Here you can find useful information about Istanbulkart, Istanbul’s Public Transportation Card for full access to Istanbul’s Underground, Bus Network, Ferries and Trams, including where to obtain, how to use, and advice.
Notice: As of 02.03.2022, the HES code requirement was lifted in closed areas with adequate ventilation and in public transportation. And so all trips are now available without the HES code matching of Istanbulkart and digital cards in public transportation.
What is IstanbulKart?
Istanbulkart is the public transportation card of Istanbul, the cheapest and the most efficient way to get around Istanbul. You can access the whole public transportation system of Istanbul via this single transportation card. It is owned and served by the Municipality of Istanbul.
Where can I obtain Istanbulkart?
These are the cards that you can purchase and use, providing a limited number of passes in public transportation. You can purchase the Istanbulkart from over 2,000 points such as subway, tram, ferry, metrobus and funicular stations via the yellow/blue vending machines or ticket-matics, and via kiosks located by the majority of the public buses’ stops.
IstanbulKart Mobile
There is also a mobile app for the Istanbulkart, where you can use and load credits online. It is a new app of the Municipality. If you are interested with mobile app, than you can find and read it by searching “istanbulkart” on AppStore or Google Play. You can find more information on bireysel.istanbulkart.istanbul (English version available)
How to obtain Istanbulkart from the New Istanbul Airport?
You can purchase the Istanbulkart upon your arrival to the New Istanbul Airport (IST), from the 24 yellow/blue machines located at the -2 arrivals floor, or from the Havaist (airport shuttle) counters located along the exits, or the authorized exchange offices.
We recommend to obtain your Istanbulkart upon your arrival to the airport, because you’ll need to use it on the airport shuttles and public buses for getting to the city center. You can not pay cash to the shuttles or public buses.
What is the card price?
Istanbulkart’s price is 50 TRY (No credits). This is the Anonymous Istanbulkart, recommended to travelers. There are also variety of Istanbulkart versions, designed for locals, and you don’t need them.
How much does it cost per ride?
The cost of 1-ride public transportation is 9,90 TRY.
* Please cross check the pricing from iett.istanbul
How to load credit to the card?
Istanbulkart does not come with credits. You need to load credits (which is cash) to the card to use it. And it is very easy. You just need to place the card into the yellow/blue vending machines, wait for the machine scan your card and than deposit cash to load credits to the card.
You can also load credits from the Istanbulkart’s website from https://www.istanbulkart.istanbul/
Make sure you calculate your approximate use of card during your Istanbul stay and load that amount of cash (no coins) to the card. Because the yellow machines (most common) won’t give you any change in return. Only blue machines give you change in return and it is only 20 TRY banknotes, and up 3x 20 TRY cash back.
You can only put 5-10-20-50-100 TRY banknotes to the yellow machines, and 5-10-20-50-100-200 TRY banknotes to the blue machines.
It may seem complicated so it is better you should put credit as low as what you need for public transport trips in the city. If you think you will make at least about 20 rides, than you should load 200 TRY to the card.
How to use the card?
After you load your card, you can use it within all public transports of Istanbul such as metro, subway, trams, funiculars, ferries, public buses with discounts. You will see card readers on the stations or inside the buses and you just need to put your card closer to the reader to use the card.
As the card is not a personal one, if you are a group, you can purchase only one card and can use the same card for each passenger. And also you don’t need a card for children that are under the age of 6.
IstanbulKart Online with Free Hotel Delivery/Airport Pick-Up
Istanbul Welcome Card offers online purchase of the IstanbulKart with free hotel delivery or airport pick-up. It is a great option for the ones who want to skip the hassle of waiting and buying along the machines, kiosks at the airports, tram/metro stations.
Your Istanbulkart will be delivered to your hotel (in the areas of Taksim, Sultanahmet, and Besiktas, AirBnb hotels are not included) or you can pick it up at the Airport (only between 8:00 AM and 11:00 PM).
Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe
The is an innovative city pass. It includes fast track entry to 12 museums (Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Harem, Basilica Cistern, etc), 3 tours with historian guide, 20 rides with public transportation (IstanbulKart), Bosphorus Cruise and digital guide book and city map. It also offers 20% discounts at the most important Istanbul attractions on their shop. With this card you’ll skip the long ticket lines and not have to pick anything up.
Buy Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe
Our website visitors will get 5% extra discount.
