The Istanbul Metro consists of 6 lines with 82 stations and covers more than 100 kilometres. It provides a direct link to the airport and a standard ticket costs 5 Turkish liras (just over 1 euro). You can use the Istanbul Kart for your metro journeys. The metro operates throughout the week.

The Istanbul metro carries over one million passengers daily. It does not operate 24 hours a day but runs from 6:00 to 00:00.

The trains are not air-conditioned, they are not driverless and it’s not specified whether passengers can walk between platforms. There are no screen doors on the platforms.

The fare for a trip on the Istanbul Metro is 2.30 Turkish Liras.

The metro system is operated by Metro Istanbul. For more information, you can visit the Istanbul Metro Official Website or call them at +90 212 568 99 70.

Map of Istanbul Metro showing different lines. Click on the map to enlarge it.

Istanbul Metro, the pioneering metro system in Turkey, spans both the European and Asian parts of the city, providing seamless transit for residents and visitors alike. It is managed by a public company that also oversees the tram and funicular systems.

The metro system currently comprises 82 stations spread over 105.8 kilometres (65.7 miles), with six lines intersecting at various points. Istanbul Metro is currently undergoing a major expansion phase, with plans to extend four existing lines and open eight new ones.

Although Istanbul has the world’s second oldest funicular system, it wasn’t until 1989 that the city got its first metro line. This followed a series of proposals and rejections from 1912 until 1987, when plans for what is now known as the M1 line were finally approved.

The M1 line was opened on 3 September 1989, initially running from Aksaray to Kocatepe. Construction of the second metro line, the M2, began on 11 September 1992. However, the unearthing of several archaeological sites during the excavation posed numerous challenges and caused delays. It wasn’t until 2000 that the line was opened to the public, and the current extension was completed in 2014.

In 2005, the construction of the first line, which would extend to the Asian side of Istanbul, was approved. On 17 August 2012, the M4 line went into operation, primarily serving Kadıköy to Kartal and later extending to Tavşantepe.

The M3 line came next. Initiated as an extension of the M1B line, its construction began in 2006 and was opened to public transport on 14 June 2013. The M4 line became operational in April 2015, followed by the M6 line in 2015. The latest addition, the M5 line, began public service in December 2017.

Currently, the Istanbul Metro is in the midst of an expansion project that includes the extension of four existing lines and the introduction of eight new lines.

Istanbul’s metro system consists of 6 lines that cover a wide area of the city, providing convenient transport for both locals and visitors. Each line has a unique code (M1, M2, etc.), name and colour. Unlike other metro systems around the world, Istanbul Metro refers to each line primarily by its code and number, not by its colour.

Opened in 1989, the M1 line was the first metro line for Istanbul and Turkey as a whole. The line offers 2 different services that share the first 8 stations before diverging to different terminals. The M1A line starts from Yenikapi and ends at Atatürk Airport, while the M1B line starts from Yenikapi and ends at Kirazli.

Common Stations for M1A and M1B: Yenikapı , Aksaray , Emniyet-Fatih, Topkapı-Ulubatlı , Bayrampaşa-Maltepe, Sağmalcılar, Kocatepe, Otogar

M1A Exclusive Stations: Terazidere, Davutpaşa-YTÜ, Merter , Zeytinburnu , Bakırköy-İncirli , Bahçelievler , Ataköy—Şirinevler , Yenibosna , DTM—İstanbul Fuar Merkezi, Atatürk Havalimanı (Airport)

M1B Exclusive Stations: Esenler, Menderes, Üçyüzlü, Bağcılar Meydan , Kirazlı

The M2 line is the busiest line in the Istanbul metro system. It connects the southern part of Sariyer with Fatih to the centre of Istanbul, running under Büyükdere Avenue and under Maslak and Levent, which are important financial districts. Its terminals are Haciosman and Yenikapi.

Stations: Hacıosman, Darüşşafaka, Atatürk Oto Sanayi, İTÜ—Ayazağa, Sanayi Mahallesi, 4. Levent, Levent , Gayrettepe , Şişli—Mecidiyeköy , Osmanbey, Taksim , Şişhane , Haliç, Vezneciler , Yenikapı , Seyrantepe (depending on service)

The M3 line is an extension of the M1B line, which departs from the Kirazlı-Bağcılar terminal. The M3 line has two services that share the first 5 stations and then separate at İkitelli Sanayi. One service terminates at Metrokent, the official terminal of the M3 line, while the other terminates at Olimpiyat.

Stations: Kirazlı, Yenim ahalle, Mahmutbey, İSTOÇ, İkitelli Sanayi, Turgut Özal, Siteler, Başak Konutları, MetroKent, Ziya Gökalp Mahallesi, Olimpiyat

The M4 line was the first to operate on the Asian side of Istanbul. Its 19 stations are entirely underground, running mainly under the D.100 state highway. The line terminates at Kadıköy and Tavşantepe.

Stations: Kadıköy, Ayrılık Çeşmesi, Acıbadem, Ünalan, Göztepe, Yenisahra, Kozyatağı, Bostancı, Küçükyalı, Maltepe, Huzurevi, Gülsuyu, Esenkent, Hastane—Adliye, Soğanlık, Kartal, Yakacık—Adnan Kahveci, Pendik, Tavşantepe

The M5 line, the second on the Asian side of Istanbul, was the first to use an automatic system that doesn’t require a conductor. The M5 line currently runs from Üsküdar station to Yamanevler.

