✦Istanbul visitor guide

Istanbul info for travellers

Practical notes for first-time visitors: how to leave the airport, ride public transport, visit the main museums, stay online, and avoid common tourist traps.

Airplane wing above clouds — arriving in Istanbul

Getting into the city

Istanbul Airport (IST) & Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)

Istanbul has two main airports. IST (Istanbul Airport) is on the European side, northwest of the city. SAW (Sabiha Gökçen) is on the Asian side, southeast. Your hotel district decides which transfer makes sense.

Private transfer
Door-to-door is the simplest after a long flight — fixed price, no metro changes with luggage. Useful for late arrivals and families.
Havaist / Havabus coaches
Airport coaches run to major hubs (Taksim, Kadıköy, etc.). Cheaper than a taxi; allow extra time in traffic.
Metro + Marmaray
IST connects by metro toward the city; SAW has rail links too. Good if you travel light and prefer public transport.

Tip: agree the price or use the official taxi queue. Avoid unmarked offers in arrivals.

Browse airport transfers

Istanbul tram in the historic city centre

Getting around

Istanbulkart & public transport

The city runs on Istanbulkart (contactless travel card) for metro, tram, bus, metrobus and many ferries. One card can be shared by a small group if you tap separately for each person.

Where to buy
Machines at airports, metro stations and some kiosks. Keep a small cash or card balance topped up — transfers between modes are discounted within a time window.
Tram T1
The Sultanahmet–Eminönü–Karaköy–Kabataş line is the tourist spine for Hagia Sophia, Topkapı and the Blue Mosque area.
Ferries
Short Bosphorus hops (e.g. Eminönü–Üsküdar or Kabataş–Üsküdar) are cheap scenery and often faster than fighting traffic.

City cards & passes →

Hagia Sophia and Sultanahmet in daylight

Must-sees

Museums & landmarks — practical notes

The Historic Peninsula (Sultanahmet) packs the classics within walking distance. Buy tickets ahead when possible — queues grow fast late morning.

Hagia Sophia

Mosque and museum history in one building. Dress modestly; expect security checks.

Topkapı Palace

Large grounds — plan 2–3 hours. Harem is a separate ticket; mornings are quieter.

Blue Mosque area

Visit nearby with Hagia Sophia. Shoes off inside; shoulders and knees covered.

Bosphorus cruise

Short public ferries vs longer sightseeing boats. Sunset sailings book out on weekends.

Tickets & experiences

Stay online

Hotel Wi-Fi & eSIM

Most hotels offer free Wi-Fi after a short login page. On Trasst-powered networks you connect once, then keep browsing — useful for maps, translation and ride apps.

Hotel / venue Wi-Fi
Open the captive portal, complete the short form, then you are online. Keep the hotel SSID saved so you reconnect automatically.
eSIM for Turkey
Best if you need data outside Wi-Fi (Uber, airport, Asian side day trips). Install before you fly when possible.
Offline maps
Download Google Maps offline for Sultanahmet / Taksim before you leave Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi login Turkey eSIM →

Local know-how

Short tips that save time

Cash & cards
Cards work widely; keep some TRY for small ferries, tips and markets. ATMs inside banks are usually safer than street machines at night.
Taxi
Prefer hotel-called taxis or reputable apps. Check the meter is on; for airports, airport transfer products remove the negotiation.
Scams to skip
“Friendly” strangers inviting you to a bar, carpet shops with pressure sales, and unmarked money changers with too-good rates.
Dress & mosques
Shoulders and knees covered; women may need a scarf. Shoes off at the entrance.
Friday & prayer times
Some mosque visits pause during prayer. Check opening notes on your ticket page.

Next step

Ready to book?

Shop city cards, museum tickets, transfers and more — or browse tourist products.

Open shop Tourist products