Istanbul Welcome Card Premium
Valid for 7 days, free delivery to your hotel/airport pick-up and includes; Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace fast track entry tickets with 30 minutes guidance and Audio Guide App in 10 languages, Istanbulkart with 10 Rides, Bosphours Cruise (1,5 hours), Digital Guide Book and City Map.
Buy Istanbul Welcome Card Premium
Our website visitors will get 5% extra discount.
Combo Tickets for Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace & Basilica Cistern
Valid for 3 days, digital pass, no need a printed ticket, guidance service with certified guides.
Our website visitors will get 5% extra discount.
Hi I have a student Istanbul card and mine takes 3tl per ride but takes points from my friends so I was wondering how I could get points instead of it taking the money
Hi,
My daughter just purchased a package from BIM for 109Tl and with that you have 200 rides. I am just not sure if it is valid for a month or longer.
Hi
I bought istanbul card from Migros store today ( 27 March 2022)
As I found , most of Migros stores dont want to sell it and they lie and pretend that they dont have ! But they have .
Hi i am student i get my student card for metro now can you guide how can i get package in it for 200 rides per month when i go there they just speak turkish
Dear,
I would you like to ask you for your help.
I planning to visits Istanbul next week and I found out that link to activate HES code with Istanbulkart is not active ( https://kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul)
Also with mobile app I can not obtain the SMS code to enter in Istanbul app. (no SMS reply).
Please let me know what should I do to connect my HES code with Istanbulkart or maybe there are momentary IT difficulties.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Tanja
That’s a good question)) got same situation today – put 100 tl and can’t activate my card again
Trying to link my HES code to my new Istanbulkart but having no luck on the mobile app…did not receive my txt message with unique code.
Website is down also with no clue when they will be up and running again.
I tried physically going to the station machines and activating the card and load up with cash…will see if that will be sufficient.
Please also note that even thought the old anonymous Istanbulkart is no longer valid, the machines still accept money when you top up which is what just happened to me (Jan 2022)! Luckily it was only 20 liras but still. They should update the machines and tell us so, imagine if someone tried with 100 liras, might be small change to some but not all tourists earn USD
Happened to me. Still possible to spend it on Getting for food or water.
Hi,
it is not true that the anonym Istanbulkart isn´t only available at the machines at the airport. At no ending machine they are selling this card anymore. Since many months.
I see hundreds of toruists every week, that try to get a card at the yellow venidng machines. The touchscreen still shows the istanbulkart, but when you try to buy it, the machine tells you that it is impossible.
And I think the reason is, that the Security guys at the stations had enough of hundreds of tourists per hour, that aksed them for help to connect the HES Code with the newly bought Istanbulkart. This is the reason, why the topped selling it at the yellow nmachines. But of course the municiüality can´t tell that to the tourists.
On top there are big problems with the process of connecting the HES Code with the Istanbulkart. I just tried that for on hour, and again and again the website shows the sentence “The card you have entered is registered on another user”, which is impossible. I used this card for one year, and now the old HES COde isn´t valid anymore, and I can´t register the new. Nothing works here.
Hi,
Thanks a lot for your informative article.
I’ve short question here, please
When I wanted to recharge my Istanbul card,
I didn’t wait until the process finished, I mean didn’t wait until the green arrow apear, and I took the card from the machine and headed to the entrance gate,
And I found that it didn’t get recharged so the question is,
How can I get this 100 TL back ?
Did the machine throw the 50 liras back and the guy after me took it ?
I don’t know
Please help
Hello, I bought my Istanbul card from a vending machine, and I synchronised it with my HES number on the health entry certificate, I am fully vaccinated in England. But the card is still not working, the vending machine can not read it to top it up with money. Can you help me please ?
I think it should be clarified that you need an HES code only when using an Istanbulkart.
As of November 2021, “Limited Use Cards” (which are valid for a fixed number of trips) can be bought from the vending machines without the need of an HES code. Tourists staying in Istanbul for only a few days may therefore find the Limited Use Cards more convenient to use.
Another advantage of the “Limited Use Cards” is that you can use the same card for your entire family, instead of having to buy and register a separate Istanbulkart for each member of your family.
Hi
I traveled to Istanbul a week ago. I purchased an Istanbulkart for myself and synchronized it with the HES code.
