Istanbul Taxi Guide: Fares, Uber, and Airport Rides
The easiest way to get a taxi in Istanbul is the Uber app. It books the city's licensed yellow and black taxis around the clock, and at Istanbul Airport (IST) you skip the guesswork: you join the line at Exit 9 or 13 and show a PIN. On the meter, a yellow taxi from IST to Taksim Square runs about 2,080 lira ($42) on clear roads.
The weak spot is your phone. The PIN only appears after you book, and booking takes mobile data in the arrivals hall. Free airport Wi-Fi wants a text code or a passport scan at a kiosk, and sometimes the network shows up but won't connect. You can still ride from the same line without the app. You just won't see a price first.
Fares below follow the city tariff in force since July 20, 2026. Dollar amounts use about 49.9 lira to $1, the rate on 2026-10-30.
In short:
- Uber and Yandex Go both list Istanbul. Uber sends a licensed city taxi and takes cash or a card saved in the app.
- Yellow taxi meter: 71.94 lira ($1.44) to start, 47.92 lira ($0.96) per km, 230 lira ($4.61) minimum. There is no night rate.
- Turquoise taxis cost 15% more than yellow. Black taxis cost 70% more.
- Tolls go on top. Bosphorus bridges are 59 lira ($1.18), and the Eurasia Tunnel is 330 lira ($6.61) by day.
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Which taxi apps work in Istanbul
Uber. Uber says it runs 24/7 in Istanbul with licensed drivers in registered taxis. Cars seat 4 or 8, and you see a price range before you book.
Yandex Go. Its Turkey page names Istanbul along with five other cities. The price in the app is approximate, and the meter sets the final total. You pay by card or give the driver cash.
BiTaksi. This is a Turkish taxi app. Its App Store listing says it finds your closest car and takes card payments. It also offers luxury taxis and rides with pets.
| App | Before you ride | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Uber | Price range | Cash, or card in the app |
| Yandex Go | Approximate price, meter sets the total | Card, or cash to the driver |
| BiTaksi | Closest car | Card in the app |
The city licenses these apps separately. Under that license, a driver sees your address and estimated fare only after accepting the ride and starting the trip.
Istanbul taxi types and meter rates
The city council set the current tariff in decision 813 on July 17, 2026. If a website shows a start fare of 44 to 54 lira, it is out of date. There are four classes:
| Class | Start | Per km | Per minute | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow, class C | 71.94 lira ($1.44) | 47.92 lira ($0.96) | 9.98 lira ($0.20) | 230 lira ($4.61) |
| Turquoise, up to 8 seats | 82.73 lira ($1.66) | 55.10 lira ($1.10) | 11.47 lira ($0.23) | 265 lira ($5.31) |
| Yellow, 8 seats | 93.52 lira ($1.87) | 62.29 lira ($1.25) | 12.97 lira ($0.26) | 300 lira ($6.01) |
| Black, up to 8 seats | 122.30 lira ($2.45) | 81.46 lira ($1.63) | 16.96 lira ($0.34) | 400 lira ($8.02) |
The meter ticks up every 100 meters, by 4.80 lira ($0.10) in a yellow taxi. Below 12.5 km/h (about 8 mph) it switches to the per-minute rate, so traffic costs you money. The minimum covers rides under about 3.3 km (2 miles).
Istanbul Airport calls yellow taxis "orange," so don't let the name throw you. Its site says fares apply 24 hours a day.
Taxi from Istanbul Airport (IST)
Taxis run 24/7 at IST. Cars from the airport cooperative use the city meter. The main stands are at Exits 9 and 13 on the arrivals floor, with all three colors waiting. You can also find taxis on the departures floor, level 2.
With Uber, the order matters:
- Walk through arrivals, open the app, enter your destination, and book.
- Go to the taxi line outside Exit 9 or 13. Line managers can point you there.
- Choose the yellow or black line and show your 6-digit PIN to the first driver in the queue. The driver enters it and you leave.
You don't look for a specific car or plate. Black taxis are larger, which helps a group with suitcases.
Uber has no fixed airport price. Enter your address for a range. Its taxi rides from IST averaged 42 minutes and 2,638 lira ($53) over the past six months.
The cheaper option is the Havaist bus from level -2. It cost 470 lira ($9.42) to Taksim and Sultanahmet and 515 lira ($10.32) to Kadıköy on October 19, with rides of 90 to 120 minutes.
Taxi from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
SAW also has taxis around the clock. Its site gives two numbers for the taxi service: 0 216 588 12 35 and 0 552 552 4 552.
Uber walks you to a pickup point in the app and warns that it may not be next to the nearest exit. Before you get in, check the driver's name, the plate, and the car color. Trips from SAW average about 50 minutes. Uber shows a price at the start and can adjust it at the end if tolls or surcharges came out differently.
SAW sits on the Asian side. If your hotel is on the European side, your taxi crosses a bridge or the tunnel, and you pay that toll.
Fares to Taksim, Sultanahmet, and Kadıköy
We took road distances from OpenStreetMap, applied the yellow taxi rate, and added tolls. Times assume no traffic.
| Destination | From IST | Fare from IST | From SAW | Fare from SAW, with tolls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taksim Square | 41.8 km, 43 min | 2,080 lira ($42) | 43.4 km, 37 min | 2,260 lira ($45) |
| Sultanahmet | 44.8 km, 47 min | 2,220 lira ($44) | 45.2 km, 41 min | 2,350 lira ($47) |
| Kadıköy pier | 51.4 km, 51 min | 2,590 lira ($52) | 35.7 km, 27 min | 1,830 lira ($37) |
Tolls in the table: IST to Kadıköy crosses the 15 July Bridge for 59 lira. From SAW, the O-4 highway adds 49 lira, and reaching the European side adds a bridge, for 108 lira in total.
