Istanbul Metro Map & Guide for Visitors

Your start and finish refer to stations, so add the walk from your hotel or final attraction. One worked example of what the map above shows:

Europe is west, Asia is east, and the Bosphorus runs between them. M2 connects central European-side districts. Marmaray crosses under the strait. M4 runs from Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen; M11 serves Istanbul Airport. The Golden Horn is a separate inlet, so crossing it does not mean you have crossed to Asia.

On the official Istanbul metro map, M identifies metro, T tram and F funicular lines. Interchange symbols show where systems connect; they do not promise a short walk, one paid area or lift access. Read the legend for operating, construction and proposed lines before choosing a journey. Never treat a future extension as an available train.

The official map linked below is v.3 rev.20.1, July 2026, checked 2 October 2026. Its geometry is schematic: estimate walking distance from a street map, not the gap between station dots. More official maps ↗

Start with the destination, then choose the line. Sultanahmet is on T1, while Taksim has M2 and F1. The tram and funicular are useful parts of a rail journey even though they are different transport modes. For an Asia-side journey, look for the Marmaray connection before adding a second metro leg.

Keep the route in the order you will use it: board → direction → get off → change. Before the gates, check that you have an accepted ticket or enough Istanbulkart balance. On the platform, read the line code and destination display together. Let passengers leave before boarding, and keep luggage clear of doors.

Buying a card and paying for a journey are separate costs. BELBİM’s standard full fare is shown below with its check date. The single-pass ticket is a dated Metro İstanbul example. These do not establish the fare for every operator, airport line or transfer.

The Istanbul metro is not a single 24-hour service. The M2, M4, F1 and T1 line pages listed a baseline operating window of 06:00–00:00 when checked on 2 October 2026. This is not a last departure from every station, and it does not guarantee a late connection between lines. Use the timetable for your boarding station and travel day.

Night Metro lists M1A, M1B, M2, M4, M5, M6 and M7 for Friday-to-Saturday and Saturday-to-Sunday nights. Its M2 service excludes the Sanayi Mahallesi–Seyrantepe branch. F1 and T1 are not automatically covered by that policy. M11 and Marmaray have separate operator information.

Check current service updates, especially after an event or for a late arrival. A dated disruption or special-service notice can change the general pattern. If your final connection finishes earlier, plan the whole journey around that leg rather than the first train.

Check the airport code first: IST and SAW are different airports. M11 serves Istanbul Airport; M4 serves Sabiha Gökçen. An M1A sign saying Atatürk Havalimanı is not a route to Istanbul Airport.

For IST → Taksim, take M11 towards Gayrettepe, then M2 towards Yenikapı and get off at Taksim. The Ministry of Transport’s June 2026 update records the Halkalı extension and TCDD Taşımacılık operation. Old route descriptions may still show an earlier terminus. Check current services with the airport.

For SAW → Kadıköy, take M4 towards Kadıköy. M4’s line information also identifies the Marmaray connection at Ayrılık Çeşmesi for onward rail travel across the Bosphorus.

Allow for airport-terminal walks, gates and transfers. With several bags, compare those walks with a private transfer. Confirm the airport, arrival details and final price before arranging one. Our Istanbul Airport transfer guide compares the options.

An interchange on a map is not a verified step-free path. Entrances, ramps, lifts, platform access and the final street walk all matter. Check Metro İstanbul’s accessibility services and equipment status for the actual stations you will use. System-wide provision does not prove that every lift is working today.

With a suitcase or pushchair, allow extra time and choose the appropriate entrance before validating. Keep aisles and doors clear. A lift-based route can differ from the shortest connection shown by signs. If you need a specific access arrangement, ask the operator before you travel; the route selector cannot verify it for you.

Choose the next step that fits your journey: Istanbulkart’s official card help for buying and reloading; Metro İstanbul’s journey planner for more rail routes; Marmaray for cross-Bosphorus trains; or our ferry planner for public ferries (see also our ferry guide). For luggage-heavy arrivals, arrange a private transfer through RideInIstanbul, our sister brand TÜRSAB license no: 7377.

Checked 2 October 2026: Metro İstanbul’s maps, F1, T1, M2, M4, fares, night service and accessibility information; the Ministry’s June 2026 M11 update; and official card help. Recheck volatile services and prices for your travel date. The illustrations and saved cards explain connections; official operators provide current travel information.