Taxis in Istanbul: what you need to know for a fair fare

Taxis are easy to find in Istanbul, but you need to be careful about fares. A few simple rules will spare you surprises.

Types of taxi

Istanbul has three types of taxi: yellow taxis are the standard ones, turquoise taxis are roomier and slightly more expensive, and black taxis offer a premium service. All of them use a meter.

The meter

• Make sure the meter is switched on when you get in.
• If you're offered a negotiated fixed price, decline; you can ask for the meter.
• Bridge and tunnel tolls are added to the fare.
• Ask before you get in whether you can pay by card.

The airport

Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen are a long way from the city centre; depending on traffic the journey can take over an hour. If you're arriving late at night with heavy luggage, a fixed-price transfer is the easiest option.

Apps

Taxi-hailing apps let you estimate the fare in advance and keep a record of the journey. The taxi screen on our site also shows an estimated fare for your destination; our own taxi-hailing app is on its way.

If something goes wrong

Note down the taxi's number plate. If something goes wrong, you can report it to the municipality on Alo 153.