Menu
Menu
Menu
Embark on an unforgettable journey through the mesmerizing city of Istanbul by ensuring you have the essential Istanbul cards for a seamless and enriched travel experience. From the Istanbul Museum Pass unlocking the doors to the city’s historical treasures to the Istanbulkart providing hassle-free access to public transportation, these cards are your keys to unlocking the cultural, culinary, and architectural wonders of this vibrant metropolis. Whether you’re exploring ancient landmarks, savoring local delicacies, or navigating the bustling streets, having these cards in hand will not only simplify your logistics but also open doors to a more immersive and rewarding adventure in Istanbul.
The card you are about to buy may be valid for 3 or 5 days only! Be extra careful and make sure that you are buying the right card that’s valid according to your trip.
Yes, they are meant to be trustworthy for a quality trip. However, before purchasing anything online, we suggest you contact the vendor to ensure that you are buying a legit card.
All children at the age of 6 or under are free of charge. The fee should be paid for those who are over 6 years old.
IstanbulCard is the only card you’ll need to access public transportation in Istanbul. It doesn’t matter if you are taking a bus, ferry, metro, Metrobus, Marmaray, funiculars, or tram, you need an IstanbulCard for transportation.
You can get your anonymous IstanbulCard from Ticketmatic, the black and yellow machines you can find almost everywhere.
Also, you can get an Istanbul City Card from these machines which you can use for transportation for 1 to 15 days unlimitedly. One Istanbul City Card can only be used by one person per ride.
The price of an anonymous IstanbulCard is 70 TL (2.6 USD)
The price of Istanbul City Cards depends on their validity duration:
After getting your IstanbulCard, you will realize that there is no balance. You need to load some money to start using it. There are three ways to load your IstanbulCard:
For the Istanbul City card, you won’t need to top up because its usage is unlimited.
Whether you are new or not to Istanbul, there are some facts you should know about while using your anonymous Istanbul Card:
Things you should know about Istanbul City Card:
There’s a mobile app called “IstanbulKart” where you can create a digital IstanbulCard. You can scan the QR code via the app to pass through validators.
App Link: App Store – Google Play Store
Museum admissions are generally more expensive for foreigners compared to locals. If you plan on visiting every Istanbul museum, paying for each entry fee can burn a hole in your pocket. To save you from such trouble, the government is selling Turkey Museum Passes for everyone for more reasonable prices.
There are 5 different Turkey Museum Passes you can purchase:
With Museum Pass Türkiye, except Dolmabahçe Palace, you can visit every museum belonging to the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Directorate of National Palaces once for free. Once you use the card for the first time, it will expire in 15 days, so you have to plan accordingly if you want maximum efficiency.
Museum Pass Türkiye costs 3500 TL (131 USD).
Museum Pass Istanbul Mobile is for visiting the places that are under the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism and Directorate of National Palaces. It can only be used once every place and will expire in 5 days after the first usage.
Places you can visit with Museum Pass Istanbul Mobile:
Museum Pass Istanbul Mobile costs 2250 TL (84 USD)
If you are planning to go to Cappadocia after your Istanbul trip, you can hit two birds with one stone thanks to Museum Pass Cappadocia! There are more than 10 places you can visit with Cappadocia Pass. After the first usage, the card will expire in 3 days.
Places you can visit with Museum Pass Cappadocia:
Museum Pass Cappadocia costs 1500 TL (56 USD).
If your next stops are Antalya, Mersin, Adana, or Denizli after your Istanbul trip, here’s the Museum Pass the Mediterranean for you! Including 4 different city’s cultural heritages that are under the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism, more than 40 places are waiting for you. After the first usage, the card will be valid for 7 days.
Some popular heritages to visit with your Museum Pass the Mediterranean:
Museum Pass the Mediterranean costs 1700 TL (63 USD).
If you want to go towards the Aegean coasts to see the cultural heritages of past ancestors after your Istanbul trip, Museum Pass the Aegean is your best opportunity! You can visit the places belonging to the government in İzmir, Aydın, Muğla, and Denizli cities for 7 days with this card. There are more than 60 locations waiting to be seen!
Some popular heritages to visit with your Museum Pass the Aegean:
Museum Pass the Aegean costs 1700 TL (63 USD).
When you land in Istanbul, one of the first things you should do is apply for a local SIM card. There are three main operators in Turkey which offer prepaid SIM cards and welcome packages for foreign visitors:
The first and most important one is being free of unnecessary roaming charges from your own provider. When you buy a local SIM card, it comes with internet, calls, SMS, and social media packages. Also, you won’t need to deal with low network coverage if you get a local SIM card.
Turkcell
20 GB
200 minutes for domestic calls
Unlimited WhatsApp usage
Valid for 30 days
Vodafone
20 to 70 GB
750 minutes for domestic and international calls
250 SMS
Unlimited WhatsApp, Telegram, and Messenger usage
Unlimited Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for a week
SIM or eSIM
Valid for 90 days
Turk Telekom+
10 to 75 GB
250 to 1500 minutes for domestic calls
250 to 1000 SMS
Unlimited WhatsApp usage
5 GB for other social media apps
Valid for 7 to 28 days depending on the package
DISCLAIMER: Contact customer support of the providers for the prices.
The Istanbul Welcome Card is an all-inclusive card that comes with great offers at affordable prices. Think of a card that covers up every crucial point of your trip:
There are three types of Istanbul Welcome Card which are classic, premium, saver, and deluxe. Depending on the card, they last 3 or 7 days and have more or less benefits. We recommend you get the deluxe card if you’re going to stay a week in Istanbul. The card will be delivered to your hotel without any extra charge.
The Istanbul Tourist Pass is another alternative to plan your Istanbul trip easily. Similar to the Welcome Card you get guided tours and opportunities to enjoy your time. There are 3 planned activities to do each day with the Istanbul Tourist Pass.
The pass is bought online and can be used with the mobile application via QR scan. Istanbul Tourist Pass is valid for 3 to 7 days depending on how many days you buy.
Istanbul E-pass covers popular sightseeing locations in Istanbul. It is another pocket-friendly way to explore the beauty of Istanbul culture. As can be understood from the name, it’s a digital pass that’s mailed to you instantly after the purchase.
Especially when you are abroad, paying your expenses is the top priority. Without convenient and secure transitions, or being able to use your money in the first place, an international bank card is needed. Here are several international bank cards to use for your Turkey trip:
Before coming to Turkey, don’t forget to notify your bank that you are going abroad so that you don’t alarm the anti-fraud system. Also, you can withdraw or deposit freely with such cards via ATMs in Turkey.