Now, my wife wants to go to Istanbul. How could she replace her HES code with mine on this Istanbul kart?
should she buy a new card?
Hi Mehrad, thank you. What I know is that you should buy a new card. Best
I purchased multiple Istanbul cards from multiple locations.
Now you can easily get them and recharge them at any branch of the following groceries; MIGROS, BIM, A101, ŞOK
Yes, I can confirm that. I just bought the anonim kart from Migros supermarket in Istanbul today. And I confirmed with the subway ticket booth at the Metro station that they are no longer selling those cards (no reason why). No problem linking my HES code to the card online using the https://kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul/ site.
Oh yes big problems! I receive agaian and again the informationt “The card you have entered is registered on another user”.
And the internet is full with comments of people that have problems with that link that you mentioned. Last year I used it and it was no problem, but now it doesn´t function properly.
tara for how much money did you bought your istanbul kart from migros ?
Hi ,
the website est actually not working is there any alternative or should we travel using taxis and forget about public transportations
Hello!
How can I get İstanbulkart ?
And we’re?
Hi Ahmad, it is written on the post. Thanks
I am very grateful for this very informative site.
Hi, I got a IstanbulKart when I last visited Istanbul about 3 years go and I still have the card. I’m planning of coming to Istanbul in 3 weeks so will I be able to use my card if I top up again? Also how do I match HES code to my card after I fill in the form?
There is a problem while trying to match HES Code with Istanbul Card..the link seems to be blocked
One ride is 4.03TL now according to iett.istanbul/tr/main/pages/iett-toplu-ulasim-ucret-tarifesi/42
Hi Ko, thank you for the warning. Yeah it rised up to 4,03, we updated, many thanks
Hi, can I use cards that were activated when I was in Istanbul this year and I am coming again to Istanbul, so can I use the same cards again or do I need to activate new cards? Thank you!
Hi Amila, yes you can use the same card for sure. Best!
As I activated my HES code it said that I am not allowed to leave Istanbul because I am not vaccinated. But I am fully vaccinated. Whom should I talk to to change that?
It would be important for me because I am staying for half a year in Turkey.
Hi Anna, thank you. Well with new rules, you are unable to make travel between cities without being fully vaccinated. If you did get vaccinated in Turkey, than it should be listed on the HES (Hayat Eve Sigar) mobile application. If you don’t have the application, please install and check what to see there. If you need a direct help, you can read more on official https://hayatevesigar.saglik.gov.tr/index-eng.html or call the call center of Ministry of Health on +90 850 477 04 77
I HAVE ISTANBUL CARD SINCE LAST YEAR. can I use it in October when I will visit the City without doing the actions with the HES code? If so, I can use it for other people, we will be a group? Thank you
Hi Bill, thank you. Well you can use your card for sure. For HES code, if you integrated with unlimited date option, I guess you can continue using it. If not, you need to integrate again. For the other people with you, they can’t use your card, they need to buy a card for their own. Best
Oh happy day, everything worked now..3.9.21/8pm
Thanks Ouissal, you tried to help. Firefox and iPhone unfortunately don’t work either. I have just visited two internet cafes that do not install Firefox, supposedly that causes problems. as a tourist it should be difficult to find your way around. does anyone know who to ask for responsibility about this mess?
Change the VPN :D If you are for example German then change your VPN “TURKISH”
Hello eveybody, we had some issues registering IstanbulKart.
We tried several times for each solutions, with same inputs:
– from our Android (Chrome) —> error, session expired or not matching credentials
– from our iPhone (Safari) —> error, session expired or not matching credentials
– from our computer with Internet Explorer —> error, session expired
– from our computer with Chrome —> error, session expired
– from our computer with FireFox —> WORKING
For us, only Firefox from the computer worked.
Hope this helps.
Update September 3rd, 2021: After several unsuccessful attempts to register the card on the website, I went back again to the Metro Office Taksimplatz. This time a lot of people were standing here and wanted to have their Istanbul card activated. The staff there were not only annoyed but also rude. They couldn’t help and don’t know when their system will work again. They didn’t want to tell me whether this only works with foreigners’ HES codes or with all of them. By the way, I use a Turkish SIM card. Terrible if you are only in Istanbul for a short time and then cannot use public transport.
2.September 2021: unfortunately the website did not work today and the istanbulkart could not be released. So I went to a metro office, where it was confirmed to me that activation is not possible at the moment. in Antalya it worked without any problems.
