Taxi in Istanbul

We will introduce you to the taxi in Istanbul, as the taxi is the best means of transportation to move from one place to another, and we will also introduce you to taxi prices, costs, applications and we will give you tips.

 however, in Istanbul, you do not need a car to get around the city where there are a variety of transportation options. Or you can easily get around the city by walking, cycling or using public transportation options.

Taxi in Istanbul and its forms

Taxi in Istanbul, if you need to reach somewhere quickly, such as airports or a meeting, then a taxi will be your best option than public transportation, which can be relatively slow

.Istanbul's yellow taxi or the yellow taxi that carries taxi signs on the roof, you can find it quickly and easily, as there are almost more than 18000 yellow taxis in the streets of Turkey. Istanbul Yellow Taxi is the standard local fare for Class C such as Fiat Aegea, Renault Clio, and Dacia Sandero

There is also a taxi in Istanbul in turquoise and black colors. The turquoise taxi is a D-class taxi such as Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb, Opel Insignia, while black taxis in Istanbul are E-class taxis and VIPs (such as Mercedes E180, Mercedes Vito)

furthermore, the turquoise taxis are more expensive with 15 percent, and black taxis are 100 percent more expensive than yellow taxis

-Taxi prices in Istanbul

Usually, taxi prices in Turkey are calculated through the kilometer and minute counters, and you have to calculate the distance you cut before boarding the taxi so you will not be deceived

The opening fee of the yellow taxi in Istanbul is 5.55 Turkish lira and will cost  3.45 lira per kilometer. These prices are the same in all of Istanbul, day and night

And when you take a taxi, be sure that the kilometrage

 is on, so you will know how much you will pay

You will need to pay a toll fee if the trip is on a highway or bridge with a toll fee.

Use the Taxi-free Estimate app to calculate the estimated cost of the taxi distance before heading outside and ordering a taxi

How to get a taxi in Istanbul?

You can easily take a taxi on the street by waving your hand as in the center of Istanbul you will not have to wait for more than a few minutes for an official yellow taxi.

Or you can take a taxi to the taxi stand, where you will find a taxi line on the side of the road also You can find them in front of the main squares, railways, metro and bus stations, ferry ports, shopping malls, plazas or restaurants.

- Use apps to get a taxi

1-Uber Turkey: Uber is widely used in Istanbul to get a taxi, this service when used, the driver will come within a few minutes to take you to any place you want. This service is available in Istanbul, Ankara, and Bodrum

2- BiTaksi application: BiTaksi is a Turkish service similar to Uber and is considered the best application for ordering a taxi in Istanbul

It includes some advantages and services  such as:

-Finds the nearest taxis to you to make it easy and fast when needed.

 -You can make secure payments by adding your card once in BiTaxi using Master bus guarantee, cash, or Istanbul Cart.

-If you do not want to waste your time, use BiTaxi because it uses GPS to find the nearest taxi to you and directs it to you within three minutes.

-There are some discounts that you will get when you use BiTaxi for the first time.

-There is the option of traveling safely with an air-isolated cabin and air filters in BiTaxi if you wish to choose that.

When do you take a taxi in Istanbul?

It is very easy to get around Istanbul with public transportation. But in peak hours at the city center, public transportation may not be practical, therefore we will suggest you take a taxi in Istanbul if

-You have an urgent trip, a meeting, or a heading to the airport

- There is heavy rain, for example

- If you are a group of friends or family members, then the price difference will be small when compared to public transportation.

Average Istanbul Taxi Fare from Istanbul New Airport

• To Sultanahmet (48.9 km) - 180 TL

• To Taksim (40 km) - 155 TL

•To Bakirkoy (46 km) - 170 TL

• To Besiktas (39 km) - 155 TL

• To Sariyer (43 km) - 165 TL

• To Mecidiyekoy (37 km) - 150 TL

• To Kadikoy (56 km) - 200 Turkish liras in addition to the bridge fee.

• To Uskudar (46 km) - 170 Turkish Liras in addition to the bridge fee.

• To Sabiha Gokcen Airport (76 km) - 280 TL plus bridge fee

Average Istanbul Taxi Fare from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)

• To Taksim (65 km) - 250 Turkish liras in addition to the bridge fees.

• To Sultan Ahmed (62 km) 240 Turkish Liras in addition to the bridge fees.

• To Bakirkoy (74 km) - 265 Turkish liras in addition to the bridge fee.

• To Kadikoy (32 km) - 120 TL

• To the new Istanbul airport (76 km) - 280 Turkish liras in addition to the bridge fee

-Bridge fee and Eurasia tunnel fee

There are three bridges over the Bosphorus. the first bridge is called  (15 Temmuz-Shitler) which means ( martyrs of15 July), the second bridge is called  (Fatih Sultan Mehmet), and the third (Yavuz Sultan Selim). Where you need to cross the first or second bridge to get around Istanbul. But the third bridge is too far to ever be used. The toll of the bridge is one way only when you cross from Europe to Asia,  while there is no toll from Asia to Europe.

There is an underwater tunnel for cars is called  (Avrasia)  from Yenikapi to Haydarpaşa. It is a very fast and convenient way to cross the Bosphorus, but it is a little bit expensive

-Some tips when using a taxi in Istanbul

1-Do not tip the taxi drivers, you can leave the cashback if it was a little like  2 to 5 TL. That's what most locals do.

2- If you are staying in a hotel close to Istanbul airports

 you can ask your hotel for a free shuttle service if available

3- make sure that the taxi is going in the right direction. You can check this from the Maps application on your mobile phone

. 4- Some touristic places such as Sultanahmet Square, the tram line between Sirkeci and Beyazit, and Istiklal Street are pedestrian-only therefore make sure to check your destination and select a suitable drop-off point to avoid running around.

5-If you want to cross the Bosphorus from the bridges, ask the driver which bridge will take, as there are three bridges on the Bosphorus, where the third and last bridge (Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge) is very far from the city center and is mostly used by trucks, tankers, and buses between cities, so do not let the taxi driver takes you this bridge, otherwise, it will cost you a lot of money.

That was all about using a taxi in Istanbul and its costs. We presented the best applications that will help order a taxi in Istanbul, then we gave you some tips that you should take into consideration.

 For more information about Istanbul, you can view the articles on Al-Fanar website.