Istanbul tram T1

This website purports to show 2025 fares:

https://istanbul.tips/istanbul-public-transportation-fares/

As you can see, the situation is quite complex. The best I can tell, a single Metro/tram/bus ride costs just TL 20 if you have an Istanbulkart (but you must pay TL 130 for the card; it used to come loaded with enough money to cover one ride, but I see no indication that is still the case). The cost per ride can ascend to TL 70 for a single-ride ticket, but there is at least one option between those two extremes. I'm not going to pretend I understand what's going on. Things have changed quite a bit since I visited Istanbul in the fall of 2023. I wasn't aware of tokens in 2023.

Someone posted on this forum a while back that you can pay for at least some transit with tappable credit card. I don't remember whether the comment was about the Metro, the tram, or buses. The article I've linked doesn't seem to mention that option.

The current exchange rate is 35.40 Turkish lira to $1, so the single-ticket option costs about $2 per ride, whereas using an Istanbulkart reduces the cost to less than $0.60. It doesn't sounds as if you'll be using transit frequently enough to worry about the difference. I can tell you I had a frustrating time loading additional money on my Istanbulkart. Others haven't struggled as much as I did.

My comments are in reference to my experience with tram transportation only. In September of 2023 since my time in Istanbul was more than a week it was cheaper to obtain the Istanbulkart. Single ride tickets were also available for purchase from the same machines. At the time I believe that Visa, MasterCard, debit cards, etc were accepted but my American Express was not. Since I did not purchase a single ride ticket I don’t know whether a token or paper ticket was dispensed. The language in the machines needed to be toggled to English.

Depending on where and when you are boarding it is possible (and hopeful) that technology has been upgraded to accept tap and go. The coin, ticket or Istanbulkart are needed to advance through the loading area platform turnstiles. There is no option to pay on board the tram.

According to several recent reports, it looks like most Istanbul transport is tap and pay with a credit card, so you don't need to get an Istanbulkart (which also requires a deposit for the card itself - unneeded if you're only riding the tram a couple times).

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/turkey/istanbul-public-transit-istanbulkart-card-no-longer-required
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/8-nights-in-istanbul-solo-this-time

I don't think the price for a fare changes frequently, but the exchange rate does fluctuate a lot. A quick google search indicates full fare tram cost is about the equivalent of 50 cents US as of today. You can buy individual tickets at tram stops, just be aware of your surroundings and as noted be prepared to try one or more credit cards if you don't have Turkish Lira to feed the machine.

Actually, they seem to be increasing fares rather often now. When I was in Istanbul in September 2023, the CityMapper app was quoting a fare of TL 7.50. I actually paid TL 15. I don't think that was a recent change; something I read suggested the change had been made in January 2023, though I can't guarantee that's true. Now the fare has just gone up again to TL 20. Those are all lstanbulkart fares. Without the card, you will pay substantially more.

There have also been major upward adjustments in entry fee for a lot of the Istanbul sights.

Thanks to all who have replied.

I think I'll just buy the 2-pass. I didn't see it before I sent the question. Hopefully it'll be available at the machines. There's nothing on the official site that I can find that suggests fares are payable with a credit card. Just tapping blindly without knowing how much something costs sometimes makes me anxious (I've got to do it 3 times for my party). I'd also have to check with my own Canadian Mastercard to see if it can be done.

Save travels!
Wallace

I tapped to pay with Google Pay on ferries and trams and with my credit card on buses.

In August 2024, I paid:
Bus/tram - 30 Turkish Lira
Ferry - 50 TL

At the time, those were $0.89 and $1.48.

Fares with the IstanbulKart would have been 20TL and perhaps 30TL. The savings was not worth the overhead (and perceived hassle) of the IstanbulKart for my 8 night visit,

Thanks CWsocial! That answers the question!

Happy New Year! Safe travels!

Wallace