Istanbulkart: How to Buy, Top Up and Use It in Istanbul
Istanbulkart is Istanbul’s reloadable transport card. For a visit using metro, tram, bus and public ferries, the standard pay-as-you-go card is a practical starting point. Buy it and add travel credit at station Biletmatik machines. The physical card fee, your loaded balance and each journey’s fare are separate. See the fees and limits below before buying.
- Choose
- Standard reloadable Istanbulkart
- for per-journey payment. Istanbul City Card has separate duration-based terms.
- Buy and top up
- Station Biletmatik machines;
- choose card purchase for a new card, or balance loading for a card you already have. Review the payment options on the screen and wait for the transaction to finish.
- Card fee
- TRY 165
- for the standard physical card, listed by BELBİM; checked 3 October 2026. Travel credit is separate. View card fees and limits.
- Fare example
- TRY 46.20,
- BELBİM’s listed standard full transport fare; checked 3 October 2026. Ferry and airport-route charges can differ. View the fee schedule.
- Two riders
- One card each simplifies travel.
- Sharing permissions and individual discounts or refunds depend on the card and operator.
- Public ferry or cruise?
- Use the relevant Şehir Hatları route tariff
- for a public crossing. A private Bosphorus cruise needs its own ticket.
Which Istanbulkart should visitors choose?
Choose by how you intend to travel. For a flexible itinerary with individual paid journeys, start by comparing a standard reloadable card with the alternatives below. An anonymous Istanbulkart is the ordinary visitor option described in Metro İstanbul’s fare table; its per-journey pricing differs from a duration pass.
Standard Istanbulkart versus Istanbul City Card
| Option | Payment model | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Standard reloadable Istanbulkart | Add balance; pay for journeys as you take them. | Physical card fee, route fare and balance remaining. |
| Limited-pass ticket | A specified number of uses. | Number of passes, accepted services and current ticket tariff. |
| Istanbul City Card | A distinct duration-based visitor product. | Current price, validity period and included transport. |
Check the issuer’s current product terms before assuming a City Card will save money on your itinerary. Contactless bank cards are also advertised as an alternative; check acceptance and the applicable fare for your actual reader and bank card.
Student, discounted and free-travel cards have eligibility rules. Being a visitor or holding a student card from another country does not itself establish entitlement. Check BELBİM’s card information before choosing a concession product.
Where can you buy an Istanbulkart?
Station Biletmatik machines sell Istanbulkart and load travel balance. For a new card, find a machine with a card-purchase option; for an existing card, choose balance loading. These are different transactions, so check the option before paying.
The standard physical card costs TRY 165; travel credit is separate. Review the card charge and the balance you are adding on the machine’s screen. At an airport, find the machine for your chosen station or service before joining the boarding queue.
How to buy one at a Biletmatik
The machine’s current instructions take priority over an older photograph or video. Purchase and payment layouts can differ, so use this sequence as a guide to the decisions you need to make:
- Find an official Biletmatik offering card sales. Check its displayed options before starting.
- Select the card-purchase option. If language choices are available, choose one you understand.
- Review the physical card charge and any separate amount you are adding as travel balance. Confirm what your total payment includes.
- Pay using a method displayed as accepted by that machine. Check its instructions for denominations, change or bank-card payment before inserting money.
- Collect the card and check the transaction result. Add balance if necessary before walking to the entrance reader.
Keep the card somewhere easy to reach during transfers. If a machine does not offer the transaction you need or does not complete it, use the official help channel rather than repeatedly paying without checking the result.
How to top up your Istanbulkart
Top up, reload or “charge Istanbulkart” all mean adding travel balance to the card you already have. Decide how much to load from the journeys you expect to take; buying another physical card does not reload the first one.
At a station machine
- Place the card in the transaction area as the Biletmatik instructs.
- Select the balance-loading option and choose the amount you want to add.
- Review the total and use a payment method accepted on the displayed screen.
- Keep the card in place until the machine confirms completion.
- Check the resulting balance and collect your card before leaving.
