What Is It and Why You’ll Love It
The Istanbulkart is your super-convenient, contactless magic card for riding the Metro, Metrobus, trams, buses, ferries—you name it. Cash payments? Forget about it! The city’s public transport systems only accept this card for fares.
How to Get Your Istanbulkart
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Head to yellow vending machines near station entrances—or kiosks and newsstands that say “Istanbulkart.”
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Pick your language.
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Tap “Buy Istanbulkart.”
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Insert 130 TL—the card cost as of 2025.
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Watch the remaining TL you inserted load onto it as travel credit.
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Shawarma–I mean, voila! You’ve got yourself a brand-spankin’ new Istanbulkart.
Loads of Credit (aka “Topping Up”)
Need more rides?
• Walk up to any yellow machine.
• Select your language, then tap top up.
• Place the card on the reader, add cash (some machines support debit/credit), and wait until it says approved before removing your card.
Fare Facts: What You’ll Pay in 2025
Thanks to a January fare hike, here’s the breakdown per full-fare ride:
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Full fare: 27 TL
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Student fare: 13.18 TL
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“Social” fare (e.g., teachers, seniors): 19.33 TL
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30+ Student fare: 24.30 TL
Handy Perks to Know
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Shareable: A single card can serve up to 5 people—great for groups or families.
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Registration Perks: Registering your card (requires Turkish ID or residence permit) enables discounted transfer fares and access to bonus features.
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Load Limit: You can’t load more than 2750 TL total—or 1500 TL per month / 300 TL per transaction depending on source.
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Value-Pro Tip: If your group doesn’t qualify for the student/senior discount, sharing a card could help stretch your TL.
Final Thoughts
Hop on, swipe away, glide across the city—and skip the “someone’s trying to sell you a ticket” scams—that’s your Istanbulkart experience in a nutshell. Whether you’re zipping through Sultanahmet or ferrying across the Bosphorus, the card keeps things breezy. Register it if you can, share if you’re rolling with friends, and top up whenever inspiration strikes.
