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I recently had an afternoon to kill in an Istanbul transit, staying at the airport (IST) at the landside Yotel. Thought I would try the metro.
SUMMARY:
*My experience both ways, one off-peak, the other peak is that it will take about 90 mins station to station, not the 60 mins you might be told
* The Istanbul Metro app is hopeless
*Avoid if you have a checked bag as well as a carry-on
* Probably avoid in any case - its a real hassle, involving 4 separate metro lines, some with ridiculous on-foot connections and poor signage.
My first journey was from IST to Sirkeci, in Eminonu. The way to the station is in front of exit door 11.
Then there is a long walk, assisted by some travellators to the station proper. This is about half-way.
I had the Istanbul metro app, a bit clunky, but the route seemed straightforward enough. it told me my journey would be 50 minutes (ha!)
The IST station is (unnecessarily) vast and about 10 mins walk from the terminal building. A hall with tickets is on one level. I bought a day pass, I think for 320 TL. Used a machine, with English. No people in booths. But when I attempted to go through the barrier, it kept rejecting. Lady there called out "Activate!". Que? Eventually I went back to the machine, and sure enough, there was an activation panel. Then its down another level to the trains. By this time I had walked 800m from the hotel in the terminal.
Train came soon, and I got out at the end of the line, Kagithane - all underground so far, and no mobile reception, or wi-fi. No signs where to go next, but just followed the crowd up the escalators to the surface. Still no signs, so I followed the crowd with suitcases again and then saw what was an elevated station. We are headed over there. No signs pointing to it.
This would be
Still no signs, just three road crossings. At night, without a crowd to follow, you'd have little chance.
This is what the app shows re the next bit. Kagithane to Sisli on the pink line, right?
No! Its Kagithan to Mecidiyekoy, as this metro map shows.
Arriving at the station, very confusing where to go - no staff, except a barrier guard who just pointed up some escalators. I eventually reconciled where i had to go and got the next train. At the next station, again all the way out of the station, then through the entry barriers to the next line, then all the way down again. If you had bags, this would be really tedious - it happens every time you change a line. There might be three separate escalators up, then three down.
T
SUMMARY:
*My experience both ways, one off-peak, the other peak is that it will take about 90 mins station to station, not the 60 mins you might be told
* The Istanbul Metro app is hopeless
*Avoid if you have a checked bag as well as a carry-on
* Probably avoid in any case - its a real hassle, involving 4 separate metro lines, some with ridiculous on-foot connections and poor signage.
My first journey was from IST to Sirkeci, in Eminonu. The way to the station is in front of exit door 11.
Then there is a long walk, assisted by some travellators to the station proper. This is about half-way.
I had the Istanbul metro app, a bit clunky, but the route seemed straightforward enough. it told me my journey would be 50 minutes (ha!)
The IST station is (unnecessarily) vast and about 10 mins walk from the terminal building. A hall with tickets is on one level. I bought a day pass, I think for 320 TL. Used a machine, with English. No people in booths. But when I attempted to go through the barrier, it kept rejecting. Lady there called out "Activate!". Que? Eventually I went back to the machine, and sure enough, there was an activation panel. Then its down another level to the trains. By this time I had walked 800m from the hotel in the terminal.
Train came soon, and I got out at the end of the line, Kagithane - all underground so far, and no mobile reception, or wi-fi. No signs where to go next, but just followed the crowd up the escalators to the surface. Still no signs, so I followed the crowd with suitcases again and then saw what was an elevated station. We are headed over there. No signs pointing to it.
This would beStill no signs, just three road crossings. At night, without a crowd to follow, you'd have little chance.
This is what the app shows re the next bit. Kagithane to Sisli on the pink line, right?
No! Its Kagithan to Mecidiyekoy, as this metro map shows.
Arriving at the station, very confusing where to go - no staff, except a barrier guard who just pointed up some escalators. I eventually reconciled where i had to go and got the next train. At the next station, again all the way out of the station, then through the entry barriers to the next line, then all the way down again. If you had bags, this would be really tedious - it happens every time you change a line. There might be three separate escalators up, then three down.
T
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