Treat these as floors. Traffic adds up to 9.98 lira ($0.20) a minute. A turquoise taxi from IST to Taksim comes to about 2,390 lira ($48), and a black taxi about 3,530 lira ($71).
From IST, a driver may also take the O-7 toll highway, about 49 km to Sultanahmet, and that toll is yours as well. From SAW to Sultanahmet, the Eurasia Tunnel is shorter at 43.1 km. It costs more, though, at about 2,580 lira ($52) by day against 2,350 lira ($47) by bridge.
Bridges and tunnel tolls: who pays
You do. Istanbul Airport says the passenger pays bridge tolls, toll roads, and bus terminal exit fees. These are 2026 car rates:
| Crossing | Toll | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 15 July and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges | 59 lira ($1.18) | Each way, since January 1 |
| Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge | 110 lira ($2.20) | Each way, since July 1 |
| Eurasia Tunnel, 5:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. | 330 lira ($6.61) | Since July 1 |
| Eurasia Tunnel, midnight to 4:59 a.m. | 165 lira ($3.31) | Half price at night |
| O-4 highway, Kurtköy to Çamlıca | 49 lira ($0.98) | Since January 1 |
There is one catch. Crossing between the two sides by tunnel, you also pay a 15 July or Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge toll to cover the taxi's return. If you aren't in a hurry, ask for the bridge. Uber says you can choose your route.
How to pay and avoid overpaying
In Uber, pay with a saved card or hand over the cash amount shown in the app when the trip ends. You can tip in the app or in cash. Check whether your US card adds a foreign transaction fee.
For street taxis, carry lira in small bills. Turkey now requires every taxi to add a payment device linked to the meter by November 16, 2026, then accept cards within 15 days. So cards should get easier to use, but don't count on it yet.
Check these on any metered ride:
- Start fare. Yellow starts at 71.94 lira, turquoise at 82.73, black at 122.30.
- Night talk. A "night price" is not part of the city tariff.
- Route. Follow along on your own map and compare with the range in Uber or Yandex Go.
- Minimum. 230 lira for a short yellow ride is the real tariff, not a trick.
For complaints, the city's Alo 153 line handles taxis. Write down the plate number, time, and route. For an Uber ride, report it in the app.
Get mobile data set before you fly
If your US plan already includes data in Turkey at a price you like, use it and skip the rest. Otherwise, a local line is the fix, and our Turkey eSIM guide compares the options. If you land at IST or SAW and prefer a physical SIM, see where to buy one at the airport.
A Moosetrip Turkey eSIM runs on Vodafone and Türk Telekom. It is data only, with no phone number. You install it at home over Wi-Fi with a QR code, and the days start at your first connection in Turkey. Your usual number stays on as a second line. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked, so check your phone first.
Prices on 2026-10-30:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 GB, 7 days | $3.50 |
| 3 GB, 30 days | $7 |
| 5 GB, 30 days | $9.50 |
As a generous estimate, 1 GB covers about 5 hours of maps and rides. Install Uber at home too, and add your card while you are on your home Wi-Fi.
Questions
Does Uber work in Istanbul?
Yes. It books licensed city taxis 24/7. At IST, you show a PIN from the app to the first driver in the taxi line at Exit 9 or 13.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Taksim?
About 2,080 lira ($42) on a yellow taxi meter with no traffic. Uber's taxi trips from IST averaged 2,638 lira ($53) over the past six months.
How much is a taxi from Sabiha Gökçen to the city?
About 1,830 lira ($37) to Kadıköy, 2,260 lira ($45) to Taksim, and 2,350 lira ($47) to Sultanahmet by bridge, tolls included.
Is there a night rate for Istanbul taxis?
No. The airport says fares apply 24 hours a day. Only the Eurasia Tunnel gets cheaper at night, at 165 lira instead of 330.
Do Istanbul taxis take credit cards?
Uber and Yandex Go take cards in the app. For street taxis, carry lira. Card devices are required by November 16, 2026, with card acceptance due 15 days later.
Sources
- Istanbul taxi fare tariff from July 20, 2026, TUHİM PDF, decision 813, checked 2026-10-16
- Habertürk on the new taxi rates, checked 2026-10-30
- Istanbul Airport taxi information, checked 2026-10-30
- TUHİM license for taxi apps, checked 2026-10-16
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport taxi page, checked 2026-10-30
- Uber in Istanbul, checked 2026-10-30
- Uber taxi in Istanbul, checked 2026-10-16
- Uber taxi at IST, checked 2026-10-30
- Uber taxi at SAW and SAW pickup, checked 2026-10-16
- Yandex Go in Turkey, checked 2026-10-16
- BiTaksi on the App Store, checked 2026-10-16
- KGM bridge and highway tolls, checked 2026-10-16
- Eurasia Tunnel toll rates as of July 1, 2026, checked 2026-10-30
- Havaist routes and fares, checked 2026-10-19
- Revenue Administration deadline for taxi payment devices, checked 2026-10-30
- Alo 153 city help line, checked 2026-10-16
- OSRM with OpenStreetMap road data, checked 2026-10-16
- ExchangeRate-API USD rates, checked 2026-10-30