Otogar <-> Sultanahmet Metro & Tram

You can travel between Istanbul’s Büyük Otogar (bus terminal) and Sultanahmet, the center of historic Istanbul(and its hotel areas) in about 30 minutes completely by public transport for about TL6.

Here are maps of Istanbul’s Metro-Train-Tram system.

Otogar to Sultanahmet

At the Otogar (bus terminal), there are two entrances to the Metro right in the center of the terminal plaza. Board a M1 Metro train bound for Aksaray (map), and take it to the end of the line.

At Aksaray, exit the Metro station and cross beneath Adnan Menderes Bulvarı (the major boulevard)using the pedestrian underpass. You’re going towards the little mosque. Walk past the mosque keeping it on your left and you’ll come to Millet Caddesi. Turn right and you’ll see the pedestrian overpass from which provides access to the Bağcılar-Kabataş tram platform on the median in the middle of Millet Caddesi. (If you need directions, as Tramvay nerede? (trahm-vah-yee NEH-reh-deh).

Buy your tram token (jeton) from a Jetonmatik machine, then walk down the steps to the platform and take a train marked Eminönü or Kabataş.

Ride eastbound to Sultanahmet (the recorded station announcement says sool-TAHN-ah-met BLOO-mosk and get out. (See TTP’s Sultanahmet Street Guide for street-by-street guidance.)

If you’re bound for the Golden Horn, ferry docks, or forSirkeci, stay on the tram to the Sirkeci or Eminönü stop.

Going to Taksim Square, stay on until Kabataş, exit there and use the Füniküler to travel up the steep slope to Taksim.

Sultanahmet to Otogar

In Sultanahmet, board a Bağcılar tram at the stop on Divan Yolu at the northeastern end of the Hippodromeand ride to the fifth stop, Yusufpaşa.

Get out, climb the steps to the overpass, turn left, descend the steps, walk about 20 meters, turn left and walk north past the little mosque, keeping it on your right. Cross beneath Adnan Menderes Bulvarı, enter the Metro terminal and take a train to the sixth stop, Otogar.

Exit the train, turn right, climb the steps, turn left, go out the doors, turn right and you should see bus ticket office No. 1 (of 168).

Note that the tram and Metro start running about 06:00 (6 am) and stop running shortly after midnight (12 am/24:00/00:00).

—Tom Brosnahan