Use balance loading for the card you already have. If the balance has not changed as expected, check the result before attempting another payment.
In the official mobile app
İstanbulkart Mobil offers TL loading and digital payment features. If you want to charge Istanbulkart online, start with that official app and check its current registration and payment requirements. Foreign-phone registration and payment-card acceptance can affect whether it suits your circumstances. Keep the machine route available for your first journey if you have not completed app setup.
Where and how can you use Istanbulkart?
The card is a payment tool; it does not select your route or reserve a place. Check the transport operator, destination and fare before tapping, especially when moving between rail and water transport.
Metro, tram and bus
Istanbulkart is used on public transport including metro, tram and bus. Hold your card at the designated entrance reader and wait for the reader’s acceptance before continuing. Have enough balance for the service you are boarding.
Plan transfers as separate parts of your journey. A standard fare example does not establish every line’s charge or a discount entitlement. Use the station map panels and the route diagrams above the train doors to identify your line and transfer. Our metro guide and route planner help you choose the connection before travelling.
Public ferries versus private cruises
For a Şehir Hatları public ferry crossing, check the ferry fares and route conditions. The charge varies by route; named tour sailings have their own ticket rules. Read the service name before joining a queue.
A private sightseeing, sunset or dinner cruise is a separately booked experience. An Istanbulkart balance does not buy that private cruise ticket. Choose a public crossing for transport between its piers; check a cruise’s own ticket and itinerary when your aim is a bookable experience on the Bosphorus.
Istanbulkart card price and example fares
Your Istanbulkart cost has three parts: the physical card, the balance you choose to load and the fare deducted for a journey. The card price is not a refundable deposit or an unlimited travel pass. All amounts below are in Turkish lira (TRY); each row shows its source check date.
| Charge and scope | Amount | Owner and current source | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard physical Istanbulkart issue fee; travel balance separate | TRY 165 | BELBİM: card fees | 3 October 2026 |
| BELBİM listed standard full transport fare; not a universal fare for every route | TRY 46.20 | BELBİM: transport charges | 3 October 2026 |
| Karaköy–Kadıköy public ferry; full Istanbulkart route fare | TRY 65.21 | Şehir Hatları: ferry fare guide | 3 October 2026 |
| Üsküdar–Eminönü public ferry; full Istanbulkart route fare | TRY 58.52 | Şehir Hatları: ferry fare guide | 3 October 2026 |
For example, choosing TRY 200 of travel balance on a standard card with a TRY 165 issue fee gives a card-and-balance subtotal of TRY 365, before any channel-specific transaction fee. Only the chosen load becomes travel credit. This example is not a loading minimum or a recommended three-day budget. Check the loading fees below for your payment channel.
Estimate your own top-up by listing the rides you intend to take and checking each operator’s tariff. Leave room for changes in your itinerary, and reload as needed instead of assuming leftover balance will be refunded at the end of the trip. Discounted and free-travel categories require eligibility; use full-fare planning until you know which card terms apply to you.
Istanbulkart fees and account limits
BELBİM fees and account limits · checked 3 October 2026. Amounts are in Turkish lira (TRY). Official product names and notes are retained in Turkish. Account verification and concession eligibility are separate questions.