This web site is not working. https://kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul/
All time said Blocked:
Web Page Blocked!
The page cannot be displayed. Please contact the administrator for additional information.
URL: kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul/
Client IP: 181.47.6.120
Attack ID: 20000018
Message ID: 019584077037
How can do? I have my Istanbul Card, no have turkish phone, I am from Argentina, Can use the Argentinian number for HES code? I f surewhen I fill the card for entry in Turkey, they will send a HES CODE by mail?
I will arrive at night on the IST airport and need take the Havaist Bus to City. How can do?
Also I need HES code for go by bus to antoher cities in Turkey? I know for domestic fligth dont need if you are a tourist, but for interuban buses, ex, Izmir, Ankara etc I will need this code?
Thank you
Hi Alejandro, thank you for the feedback. Well actually I don’t know what to say about these complaints. You are right about all. I did send many emails and also call the Municipality about the problems but they seem to be not helpful. I don’t know why this is really stupid.
For the kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul I can only advice to try again.
For the HES code, you don’t need to have a Turkish SIM, you only need to send SMS. It can be from your own country phone. You should be able to send SMS to 2023 to get a HES code. Also if you are abroad at the moment, you can fill in the Turkey Entry Form at https://register.health.gov.tr before you travel. When you fill the form abroad with the negative PCR test result obtained in the last 72 hours before the trip, your personal HES code will be created automatically with the filled information. Entry Form to Turkey will be checked at the Turkish border.
For SMS to 2023, by typing HES, your nationality (i.e. “ARG” for Argentina), your passport number, year of birth and surname, HES ARG -PassNo -DoB -SURNAME
You can also get your HES code via the Hayat Eve Sigar mobile app, a e-Government portal but I am not sure how tourist can use it.
If you want, you can also call the call center of Ministry of Health on +90 850 477 04 77 to ask your questions and get more information about the HES code or Hayat Eve Sigar application.
Also for getting the HES code through your foreign GSM number, you may send an SMS to +90555 944 3821 including your country code, passport serial number, year of birth and last name, respectively and interspaced.
In case anybody else is having the same issue, this seems to be related to your IP address and from what I noticed the site does work when connecting with Turkish IP.
If you are in Turkey site should work when you access it through wi-fi, otherwise try using VPN and setting your country to Turkey.
There is no stanbul kart in the shops and yellow machines, what should we do? Is there another ways to get it.
Hi Adeb, thank you for the feedback. Well what I learned from my call with the Municipality is that; “they no longer sell Istanbulkart on the yellow machines at the Istanbul airports and many kiosks in the city center”. And there seems to be no reason. What I also got is that “you are only able to purchase limited Istanbulcard at the yellow machines at the airport, which limited means, the ones with 1,3,5,10 pass cards, and you’ll use and throw away.
One other option for actual Istanbulkart is using the mobile app, install on your smartphone, load ride, and use it with QR code when you get on the public transportation. The only problem with that is that you may lose your Internet connection at the metro station as you are under the ground :( And the Istanbulkart app is only in Turkish. What I can recommend is that whether you buy limited pass cards at the airport, or buy several tourist passes where they arrange the card for you and present it upon your arrival.
I am sorry for my city and wrote complaints about that. Will update my page when I get more info. Best wishes.
I have just checked like 10 machines at the airport and in the city, and kiosk and instabulkart is not available and nobody can tell me where to buy it 😔
Hi Anna, please see my reply above. Same question. Best wishes
Hi there, what I understand do I need a Turkish sim card for my mobile phone to get a HES code???? I’m don’t have a smartphone.
Fantastic information you are providing here.
Thank you.
Viveka
Hi Viveka, thank you. Well you are right this is kinda problem. You only need to send SMS to 2023 to get a HES code. You don’t need Turkish SIM card. It can be whether from your friend in Turkey (he/she can send SMS from their own phones, or you can fill in the Turkey Entry Form at https://register.health.gov.tr before you travel. When you fill the form abroad with the negative PCR test result obtained in the last 72 hours before the trip, your personal HES code will be created automatically with the filled information. Entry Form to Turkey will be checked at the Turkish border.
For SMS, you need to send SMS to 2023, by typing HES, your nationality (i.e. “SWE” for Sweden), your passport number, year of birth and surname, HES SWE 123456789 1986 MADELEINE
Jeg skal til Istanbul den 29 juli.
