How Much is a Taxi in Istanbul? A Helpful Tourist’s Guide for 2025

Curious how much a taxi costs in Istanbul?

I typically avoid using taxis in any city where I travel because they are usually much more expensive than other transportation options. However, in Istanbul, taxis are a surprisingly cost-effective way to get around.

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How much does an Istanbul taxi cost?

Rates can vary, depending on the time of day and the driver. During rush hour, expect lots of traffic and higher rates to accommodate the increased travel time.

Generally speaking, we paid anywhere from 80 to 200 TL for a single taxi ride (between 4 and 12 USD) that lasted 10-15 minutes. 150 TL was the average price we paid.

Taxis come equipped with meters that start at 9.8 TL and increase 6.3 TL per kilometer, but the drivers rarely start the meters for tourists (in my experience).

Only one driver used the taxi meter the entire week we spent in Istanbul. Instead, the drivers named a price based on the destination we gave them.

Unfortunately, many drivers will take advantage of tourists and charge them more than they would a local. When we were in Istanbul, we often found some drivers asking for twice as much money as others.

It pays to ask around and not just take the first taxi you see. I recommend comparing prices with at least two drivers before accepting a ride, unless the first offer is reasonable.

Once you get a sense for average prices you have been paying, you can haggle with a driver if they are asking too much, or simply move on to a different taxi.

How much does an Istanbul taxi cost from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul’s city center (and vice versa)?

You can expect to pay anywhere from 200 to 400 TL (about 12 to 24 USD) for a taxi from the Istanbul Airport (New Istanbul Airport) to the Istanbul city center, which is about a 30-minute drive with no traffic. (Travel time can increase significantly during rush hour.)

Standard yellow taxis are usually cheaper than the blue airport taxis, but the blue taxis are slightly larger to accommodate more luggage.

For the taxi back to the Istanbul Airport, we paid 300 TL (around 18 USD) for a blue taxi from our hotel, which was about a 30-minute drive.

I recommend reserving your taxi through your hotel to ensure a more reasonable rate. In general, we found that the taxis we reserved with our hotel charged us less than the taxis we hailed ourselves.

How much is a taxi from Sabiha Gokcen Airport?

A taxi from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul’s city center (and vice versa) should cost about the same as a taxi to/from Istanbul Airport, which ranges from 200-300 TL. Both airports are about the same distance from the city center (45 km).

Istanbul taxi costs to popular tourist attractions

Since most taxi drivers seem to give tourists an arbitrary flat rate instead of using the meter, it is difficult to give exact rates for specific destinations.

You can find several websites that list average taxi fares in Istanbul for popular tourist attractions. They list fares as low as 35 TL for a 4-kilometer ride (say, from Sultanahmet to Galata Tower).

In our experience, the lowest fare we paid was 80 TL from our hotel in Piyalepasa to Dolmabahçe Palace (about 3 km away). We paid over 100 TL to get from our hotel to Galata Tower (2.5 km away).

As you can see, in our case, the distance did not determine the price. And the prices we paid do not match the low fares indicated on other websites—probably for the simple fact that we were tourists.

We consoled ourselves by converting the fares to USD in our heads. The cost was still much less than what we would have paid for a taxi in the United States. 😉

Istanbul’s colorful taxis: Is there a difference?

Istanbul’s official taxis come in three different colors: yellow, turquoise and black.

Yellow taxis: These are the standard and most common taxis in Istanbul, accommodating up to four passengers. Yellow taxis are also the cheapest option of the three.

Turquoise taxis: These taxis are slightly larger than yellow taxis and are a popular option to get to and from the airport, as they can fit more luggage. They can accommodate up to four passengers. Turquoise taxis generally cost 15% more than yellow taxis.

Black taxis: These are the luxury taxis. They are more comfortable and spacious — usually van size — to accommodate more passengers and luggage. You can expect to pay double the cost of a yellow taxi for a black taxi.

How to get a taxi in Istanbul

It’s easy to get a taxi in Istanbul. You can usually spot several taxis lined up along the road near major tourist attractions, and there are also taxi ranks stationed throughout the city. Simply approach one of the cars to check for their rate and availability.

• If you don’t see a taxi at your location, simply wait by the side of the road for one to drive by and wave your hand to indicate you need a ride.
  
  
• If you are staying at a hotel, you can ask your hotel concierge to arrange a taxi for you to get the best rate (recommended).

Istanbul taxi apps

If you have cellular data enabled in Istanbul, you can also download the BiTaksi or iTaksi mobile app to reserve a taxi (used commonly by locals).

BiTaksi seems to be more widely used and has a 4.8 out of 5-star score in the App Store.

Is there Uber in Istanbul?