Card and limited-pass ticket fees
| Kart Türü | Kart Bedeli | Vizeleme |
|---|---|---|
| İstanbulkart | TRY 165.00 | — |
| İstanbulkart Plus | TRY 140.00 | — |
| Kişiye Özel İstanbulkart | TRY 140.00 | — |
| İndirimli İstanbulkart, Öğrenci İstanbulkart Plus | TRY 140.00 | TRY 65.00 |
| Ücretsiz İstanbulkart 1 (65 Yaş, Anne Kart, Basın Mensubu, Belediye Zabıta, Devlet Sporcu, EHS, Engelli İstanbulkart) | TRY 140.00 | — |
| Ücretsiz İstanbulkart 2 (TUİK) | TRY 280.00 | TRY 360.00 |
| Ücretsiz İstanbulkart 3 (Er ve Erbaş, Gazi ve Gazi Ailesi, Şehit Ailesi) | - | — |
| Mavi İstanbulkart | TRY 140.00 | — |
| Ada Sakini İstanbulkart* | TRY 140.00 | TRY 625.00 |
| PDKS (Personel Devam Kontrol Sistemi) | TRY 140.00 | — |
| Denetim Kart | TRY 180.00 | — |
| Araç Kullanım Belgesi (Toplu taşıma, yük taşıma, kullanım belgesi sertifika kartı) | TRY 278.00 | — |
| BİRgeç | TRY 65.00 | — |
| İKİgeç | TRY 120.00 | — |
| ÜÇgeç | TRY 185.00 | — |
| DÖRTgeç | TRY 230.00 | — |
| BEŞgeç | TRY 275.00 | — |
| ALTIgeç | TRY 330.00 | — |
| YEDİgeç | TRY 385.00 | — |
| SEKİZgeç | TRY 430.00 | — |
| DOKUZgeç | TRY 480.00 | — |
| ONgeç | TRY 530.00 | — |
| SMS QR | TRY 65.00 | — |
*Ada Sakini İstanbulkart'lara her iki yılda bir yukarıdaki ücretler üzerinden kullanım hakkı verilir. Ada Sakini İstanbulkart'ın ilk kez kart basımında ve vizeleme işleminde ₺625 talimat gönderilecektir. ₺625 bedelin ₺560'i (UKOME Kararı) Ada Kart Yıllık Kulanım Bedeli olarak İBB Gelirler Müdürlüğü hesabına aktarılacaktır.
Istanbul City Card prices
| Kart Türü | Kart Bedeli |
|---|---|
| 1 Günlük Sınırsız Geçiş | TRY 855.00 |
| 3 Günlük Sınırsız Geçiş | TRY 1,660.00 |
| 5 Günlük Sınırsız Geçiş | TRY 3,390.00 |
| 7 günlük Sınırsız Geçiş | TRY 4,345.00 |
| 15 Günlük Sınırsız Geçiş | TRY 6,540.00 |
Improper-use charges
| Kullanım Sayısı | Kullanım Bedeli |
|---|---|
| İlk usulsüz kullanım | Tam abonman tutarı + kart bedeli |
| İkinci usulsüz kullanım ve sonrası | Tam abonman tutarının 10 katı + kart bedeli |
Transport and subscription charges
| Kart Tipi | Geçiş Bedeli | Abonman Bedeli* |
|---|---|---|
| İstanbulkart, İstanbulkart Plus, Mavi(Abonman) | TRY 46.20 | TRY 3,628.00 |
| Öğrenci İstanbulkart, Öğrenci İstanbulkart Plus | TRY 22.55 | ₺653** |
| 29 Yaş Üstü Öğrenci, Öğrenci İstanbulkart Plus (29 yaş üzeri kullanıcılar için öğrenci tarifesi %10 indirimli olarak uygulanmaktadır.) | TRY 41.58 | TRY 3,265.00 |
| Öğretmen ve 60 Yaş Üstü | TRY 33.08 | TRY 2,256.00 |
| Mastercard, Troy ve Visa logolu kartlar*** | - | — |
*İstanbulkart Plus ve Öğrenci İstanbulkart Plus abonman özelliği bulunmayan bir kart tipidir. **21 Eylül - 17 Ekim tarihleri arasında yapılacak ilk öğrenci abonmanı ücretlendirmesi 1 TL olarak uygulanacaktır. ***Temassız banka/kredi kartı geçiş ücreti, ilgili hattın geçiş limitinin karşılık geldiği Sınırlı Kullanımlı Bilet fiyatına göre hesaplanmaktadır. Detaylı bilgi için https://tuhim.ibb.gov.tr/ adresini ziyaret edebilirsiniz.