Jeg har fyldt 50 lira og købte 3 Istanbul kort
Men de virkede ikke.
Hvad gøre jeg nu når jeg er i lufthavnen
Hvem kan hjælpe mig?
Jeg synes det svært med has kode
Jeg er ældre syg dame.
Tak for hjælpen
Hi Fatiha, sorry for the problem you had with Istanbulkart. Well you should ask about the problem where you bought it at the airport. This is the best option I guess.
Hello there–
Thanks for the informative page! I’m encountering a problem with the Instanbulkart link for matching the HES codes. Every time I click on the link, it’s coming up as blocked on my computer and phone, and I can’t get onto the website. Is this happening with other people or is it something that’s unique to me?
Thanks, JW
Hi Joseph, sorry for the problem you had. There shouldn’t be problem with matching the HES code. You can ask about your problem to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr or call 153
Hi, if we are 4 people to use one Istanbulkart, how we should proceed with matching with our four HES Codes?
Should we purchase 4 istanbulkart to match with 4 HES codes for each person?
Thanks in advance!
Hi Maya, Istanbulkart is only for one person. You should get Istanbulkart for each person. Best!
Hi. is there the possibility to but IstanbulKarts on line with the option to pick up at the airport AND with the HES codes already matched (we provide the HES codes an all neccessary info)?
i noticed there could be some issues with matching these 2 especially that you need a Turkish phone no to do it. thank you
Can you please confirm whether tourist children are able to travel within Istanbul using public transportation, including trams, ferries, cable cars, at this time due to covid restrictions? If not, we should use taxi/Uber anywhere we want to go? We have 3 children, under 2 years, 5 years, and 7 years old.
Hi Rebekah, while tourists are exempt the restrictions, your kids will be counted as tourists for sure. Just make sure to have your papers showing that you are in Istanbul for touristic visit. Can be your hotel booking, etc. Expats are not counted as tourists.
I came to Istanbul with my family,so I got istanbulkart for everyone. I have managed to activate only one,but for others it is impossible,it always returns an error even though I entered all the data as for the first one. Whom can I ask for help?
Hi Meri. You shouldn’t have a problem as you managed to personalized the first card. You can ask about your problem to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr or call 153
Hi, if we are 4 people to use one Istanbulkart, how we should proceed with matching with our four HES Codes? On the website, there is possible to match one HES code only to one Istanbulkart…
Many thanks in advance!
I’ve used my card approximately after one month it had 60 lira but it was not working when i used it in bus later I recharged it again with 50 tl but it is still not working anyone help?
Hi Fatima, you can ask about your problem to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr or call 153
Hello
I purchased Istanbul card 12 years ago, continue used it till 2 months ago. The old version I own didn’t carry a number on it. I changed it with 70 TL. A new regulation of combining a HES cod with Istanbul card needs a number on card that I don’t have in my old card. I changed it with money but not working now. Is there a way to extract money from card or transfer the money to a new card to purchase, or, is there a way to pull back my money from card?
Hi Ali, you can ask about your request to beyazmasa@ibb.gov.tr or call 153
Here it also says we need the Istanbul card for the havaist bus. But when we wanted to go from Taksim to new ist airport they didn’t want to let us pay with the card and now we have 60 lira on the card and left the country.
So you give wrong informations.
Hi Svenja. Sorry for the inconvenience you had. Well HAVAIST is frequently changing their bus numbers, stops, timetables, etc. due to this pandemic year’s situation. It seems like they did change the payment options as well. While we mention this as a notice on the HAVAIST pages saying that “please double check it on their website” and giving the links, it is our fault that we should have updated HAVAIST page as well. There was no info on this page saying that you can pay HAVAIST by IstanbulKart. Our apologies. On your next trips please double check the pages selling tickets, airports, buses etc. on their official websites as well. And while you did find the ticket price correct (60 TL for 2 person), left the correct amount on your IstanbulKart, but didn’t check the HAVAIST page for payment options.
merci bq pour tous ces information utiles qui facilitent bq la vie
Mine was purchased at 100 dollars, that’s 800TL just the card alone.
I want to enquire if it’s been sold at that amount
The public transport card (IstanbulKart) alone is 10 TRY, about 1.16 USD. You shouldn’t pay for more. You should check internet, official sites, before you buy.