Istanbul Taxi Fares Every Tourist Ought To Know

Just like everywhere else in the world, some Istanbul taxi drivers have several tricks up their sleeve to hustle unaware tourists. The most common practice is to extend the travel duration by making (huge) unnecessary detours. And since you’re not an Istanbulite, they’re pretty confident that you wouldn’t notice — and you won’t! But with this list of Istanbul taxi fares from Taksim and Sultanahmet to the most common tourist destinations, you are sure to pay the correct cab fare!

Istanbul Taxi Flat Rate and Increments

When you enter the taxi, the driver will activate the meter. The display should read 2.70 TL — the current flat rate.
This fare is incremented with approximately 1,73 TL every kilometer.
If a taxi gets caught up in traffic and doesn’t move or has to wait on your behalf for over 3 minutes, 0.25 TL will be added.
There used to be a night and day rate, but that has been abolished. Don’t let him tell you different!

Taxi Fares from the Atatürk International Airport (and vice versa)

to Sultanahmet — 37 TL
to Taksim — 46 TL

Taxi Fares from the Sahiba Gökçen Airport (and vice versa)

to Sultanahmet — 85 TL
to Taksim — 74 TL
Shocking fares, right? Here are better options on how to get from the airport to your hotel!

Taxi Fares from Sultanahmet (and vice versa)

to Akmerkez Shopping Mall — 23 TL
to Bebek — 29 TL
to Beşiktaş — 17 TL
to Buz Ada — 25 TL
to Cehavir Shopping Mall — 15 TL
to Dolmabahçe Palace — 13 TL
to Fatih — 10 TL
to Galata Tower — 13 TL
to İstiniye Park Shopping Mall — 30 TL
to Kadıköy — 40 TL
to Kanyon Shopping Mall — 21 TL
to Metrocity Shopping Mall — 21 TL
to Nişantaşı – 17 TL
to Ortaköy — 22 TL
to Pierre Loti Cafe – 17 TL
to Reina — 23 TL
to Rumeli Hisarı — 32 TL
to Taksim — 11 TL
to Yıldız Park — 20 TL

Taxi Fares from Taksim (and vice versa)

to Akmerkez Shopping Mall — 18 TL
to Bebek — 22 TL
to Beşiktaş — 7 TL
to Buz Ada — 17 TL
to Cehavir Shopping Mall — 10 TL
to Dolmabahçe Palace — 6 TL
to Fatih — 12 TL
to Galata Tower — 10 TL
to İstiniye Park Shopping Mall — 28 TL
to Kadıköy — 34 TL
to Kanyon Shopping Mall — 19 TL
to Metrocity Shopping Mall — 19 TL
to Nişantaşı – 8 TL
to Ortaköy — 15 TL
to Pierre Loti — 34 TL
to Reina — 15 TL
to Rumeli Hisarı — 20 TL
to Sultanahmet — 11 TL
to Yıldız Park — 11 TL

Please Use Common Sense

Print or copy this list prior to your departure for Istanbul. You may not be able to browse this site while you’re in the taxi.
These fares are indications based on rides I took myself. They are correct and up-to-date, but Istanbul road conditions change every day. Don’t argue with your driver or call for the police unless the meter shows a significant deviation from the fare mentioned here.

[Photo Source]

What's Next

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

richard December 13, 2011 at 1:44 pm

If the taxi driver misses his turn and then tries to reverse up a dual carriageway at night with buses swerving to avoid collision, as happened recently, you will save money. So not all taxi drivers are out to scam you, some are out to kill you.

Luca T. Davis December 14, 2011 at 6:46 pm: Hi Richard,

You’re right, certainly not all taxi drivers are looking for some extra money. Just like what you experienced, most are actually there to serve you the best they can. He apparently made a mistake, and wanted to set it right. In such a case, as frightening as it may seem, the rule of thumb is not to say anything not distract him in his obviously 4.5 difficulty backwards slalom exercise. These guys as well as the bus drivers, as crazy as it may seem to visitors, do this on a daily basis. I remember my first year in Istanbul as a traffic eye-opening experience vividly.