Balance-refund service charges
| İade Edilecek TL Tutarı | Hizmet Bedeli |
|---|---|
| ₺100 ve altı | ₺5 + %2 |
| ₺100 ve üstü | ₺10 + %2 |
Mobile-app transaction fees
| İşlem | İşlem Ücreti |
|---|---|
| ₺30 yükleme | TRY 2.00 |
| ₺50 yükleme | TRY 2.00 |
| ₺100 yükleme | TRY 5.00 |
| ₺300 yükleme | TRY 6.00 |
| ₺500 yükleme | TRY 8.00 |
| ₺1000 yükleme | TRY 10.00 |
| ₺1500 yükleme | Ücretsiz |
| ₺2000 yükleme | Ücretsiz |
| Öğrenci İstanbulkart abonman yükleme | TRY 8.00 |
| Öğretmen ve 60 yaş üstü İstanbulkart abonman yükleme | TRY 10.00 |
| 29 yaş üstü öğrenci İstanbulkart abonman yükleme | TRY 10.00 |
| İstanbulkart abonman yükleme | TRY 10.00 |
*Belirtilen limitler azami limitlerdir. İstanbulkart, güvenlik ve risk değerlendirme süreçleri kapsamında kullanıcı, işlem veya kanal bazında daha düşük limitler uygulama hakkını saklı tutar.
FAST transfer fees
| İşlem | İşlem Ücreti |
|---|---|
| 0 – ₺8.300 arası FAST | TRY 8.37 |
| ₺8.300,01 – ₺300.000 TL arası FAST | TRY 16.76 |
Secure-payment fees
| İşlem | İşlem Ücreti |
|---|---|
| 0 – ₺8.300 arası Güvenli Ödeme | TRY 8.37 |
| ₺8.300,01 – ₺399.000 arası Güvenli Ödeme | TRY 16.76 |
| ₺399.000,01 – ₺2.000.000 arası Güvenli Ödeme | TRY 209.38 |
Loading fees through other channels
| Alternatif Kanal | İşlem Ücreti |
|---|---|
| Banka ve finans uygulamaları üzerinden yükleme | Ücretsiz |
| Zincir marketlerden yükleme (A101, BİM, CarrefourSA, Migros, ŞOK) | Ücretsiz |
| HOPİ üzerinden HOPİ Paracık ile yükleme | Ücretsiz |
| NKolay temsilci noktaları | Ücretsiz |
| Pratik İşlem temsilci noktaları | Ücretsiz |
| Turkcell İletişim Merkezleri | Ücretsiz |
| İş Bankası İş Cep/Maximum Mobil kredi kartı ile ₺0 - ₺99 arası yükleme | TRY 1.00 |
| İş Bankası İş Cep/Maximum Mobil kredi kartı ile ₺100 - ₺149 arası yükleme | TRY 2.50 |
| İş Bankası İş Cep/Maximum Mobil kredi kartı ile ₺150- ₺300 arası yükleme | TRY 3.00 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺0-₺20 arası yükleme | TRY 0.99 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺20,01-₺99 arası yükleme | TRY 1.99 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺99,01-₺249 arası yükleme | TRY 2.99 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺249,01- ₺349 arası yükleme | TRY 4.50 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺349,01-₺449 arası yükleme | TRY 4.50 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺449,01- ₺549 arası yükleme | TRY 5.99 |
| QNB Finansbank kredi kartı ile ₺549,01 ve üzeri yükleme | TRY 6.50 |
| Paycell üzerinden kredi/banka kartı ile yükleme | ₺0,99 + tutarın %2,5'i |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺5 - ₺10 arası yükleme | TRY 0.99 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺20 - ₺30 arası yükleme | TRY 1.49 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺30 - ₺50 arası yükleme | TRY 2.49 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺50,01-₺75 arası yükleme | TRY 3.49 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺75,01- ₺100 arası yükleme | TRY 3.99 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺100,01- ₺200 arası yükleme | TRY 4.99 |
| Bilet.com üzerinden ₺200,01-₺300 yükleme | TRY 6.99 |
| Biletmatik abonman yükleme | %1 |
| Biletmatikte kredi kartı ile yapılan diğer işlemler | %3,5 |
| Biletmatikte Kişiselleştirilmemiş İstanbulkartlara nakit yükleme işlemi | TRY 2.00 |
| DenizPay Cüzdan | ₺0,99 + BSMV %2,5 |
| DenizPay Kart | ₺0,99 + BSMV %2,5 |