Stations: Üsküdar, Fıstıkağacı, Bağlarbaşı, Altunizade, Kısıklı, Bulgurlu—Libadiye, Ümraniye, Çarşı, Yamanevler

Currently the shortest line in the Istanbul metro system, the M6 line is only 3.3 kilometres (2.1 miles) and 4 stations, starting from Levent station on the M2 line and ending at Boğaziçi Üniversitesi.

Stations: Levent , Nispetiye, Etiler, Boğaziçi Üniversitesi

All six of Istanbul’s metro lines operate seven days a week, generally from 6:00 am to midnight. While all lines operate on Sundays, some, such as the M4, only run until 23:00. Trains run every 6 to 10 minutes on all lines for most of the day, with a frequency of every 3 to 5 minutes during peak hours (7:00-9:00 and 17:00-19:00).

The Istanbul Kart is the most practical and economical way to travel around Istanbul and is accepted on other modes of transport such as trams and funiculars. Each trip with the Istanbul Kart costs less than the price of a single electronic ticket. The card itself costs between 6 and 10 Turkish Liras (approximately US$1.58 – US$2.63), depending on where you buy it.

Istanbulkart can be purchased at any of the city’s airports, as well as from vending machines located in all metro stations, bus stations, kiosks and shops throughout the city. The Istanbulkart is a plastic card that stores money and can be used by up to 5 people travelling together. The Istanbul metro system offers discounts for each transfer between metro lines or connections to other systems. The discount increases with the number of transfers. If more than one person will be using the card, please note that the discount for transfers applies only once. Discounts apply to transfers made within two consecutive hours of the initial journey.

Although it’s cheaper to use the Istanbul Kart, it’s also possible to buy electronic tickets for a certain number of trips instead of using a disposable ticket.

Although the Istanbul metro doesn’t offer unlimited daily or weekly passes, it does offer a monthly pass known as the Blue Card.

Monthly Pass (Blue Card): 205 Turkish liras (approx. US$54)

The six lines of Istanbul’s metro system intersect at various points, allowing easy transfers from one line to another or to any part of the city. Metro Istanbul, the public operator in charge of the metro system, is also responsible for trams and funiculars. Connections throughout the system are well structured and can be accessed with the Istanbul Kart. The connections are not free, but there are discounts depending on the number of transfers. These discounts can only be applied within two consecutive hours from the time of the first paid journey and are not valid for connections to the bus, ferry, metrobus or Marmaray train line.

A connection can be made to the M1B line at the Kirazli station.

The Istanbul metro system is in the midst of an expansion project scheduled for completion in 2023. The project includes extensions to existing lines and the opening of four new lines by 2019 and three more by 2023. A number of these lines are already under construction and are expected to be operational by 2018, while others are in the planning stage. Around 62 stations are currently under construction.

Istanbul has two airports, with a third under construction and expected to be operational by the end of 2018. At present, the only access to Atatürk International Airport is via the Istanbul metro, but the expansion project includes a new M11 line that will connect to the airport.

A proposed extension of the M4 line is also in the pipeline to provide a direct link to Sabiha Gokcen Airport.

The M1A line terminates directly at Atatürk International Airport. The station is located next to the international terminal and is connected to the domestic terminal by a pedestrian walkway. Once on the M1A line, you can transfer to the T1 tram at Zeytinburnu station to reach the Blue Mosque or other metro lines such as the tram or funicular.

Formerly known as Constantinople and even earlier as Byzantium, Istanbul was the capital of the Roman, Latin and Ottoman Empires. Situated at the confluence of Europe and Asia, the city is rich in historical monuments, including mosques, basilicas, cathedrals and bazaars, most of which are accessible via the Istanbul metro.

Hagia Sophia or Santa Sophia Basilica: Once the largest cathedral in the world, it has been a place of worship for several religions over the years, transforming from a Greek Orthodox basilica to a Roman Catholic church. Today it’s one of Istanbul’s landmarks, celebrated as much for its historical significance as for its mosaics. Santa Sophia can be reached by taking the M2 metro line to Vezneciler or the M1 line to Aksaray, Zeytinburnu and Bağcılar Meydan stations, then the T1 tram line to Sultanahmet.

Blue Mosque: The Blue Mosque, along with the Santa Sophia Basilica, is one of Istanbul’s most prominent landmarks and a major tourist destination. Unlike the Basilica, the Blue Mosque is still an active place of worship for Muslims. Visitors should familiarise themselves with the prayer schedule and protocols before visiting. The Blue Mosque is located near the Santa Sophia Basilica and can be reached by taking the same metro directions.

Topkapi Palace: This palace is one of the most important remnants of the Ottoman Empire. It currently houses 27 towers and is surrounded by 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) of walls. Now a museum, the palace is one of Istanbul’s main tourist destinations. To reach it, take the M2 metro to Vezneciler, or the M1 line to Aksaray, Zeytinburnu and Bağcılar Meydan stations, then transfer to the T1 tram to Gulhane station.

Grand Bazaar: One of the oldest and largest bazaars in the world, it houses more than 58 streets and 4,000 shops offering a wide range of antiques, carpets, jewellery and more. As well as the exotic shops, the bazaar is also home to fountains, mosques and the famous Turkish baths known as hammams. The Grand Bazaar is a 10-minute walk from Vezneciler station on the M2 line.