Main Istanbul Metro, Tram and Funicular Lines for Tourists

Here’s a list of essential Istanbul metro, tram and funicular lines. For every line I highlight important places of interest it passes and the respective stop you have to get off to reach those. You’ll also find the operating times and frequency. This is also by no means an overview of every public transportation line Istanbul has to offer, but merely the most interesting ones for tourists (see map).

M1a – Atatürk International Airport – Yenikapı Metro Line

This line you’ll probably take only twice: once when you arrive, and again when you leave. This metro leaves the airport, passes the Zeytinburnu interchange station and the grand bus station of Istanbul, and has Yenikapı, a connection hub closer to the city center, as its final destination. Of the 18 stops, these are the important ones to keep in mind:

• Atatürk Havalimanı — Atatürk International Airport
• Zeytinburnu — connection with the T1 tram line. Use this interchange station if Fatih, Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Karaköy or Tophane is your destination.
• Otogar — the grand Istanbul bus station, from here busses leave for many destinations inside and outside Turkey
• Kocatepe — Forum Istanbul Shopping center
• Aksaray — interchange station to the T1 tram line. Important: this requires you to walk a bit and take a road underpass consisting of steep stairs only. I do not recommend this interchange station.
• Yenikapı — connection to the M2 metro line. Use this interchange station if your destination is Taksim, Galata, Cihangir, Nişantaşı, Şişli or Mecediyeköy.

First train: 06:00
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every three minutes during rush hour
Duration: 35 min. from the airport to Yenikapı

M2 – Yenikapı -Hacıosman Metro Line

This line, the first real metro Istanbul had, consists of 16 stops over a 24 kilometer stretch. The metro, daily taken by about 320.000 people, is very safe and clean. The most important stops for tourists are:

• Yenikapı — connection with the M1a metro line. Use this interchange station to reach the Atatürk International Airport.
• Vezneciler — interchange station to the T1 tram line.
• Şişhane — Istiklal Caddesi (end), Galata (Tower), interchange station to Tünel (T2)
• Taksim — Taksim, Istiklal Caddesi (start), Cihangir, Galata, connection to Kabataş via funicular (F1) and Eminönü/Sultanahmet via tramway (T1)
• Osmanbey — a small walk to Nişantaşı, a fashionable shopping area with lots of nice cafés and restaurants, City’s shopping center
• Gayrettepe — Zorlu Shopping Mall
• Levent — shopping centers such as Metrocity, Kanyon, and interchange station to M6 metro line.
• İTÜ Ayazağa — İstinye Park shopping center (additional walk or short taxi ride required)

First train: 06:15
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every four minutes during rush hour

M6 – Levent -Boğaziçi Üniversitesi

This is a very short metro line, mainly used by university students but also useful to reach the Akmerkez shopping center.

• Levent — interchange station to M2
• Etiler — Akmerkez shopping center
• Boğaziçi Üniversitesi – Boğaziçi University

First train: 06:00
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every five minutes during rush hour

T1 – Kabataş-Bağcılar Tramway Line

This is probably the most important line. This air-conditioned tramway basically connects Zeytinburnu with Sultanahmet, Beyoğlu and Taksim (by funicular). This line has many stops, but these are the ones of interest to tourist:

• Zeytinburnu — connection with the M1a metro line. Use this interchange station to reach the Atatürk International Airport.
• Beyazit — Grand Bazaar, Süleymaniye Mosque
• Sultanahmet — Topkapi Palace, Haghia Sofia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, etc.
• Sirkeci — train station
• Eminönü — Spice Bazaar, ferry docks
• Karakoy — connection to Tünel (T2), which brings you to the end of Istiklal Caddesi and Galata.
• Tophane — Istanbul Modern, water pipe (nargile) establishments, cruise ship docks
• Kabataş — connection to Taksim via funicular (F1), connection to fast ferry or sea bus docks to the Princes’ Islands and Kadıköy, 5 min. walk to Dolmabahçe Palace (Attention! Kabataş ferry dock closed, use Eminönü or Beşiktaş instead)

First train: 06:00
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every three minutes during rush hour

T2 – Karaköy-Tünel Funicular

This is actually the third oldest passenger underground railway system in the world. The look of the trains still reflects this. This funicular takes you in 90 seconds 573 meters uphill to Tünel, at the end of Istiklal Caddesi. From there you can easily reach Galata by walking downhill or have a stroll on Istiklal Caddesi. Alternatively, you could take the nostalgic tramway (NT) until Taksim Square.

First train: 07:00
Last train: 21:45
Frequency: every two minutes

F1 – Taksim-Kabataş Funicular

Connection between the Kabataş tram line station and Taksim (metro station). This modern air conditioned funicular ride takes only 2,5 minutes. From Kabataş you can walk to Dolmahbaçe Palace, take the fast ferry boats to Kadıköy or the Princes’ Islands, and connect to the T1 tramway line to Eminönü, Sultanahmet, Grand Bazaar, etc. (Attention! Kabataş ferry dock closed, use Eminönü or Beşiktaş instead)

First train: 06:15
Last train: 00:00
Frequency: every three minutes during rush hour

Istanbul Transportation Map for Tourists

I created an Istanbul transit map focusing on tourists’ needs. There are two downloadable and printable version available, one in JPG and one in PDF format.

Further Recommended Reading

1. How to Get an Istanbul Kart, and is it Worth It?
2. Istanbul’s Street Food – What’s Hot And What’s Not!
3. How to Bargain Like a Pro in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Elsewhere