With over 15 million residents, Istanbul is massive and vastly populated. However, the city is equipped with a well-integrated public transport network so that locals and tourists alike can travel seamlessly. If you're planning an itineraries around visiting the major sights, your journey is simplified by the closeness of the attractions. They are located within a compact central area of the city that is navigable with a combination of the city's public transport system, spanning bus, train, tram, metro, ferry, and taxi.
Upon arriving at the airport, consider buying an Istanbul Card, which you can also buy from many of the kiosks branding it around the city. This card will help you during your trip in order to access the many public transport means in the city.
There are many ways to get around Istanbul. Walking can be an option between certain places, shops, and restaurants but not all destinations are walkable. There are other alternatives, such as the tram. Of Istanbul's four modern tram lines, the one most likely to be used is the T1 connecting the Kabatas ferry terminal and it runs across the Galata Bridge and past Sultanahmet. The other lines connecting many stops are the T5 and T3.
Now, for the Metro and Marmaray, which is the underground rail system, they extend for more than 80 miles covering up new areas of the city as it grows. The Metro is undoubtedly the fastest way to get around Istanbul. The most used line is the M2, connecting Haciosman and Yenikapi, crossing the business and shopping district around Levant, Taksim Square and Sishane in Beyoglu and across the Golden Horn. The Marmaray goes under the Bosphorus in a tunnel to the Asian side.
Other ways to get around Itanbul include the ferry, making it an attraction by itself to observe the sights around you, the bus or minibus, and the taxis. It is better to try and grab your taxi from any of the hotels or use Uber or Bitaksi.
