BUS, TRAM AND BOAT IN ISTANBUL

Transport in and around Istanbul is rather packed with frequent services either Buses, Dolmushes, Trams or Boats. Since there are many choices to travel within the City, it may sound first very easy and simple.

However, different language, different culture and the fast paste of a busy city can make it a little more frustrating then you would expect  as a visitor to Istanbul, unless you are familier with the transportation system of Turkey or have a friend with you who already knows how it works which you can have plenty of practise with.

Istanbul is not a typical touristic town like marmaris or sarigerme where the pace is significantly slower and more tolerance shown to the tourist, it is far from it.

City with people going to work or coming from work, rushing from a to b, and the populer rush hour of a big city, this all comes along with stress, frustration and so on . When you do take all this into account, then you do get the picture  that maybe people will not be happy to wait for you patiently untill you decide which bus, or trying to communicate with the bus driver who probably does not know speaking english language. 

This is why you need to know where you going and how you are going to get there with which Bus or Boat, where they departure from, where do they stop etc.

There are two different type of busses operating in Istanbul, privatley run and council owned buses. Council owned buses (IETT) do not take cash and tokens must be purchased in advance which can be puchased at the some bus stops, ferry docks, those privately run buses (HALK OTOBUS) do take cash.

Transportation choices in Istanbul are really plenty, depending on your time and destination it can be sometimes much more easier and convinient to use a Taxi transfer instead, rather then getting stressed about it . Like travelling from the Airport to Sultanahmet, you do need to several changes which will take you longer and not worth the hassle after a long flight. Obviously it is vise to learn the system if you are on a holiday longer then a week or so, which can save a lot money.

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