Turkey Guide
İstanbul
City transport
İstanbul has a wide choice of means of transport, from ferry to high-speed tram. All public transport tends to be overcrowded and pickpocketing is becoming more common; if you have any trouble with this, or with sexual harassment, make other passengers aware of the fact – try calling imdat, meaning "help". The newly extended tramway links most parts of the city that you're likely to want to visit, while the bus system is daunting, but manageable on certain routes. The municipal trains are ramshackle but efficient, while taxis and dolmuşes (shared taxis) are very reasonably priced with knowledgeable – if not necessarily good – drivers. However, by far the best way to explore a city that, historically, has put its best face towards the water is by ferry, with the year-round Bosphorus Tour a favoured way of seeing the sights.
Traffic jams are unavoidable in İstanbul, though the historic Sultanahmet district is relatively traffic-free and easily explored on foot. Otherwise, expect to spend time in tailbacks as you travel to and from other areas of interest – it can take an hour by road from Sultanahmet to Ortaköy, for example. Where possible, travel by tram, metro, suburban train or ferry, though these can all be jam-packed at peak times.