We will be in Istanbul for one day. My wife and I expect to ride the T1 and F1 trams three times; 6 rides total. We would prefer to pay with our Visa credit card. We will purchase rides at the Kabatas station and the Beyazit station. Do we purchase tokens? tickets? a card? From a kiosk or manned booth? Can you purchase all 6 rides at one time? Can you pay with Euros? Thank you for your help.
Posted by
Portsmouth
5597 posts
You purchase a card from the ticket machines located at tram stops. Use the credit card to transfer funds to the card (the amount will depend on how many journeys you intend to take) and it can be topped up if necessary. You then use the card to tap in and out of the barriers located at each tram stop. The ticket machines have instructions in English. Some of the tram stops that are very popular with tourists often have guides that will offer advice and show you how to use the machine, they are easy to spot with their official clothing and they speak good English.
Posted by
287 posts
JC, I thought that you could use your credit card to "tap on" on public transport in Istanbul, and that you didn't need to purchase a card or tickets.
Have I got this all wrong?
Posted by
Portsmouth
5597 posts
JC, I thought that you could use your credit card to "tap on" on public transport in Istanbul, and that you didn't need to purchase a card or tickets.
I was there last May and I could only use the Istanbulkart to use the tram however I only traveled in the old town. I understand they're currently trialing the use of contactless payment but this hasn't been introduced everywhere.
Posted by
Olympia, WA, US
40 posts
You can purchase the Istanbulkart at the automated machines and use a credit card to add money to it, then tap and go. The tram ticket machine also had the option of a 3 ride card. Many of the machines were not functional so you might have to try a few. Be wary of helpful "guides" offering to help. I got scammed by a guy at a machine and posted separately on that.
Posted by
287 posts
I posted about this on Trip Advisor and have been assured that contactless credit cards are working on the trams in Istanbul.
I just don't want to be bothered with the faff of getting an Istanbulkart.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5638 posts
I was in Istanbul for a week in August, 2024. I was able to tap to pay to ride trams, buses and ferries.
I used Google Pay with my phone on the trams and ferries. I had trouble getting my phone to work on buses, so I used my physical credit card to tap to pay on those.
Each ride is a little cheaper if you buy and use the IstanbulKart. For my visit of a week, I preferred the simplicity of using my phone and credit card.
Posted by
near San Francisco
5638 posts
On buses, there is a contactless reader at the front of the bus, near the driver. On trams and ferries, there is a reader at the entry turnstiles.
At the readers, place your phone or credit card flat on the glass surface and hold it there until it registers. It's more "hold to pay" than tap to pay for Istanbul transit.
I may not have been patient enough on buses to get my phone to register. My credit card seemed quicker to register but that could just have been me worrying that I would hold up the line of bus passengers.