| İstanbulkart Plus ile ATM Nakit Çekim | ₺1,04 + tutarın %1,15’i |
| İstanbulkart Plus ile ATM Para Yatırma | ₺1,04+ tutarın %1,15’i |
| İstanbulkart Plus ile ATM Bakiye Sorgulama | TRY 0.27 |
Balance limits
| Transaction | Unverified account | Verified account |
|---|---|---|
| Anlık dijital hesap bakiyesi * | TRY 2,750.00 | TRY 2,250,000.00 |
| Anlık İstanbulkart bakiyesi** | TRY 2,750.00 | TRY 50,000.00 |
*Dijital hesaba kredi kartı ile yüklenen bakiyeler ve İstanbulkart'tan yapılan transfer bakiyeleri 45 gün sonra FAST gönderilerinde kullanılabilir. Bu süre içerisinde ilgili tutarlar kartlı alışverişlerde, ulaşımda ve İstanbulkartlar arası transferlerde kullanılabilir. **2023 Şubat ayı sonrası basılan kartların anlık kart bakiyesi ₺50.000, bu tarihten önce basılan kartların anlık kart bakiyesi ₺5.000’dir. ***İstanbulkart Mobil üzerinden İstanbulkartlara ve dijital hesaba tek seferde talimat oluşturma limitidir. Diğer uygulamalardan İstanbulkart'a en fazla 500 TL yükleme yapılabilir. ****İstanbulkartlardan dijital hesaplara tek seferde ₺2.500'ye kadar para transferi yapılabilir.
Loading limits
| Transaction | Unverified account | Verified account |
|---|---|---|
| İstanbulkarta aylık yükleme limiti | TRY 2,750.00 | TRY 50,000.00 |
| Tek seferde talimat oluşturma limiti *** | TRY 2,000.00 | TRY 2,000.00 |
| İstanbulkart Plus ATM'den para yatırma üst limiti (Günlük) | — | TRY 189,000.00 |
Payment limits
| Transaction | Unverified account | Verified account |
|---|---|---|
| İstanbulkart ile aylık ödeme limiti | TRY 2,750.00 | TRY 50,000.00 |
| İstanbulkart ile tek seferde ödeme limiti | TRY 1,000.00 | TRY 2,500.00 |
Transfer limits
| Transaction | Unverified account | Verified account |
|---|---|---|
| FAST tek seferde para transferi limiti | — | TRY 300,000.00 |
| Dijital hesaplara tek seferde gelen/giden**** | — | TRY 300,000.00 |
| İstanbulkartlara tek seferde gelen/giden | — | TRY 5,000.00 |
| Dijital hesaba günlük gelen para transferi limiti | — | TRY 300,000.00 |
Source: BELBİM’s official fees and limits. A listed fee does not establish eligibility for a particular card or account.
Can two people use one Istanbulkart?
For a simple itinerary, use one card per rider. Each person can then keep track of their own balance and travel independently if your plans split. This is practical advice rather than a citywide rule requiring every anonymous-card user to own a separate card.
Metro İstanbul’s passenger rules prohibit someone else from using a personal concession card. Anonymous-card sharing is a separate question: check the issuer and the operator for your route before relying on repeated taps. A successful tap alone does not establish that each passenger receives the same transfer discount or refund. Check Marmaray’s own conditions for a Marmaray journey rather than applying another operator’s rules.
Refunds and remaining card balance
The remaining balance shown on a reader is travel credit. For a journey-related fare refund, check the relevant operator’s conditions; eligibility and the amount credited can differ by service and card. A fare adjustment and withdrawing unused card credit are separate questions. Use BELBİM’s official contact channel for balance enquiries.
Does Istanbulkart work from the airports?
Choose your airport service first, then check its payment arrangements. Card acceptance, the journey fare and the location where you can buy or load a card are separate questions.
