Metro fares
With İstanbulkart a single ride is ₺46.20, student ₺22.55, monthly Mavi Kart ₺3,628 — all fares, passes and where to buy your ticket.
How much is the metro in İstanbul?
The İBB Council approved a 10% rise on 17 July 2026 and the new tariff has applied since 20 July 2026. Figures taken from Metro İstanbul’s own Ücret Tarifeleri page (checked 27 August 2026).
Transfers: journeys chained within 90 minutes get progressively cheaper. İBB did not republish the per-transfer amounts alongside the July rise; the last ones it published belong to the February 2026 tariff: ₺31.27 (1st transfer), ₺24.02 (2nd) and ₺15.62 (3rd and later).
Paying with İstanbulkart is cheaper than a single-use ticket from a machine. The Marmaray and M11 lines are priced by distance.
Which card suits you?
Anonymous or personal?
An anonymous İstanbulkart is bought instantly from a vendor or machine with no ID required. If it is lost or stolen, the balance cannot be recovered.
A personal İstanbulkart is registered to your ID; if lost, the balance can be moved to a new card. The unlimited monthly Mavi Kart pass is also only available on personal cards.
The card costs roughly about ₺50–150. To check your balance and top up, see our İstanbulkart page.
Where to buy a ticket
Always tap your card at the turnstile; travelling without a valid ticket is subject to a fine.
Discounts and tips
Students travel with a discounted blue student card; a single ride is about ₺22.55. A student certificate is required for the card.
Children below a certain height travel free with an accompanying adult. Thanks to the transfer discount, İstanbulkart is easy on the family budget.
For short visits an anonymous İstanbulkart is the most practical option; several people can use the same card in turn. Reach the airport by M11/M4.
For those who travel every day, the unlimited monthly Mavi Kart (₺3,628) is worthwhile; student and discounted versions also exist.
Frequently asked questions
A single ride with İstanbulkart is ₺46.20. Transfers within 90 minutes get progressively cheaper; the first transfer is ₺31.27 and later transfers are ₺15.62.
Yes. İstanbulkart is valid on the metro, tram, bus, Metrobüs, Marmaray and ferries; transfers within 90 minutes are discounted.
You can buy the card from ticket machines at stations or from vendors (about about ₺50–150). To top up, use the ticket machines, the İstanbulkart Mobil app or banking apps. Details: İstanbulkart guide.
At some turnstiles, direct payment with a contactless bank card or mobile wallet is enabled. Even so, İstanbulkart is still the most widely accepted and cheapest method; İstanbulkart is recommended for the transfer discount.
Yes. Students travel with a discounted blue student card; a single ride is about ₺22.55. A student certificate is required for the card.
The M11 and Marmaray lines to İstanbul Airport are priced by distance, so the fare can vary by station. The M4 to Sabiha Gökçen uses the standard metro fare.