Why you cannot just tap your bank card
Visitors arriving from cities where a contactless bank card opens every gate tend to assume Istanbul works the same way. On most lines it does not. The metro, the buses, the trams and the ferries run on İstanbulkart, a stored-value card you buy once and top up as you go.
This is the first thing to sort out at the airport, because without it you cannot board the M4, you cannot board an İETT bus, and you will find yourself back at the taxi rank by default.
Buying one at Sabiha Gökçen
The machines are called Biletmatik — freestanding yellow and blue kiosks. At Sabiha Gökçen they sit by the metro station entrance, before the turnstiles, and they have an English language option.
Ask for an anonymous İstanbulkart. That is the version sold to anyone without registration or ID, and it is what a visitor wants. The registered version exists for residents claiming discounted fares and is not worth the paperwork for a short trip.
- Select the English interface on the Biletmatik screen.
- Buy an anonymous İstanbulkart — the card itself costs a small one-off amount on top of your credit.
- Load credit immediately. The machines take Turkish lira in cash and, at most kiosks, credit cards.
- Keep the card. You will use it for the metro, buses, trams and ferries all week.
What a journey costs
A standard single fare rose to ₺46.20 on 20 July 2026, when UKOME raised public transport and taxi tariffs by 10 percent in the same decision. The student fare is ₺22.55.
The fare does not vary with distance on the metro — the full 33.5 km ride from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy costs the same single tap as one stop. Transfers made within a set window after your first tap are charged at a reduced rate rather than a second full fare, which is what makes a metro-plus-ferry journey to the European side affordable.
| Fare type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Full single journey | ₺46.20 |
| Student single journey | ₺22.55 |
| Onward transfer within the window | Reduced, not a full second fare |
Topping up as you go
Every metro and tram station has a Biletmatik, and small shops and kiosks near stops often sell top-ups too. The official İstanbulkart mobile app also loads credit, though it expects a Turkish payment method more readily than a foreign one.
Check your balance at the turnstile — the reader displays it when you tap. Running out at the gate is the classic visitor mistake, usually at exactly the moment there is a queue behind you.
Where the card works
- Metro lines, including the M4 from Sabiha Gökçen.
- Marmaray, the rail tunnel under the Bosphorus.
- İETT city buses — the only accepted payment on board.
- Trams and the funiculars.
- City ferries across the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn.
- The Havabüs airport coach, which also accepts cash and credit cards.
Get an İstanbulkart at Sabiha Gökçen airport
- 1
Find the Biletmatik machines
Yellow and blue kiosks by the metro station entrance, before the turnstiles.
- 2
Switch the screen to English
Every machine has a language option on the first screen.
- 3
Buy an anonymous İstanbulkart
No registration or ID needed. The card carries a small one-off cost on top of the credit you load.
- 4
Load credit with cash or card
Turkish lira in notes works everywhere; most machines also take credit cards. Load enough for several journeys.
- 5
Tap once per passenger
The card is not personal, so one card covers everyone travelling with you — tap it again for each person.
Frequently asked
Do I need an İstanbulkart in Istanbul?
Yes, for most public transport. The metro, İETT buses, trams and ferries run on İstanbulkart rather than contactless bank cards, and İETT buses accept no other payment at all.
Where can I buy an İstanbulkart at Sabiha Gökçen airport?
From the Biletmatik machines — freestanding yellow and blue kiosks by the metro station entrance, before the turnstiles. They have an English option and take cash as well as, at most kiosks, credit cards.
How much is a single journey with İstanbulkart?
₺46.20 for a full fare and ₺22.55 for a student fare, both effective from 20 July 2026. The metro fare does not change with distance, and onward transfers within a set window are charged at a reduced rate.
Can two people share one İstanbulkart?
Yes. An anonymous İstanbulkart is not tied to a person, so you can tap the same card once for each passenger. Only the registered student card is personal.
Can I use my credit card on the Istanbul metro?
Generally no. Most lines require an İstanbulkart. You can use a credit card to buy and top up the İstanbulkart at the machines, but not to pass through the turnstile directly.
Does the Havabüs accept İstanbulkart?
Yes. The Havabüs airport coach takes İstanbulkart as well as cash and credit cards, though the coach fare is charged separately and is much higher than a standard public transport fare.
Where these figures come from
Fares and timetables in Istanbul change more than once a year. Every figure above is traceable to a source below — check them yourself before you travel, and tell us if you find something out of date.
- Yeni Şafak — İstanbulkart ücretleri 2026
The ₺46.20 full fare and ₺22.55 student fare effective from 20 July 2026.
- CNN Türk — İstanbulkart nereden alınır
Anonymous cards being sold from Biletmatik machines and authorised dealers without registration.
- İstanbulkart — official site
Card types, the mobile app and current fare information from the operator.