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): Metro İstanbul’s M4 Kadıköy–Sabiha Gökçen line serves the airport. Check your destination and onward connections with the operator before setting out.
Istanbul Airport (IST): İETT’s airport transport information identifies its public airport services. Other airport services have separate operators, fares and payment arrangements. Check a private shuttle’s own instructions before depending on Istanbulkart; city transport acceptance does not establish acceptance on every shuttle.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Paying for the card and assuming it is loaded: check the travel balance separately before your first ride.
- Buying the wrong product: compare a reloadable card, a limited-pass ticket and City Card before paying.
- Using one fare for every journey: match the fare to the actual operator and route, including airport services and ferries.
- Budgeting for a personal-card benefit: check eligibility and transfer conditions before treating a discount as part of your travel budget.
- Leaving a top-up before it finishes: follow the machine’s completion message and check the resulting balance.
- Entering card details on an imitation site: start from the official İstanbulkart website or official app.
Keep card details private. Use BELBİM’s security guidance for account and card precautions, and its official contact channel when you need help with a transaction or a lost card.
Istanbulkart FAQs
Where can I buy an Istanbulkart?
Buy a physical Istanbulkart at a station Biletmatik machine that offers card sales. Select card purchase, review the displayed charge and any separate travel balance, pay using a method accepted on that screen, then collect the card. The standard card fee is TRY 165; check that you also have travel credit before boarding.
How do I top up my Istanbulkart?
At a station Biletmatik, place your existing card in the indicated transaction area, select balance loading, choose the amount and follow the displayed payment instructions. Leave the card in place until completion, then check the resulting balance and collect it. If the balance has not changed, check the transaction result before paying again. The mobile app is an alternative; it is not needed for the station-machine route.
Is the card fee the same as the fare?
No. The physical card charge, the balance you load and the fare for a journey are separate. BELBİM lists the standard physical card at TRY 165, checked 3 October 2026. Loading money does not turn it into an unlimited pass. Check the card fees and limits and the relevant operator’s fare.
Can two people share one Istanbulkart?
For a simple trip plan, use one card per rider. Personal concession cards cannot be used by someone else on Metro İstanbul. Anonymous-card sharing and individual fare benefits need separate issuer and operator checks; do not assume that repeated taps give everyone the same discounts or refunds. Metro İstanbul rules; BELBİM precautions.
Do visitors get ferry transfer discounts?
Şehir Hatları limits its stated 50% transfer benefit to personalized İstanbulkart holders, with route, time and service exclusions. Do not budget for that benefit on an anonymous visitor card. Check the operator’s current conditions for your journey. Ferry tariff and conditions, source checked 3 October 2026.
What if I lose my Istanbulkart?
Use İstanbulkart’s official contact or security page for help. BELBİM advises reporting a lost card promptly; account holders can check the available card-management options. Recovery of an anonymous card or its remaining balance is not guaranteed here. Security guidance; official help.
Do I need the mobile app to buy or top up a card?
No. Station Biletmatik machines provide a physical-card purchase and balance-loading route. You can use these machines without choosing the mobile-app route. Check that the machine offers the transaction you need and follow its displayed payment instructions.
Where can I find a rail map at the station?
Look at the station information and map panels. Security staff can also provide pocket maps. Inside a train, route diagrams above the doors and network maps show the line and its connections.
How do I know where to change trains?
Listen for transfer announcements and check the route diagram above the doors or the network map inside the train. These mark connecting lines. Before getting off, identify the next line and direction, then follow that line’s signs in the station.
Where can I find departure information without using a website?
Use the station information panels or call the municipal information line, Alo 153. For a late journey or a service change, confirm the information for your line and travel day rather than applying another line’s hours.
Plan your next move in Istanbul
Decide whether your next journey is a public ferry crossing or a separately ticketed Bosphorus experience. Use our Istanbul ferry guide to plan transport between piers. For rail journeys, explore our Istanbul metro guide. Match your travel balance to the journeys you choose, then keep the card ready for your next ride.
