourist sites. Most cruise ships dock right along the northern peninsula at the Galataport area. There are many name brand hotels within walking distance. You should know, there are two international airports in Istanbul so make sure you know which one your flight is leaving from. Either way, both are about an hour drive + or - from the area where the cruise ships come in.

[@genellemontecer9334]

This is such a great informative video! We have a layover for 9 hrs from IST airport and will land around 3:55PM in the winter time. Do you think it is enough to see Hagia Sophia from the outside & a few other attractions and grab a bite before heading to back to the airport? We plan on using the private transfer.

[@WaypointofView]

To be honest that is a tough one… if you land at 3:55pm there is a strong chance that you won’t be getting out of the airport until proper rush hour… it could end up taking a couple hours just to get into the old city….

[@genellemontecer9334]

@@WaypointofView Appreciate the response! Last question, Do you think if we take the metro instead, and just stroll around Taksim square, we would have enough time? Thanks again!

[@WaypointofView]

@@genellemontecer9334 yes for sure.. you can get there faster and you won’t have to deal with traffic. But honestly I would say it’s still possible to get into the Old City via taxi or shuttle, but you just won’t have a ton of time once you get there. The good news is the traffic shouldn’t be too bad heading back to the airport, which is honestly when it’s more important anyway so you make your flight. 😂 I would say if you’re going to make the effort, I wouldn’t bother with Taksim square, I would go to the Old City.. just know you’ll be looking at 1-2 hours to get there pending traffic and 1+\- hour to get back and make sure you plan your time accordingly.

[@_Alfa.Bravo_]

Subway / Metro is better for enviroment !!!! And safer !!! So take the underground !!!!

[@sinzianaoproiu6937]

Travelling to Istanbul next week so this is very useful, thank you. Can you please share the price Myles has paid for the public transportation as well? I understood Istanbulkart is 70 TL but how much would each connection cost? Thank you lots guys!

[@WaypointofView]

Thanks for watching! I think he mentioned it briefly at the end.. it was under $5 total… probably somewhere around $3-$4 for the 4 connections. Hope you have a great trip!

[@sinzianaoproiu6937]

Thank you ​@@WaypointofView 😊

[@tealwolf57]

I'm reading some mixed reviews about Trinigo...quite a few bad experiences. We're traveling in November 2024. Do you still recommend them for transfer to/from IST to our AirBB

[@WaypointofView]

We use them all the time (for us and when family visits) and we have been recommending them for over a year (about 100 new transfers every month) and no one has shared a bad experience with us 😀.

[@Aydosh1991]

Yes the metro is easy but there are no views from the windows

[@jonadabster8401]

What is the recommended tip for that private shuttle IST to that rooftop bar in old town ?

[@WaypointofView]

Typically tipping 10% for things like guides, private transfers, restaurants etc is acceptable in Turkey. Hope this helps!

[@ayahmrlol5037]

Hi,can i use same istanbulkart for 2 person for use metro

[@WaypointofView]

Yes :)

[@ayahmrlol5037]

@ Can u please explain how to scan the card for 2 persons in metro station?

[@lindalinda3131]

I took bus to reach city center. I visited Istanbul on January 2024.

[@JonesKumar-mm5lg]

How much it cost to you

[@lindalinda3131]

@@JonesKumar-mm5lg i went to Aksaray Station because its the shortest station to our hotel at Fatih. Its 134 lira.

[@judithanderson748]

OK, I am coming to Istanbul and I do NOT understand the private car booking through Tranigo. I get choosing IST for the departure, but the dropdown list for destinations does not have my hotel. My hotel is in the Fatih area, but I don't understand...will the car take me there or does it drop me at some place generally nearby?? (Topkapi - Findikzade - Fatih) was the only choice that seemed possible. How does the drop off to my hotel work (specifically) and can they pick me up at my hotel when I leave after my 2 week stay??

[@WaypointofView]

They will take you directly to your hotel.. once you select your pick up/ drop off location and the pick up date and time.. the next page will have you select the type of car.. and the page after that will ask for all your passenger information.. including the specific hotel you want to be dropped off at. And yes it is the same story with the return. They will pick you up directly from your hotel, based on the information you give when you complete the reservation.

[@sampokaim3679]

Hi the metro card machine do they take euro cash? Also is there a ticket desk too?

[@WaypointofView]

No, local currency only but at some you can use credit card. :)