Technically, yes, there is Uber in Istanbul, in that you can use your Uber app there. However, you will be reserving standard yellow taxis through the app, not rides with other Uber drivers.

Apparently, there was an entire lawsuit against Uber a few years ago, and the end result was that Uber needed to affiliate with Istanbul’s official taxis.

It also seems that the taxi driver will determine the rate to enter into the Uber app at the end of the ride, which may or may not be a reasonable rate for tourists.

I don’t have experience with using Uber in Istanbul, so I can’t offer much advice other than to try it to see how it goes. You may have more luck with the more official taxi apps in Istanbul: BiTaksi and iTaksi.

General Istanbul taxi tips

• Only accept rides from official taxis, which are yellow or blue in color and have a “TAKSI” sign on the roof. (There are also black luxury taxis that can be reserved.)
• If possible, compare prices with at least two different drivers before accepting a ride.
• Verify the price of a trip before getting into the car so you don’t end up with a surprise fee at the end.
• Try to pay the driver in exact change and do not show them any wads of cash you might have in your wallet.
• Many taxi drivers do not speak English. If you have trouble communicating where you need to go, try showing the destination using a map on your phone.

Taxis in Istanbul: FAQs

Are taxis in Istanbul safe?

Taxis are a very common way for both tourists and locals to get around in Istanbul. Be aware that there is a lot of traffic in Istanbul and the rules of the road may be very different from your home country.

I personally was glad to let someone else drive me around the city. I would never want to attempt to drive in Istanbul myself. Drivers are very pushy and impatient, and there are many intersections, traffic circles, and on- and off-ramps that keep you on your toes.

I clenched my teeth quite a bit while riding in Istanbul taxis, but I also sensed the drivers knew what they were doing. If you don’t feel like navigating other public transportation options, taxis are a reliable way to go.

Can babies and toddlers ride in a taxi in Istanbul?

Car seats are required for children under the age of 4 in Turkey, but this rule may not be strictly enforced by taxi drivers.

If you plan on taking a taxi with a baby or toddler, you will need to bring your own car seat and install it yourself in the backseat of the taxi.

If you need a good travel car seat, the WAYB Pico travel car seat is extremely lightweight and can be folded into a bag for easy carrying throughout the day. This car seat is meant for toddlers ages 2+.

For a more budget-friendly car seat, the Cosco Onlook is another great option that can be used for both babies and toddlers.

Note that taxi drivers will also open their trunks upon request so you can put a stroller inside. But compact strollers work best!

We use the Baby Jogger City Tour 2 and love it. It’s lightweight, easy to fold up (and even comes with a bag that you can use for the airplane), and has a small compartment on the bottom for storing things throughout the day. We have taken the stroller everywhere, including big cities like Paris and Istanbul.

How do you pay a taxi driver in Istanbul?

You pay the driver at the end of the journey before exiting the car. It is best to use cash (Turkish Lira) and pay in exact change.

Should you tip your taxi driver?

We generally tipped an extra 10-20 TL on top of the fare (often because we did not have exact change), but tips are not expected in Istanbul.

It seems locals will sometimes round up a few TL (for example, from 27 TL to 30 TL), especially if exact change is an issue, but more than that is not the norm.

Can you pay for a taxi with a credit card?

Many taxis have a machine inside where you can pay with a credit card. We never used this option but it is there if you need it.

However, it’s probably a good idea to verify with the driver that can pay with a credit card before getting in the car to be safe. Also note that credit card payments will be in your home currency, not Turkish Lira, so be aware of current exchange rates.

Other ways to get around in Istanbul

Istanbulkart

To avoid using taxis altogether, you can purchase an Istanbulkart, a card that gives you access to all the public transportation options in the city. This includes the subway, trams, funicular, ferries, and buses.

It costs 25 TL to purchase an Istanbulkart without credits, and then you can load individual rides to the card for around 7 TL each.

Where to get the Istanbulkart

Purchase the card and load credits onto it at any of the yellow-blue vending machines near transportation stops. You can also get the card at the airport and use it for a shuttle into the city.

Final thoughts: How much is a taxi in Istanbul?

I appreciated the convenience of taxis in Istanbul and found the prices to be much more reasonable than in other countries I have visited. It was nice to give the driver the name of a destination and get there without needing to navigate my own way around.

I did not enjoy having to haggle rates and getting ripped off by drivers. It is a shame that the drivers usually do not turn on their meters when you get in the car to give you the same rate as everyone else.

And I really hated it when a driver would start talking or texting on their phone while driving. I often prayed under my breath that we would just make it safely to our destination.

If I return to Istanbul, I would use a taxi if I really needed to. But since the city’s public transportation system seems solid and even cheaper than a taxi, I would likely try other options like the subway or trams as well.