Solving Istanbul's Transportation with Ferries, Trams, and the Marmaray.

Waiting in a taxi queue or spending an hour in traffic is a way of misunderstanding Istanbul. A city of fifteen million is best explored through a network of ferries, metro, trams, tunnels and cable cars, and the single key to that network is the Istanbulkart. The Istanbulkart is a contactless card sold at metro-station machines, kiosks and the airports; you tap it on every vehicle, it discounts transfers and it even works at some museums. You cannot board a bus without one, so buying and topping up a card should be your first task. With the Istanbulkart app you can also use a QR code on your phone. The ferry is Istanbul's most beautiful means of transport and replaces most tourist Bosphorus cruises. From Eminönü and Karaköy you reach Kadıköy and Üsküdar in 20 minutes; ferries run from Kabataş to the islands, from Eminönü along the Golden Horn to Eyüp, and from Beşiktaş up the Bosphorus line to Sarıyer. The top deck and a glass of tea come with a view included in the fare. The T1 tram line is the tourist's lifeline: from Kabataş via Karaköy, Eminönü, Sultanahmet and Beyazıt to the Topkapı gate of the land walls. It gets crowded, but it links almost the entire historic peninsula. The Tünel, running since 1875, is one of the world's oldest underground lines and lifts you from Karaköy to Beyoğlu in 90 seconds; the Taksim–Kabataş funicular removes another hill. Marmaray is the rail line beneath the Bosphorus. Sirkeci to Üsküdar takes four minutes, the fastest link between the two shores; it runs west to Halkalı and east to Gebze, so seaside districts like Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Bostancı and Suadiye are reached on this line. The M2 metro connects Taksim with Şişli, Levent and Hacıosman; buses north to Belgrad Forest and Kilyos leave from Hacıosman. Do not forget the cable cars: the Maçka–Taşkışla and Eyüp–Pierre Loti lines are both transport and viewpoint. From Istanbul Airport the M11 metro reaches Gayrettepe; from Sabiha Gökçen the M4 reaches Kadıköy. A few rules: tap on every boarding; most vehicles need no tap-off, but Marmaray and the metro require it at the exit. Everything is full at peak hours (08:00–10:00 and 17:00–20:00), so plan museum days accordingly. Weather affects ferry services, which may be cancelled in storms. And remember that in Istanbul the shortest route usually goes across the water.