Is Uber in Istanbul? Guide To Getting Around The City 2025
Since the founding of Uber in 2009, it has become an essential and globally recognized means of city transportation. For travelers visiting foreign countries, it is a convenient tool allowing you to reach from point A to point B, at a pre-determined price, without worrying about language barriers. It has also allowed travelers to pay for their transport without having already the local cash currency.
The convenience of Uber is unmatched and its reach is practically worldwide now.
But is Uber in Istanbul, Turkey?
Is it safe and reliable?
Are there other means of transportation in Istanbul?
Below we provide you with our first-hand experiences with Uber, public and private transportation. We will also provide our top tips to ensure your trip goes without a hitch (Updated January 01, 2025).
Let’s dive in!
Is Uber in Istanbul?
The short answer is Yes, Uber is in Istanbul. But do we recommend using it? Not really. Read on to see to see why.
Uber is a popular transportation company that we have become accustomed to using worldwide. It was first introduced in Turkey in 2014 and helped to service the 5 million users in the country. However, over the first 3 years, its presence became more and more contested by taxi drivers who claimed they had an “unfair advantage”.
Eventually, in 2019, Turkey’s United Taxi Drivers Association filed a lawsuit against Uber, forcing the company to shut down its service in Turkey. According to the local taxi drivers, the presence of Uber has led to a significant decline in their business, incurring great losses.
However, in 2021, the Istanbul Court overturned the ban and said they could resume service under the condition that Uber operates in conjunction with the city’s yellow taxis.
Therefore today, you will find that Uber is available in Istanbul. However, unlike in other cities where the Uber drivers are primarily local citizens utilizing their own vehicles, in Istanbul, the Ubers are simply the local yellow taxis.
Our Quick Recommendation for Uber in Istanbul
If you’re looking for a quick answer about using Uber in Istanbul, our advice is to avoid it. During our time there, we frequently heard about negative experiences from fellow travelers—many of which were unsettling and even potentially dangerous.
We ended up avoiding taking Ubers during our entire trip and instead relied on public transportation (which is very efficient) and a set of private transports (like getting from the airport to the city center). If you don’t want to have to worry about your transport, these are the 2 transports we would recommend:
Types of Uber?
First and foremost, Taxis in Istanbul, Turkey is called “Taksi”
As previously mentioned, Ubers in Istanbul are essentially synonymous with the local taxis.
However, unlike taxis, when you ride with Uber you have the opportunity to know the estimated cost of the ride as well as paying with your credit card through the app. This is useful when requesting transport in a country you are unfamiliar with, and do not speak the local language. Since you can simply input the destination and follow along in the app, it removes the stress of explaining your destination to the driver.
In theory, it also lowers the chance of being scammed, but more on that later.
When you decide to hail an Uber, there will usually be 3 to 4 options presented to you:
- Yellow taxis: These are the standard yellow taxi sedans fitting 4 people
- Large Taxis: These are larger yellow taxis that can fit up to 8 people
- Taxi Turquoise: They are considered premium taxis, however most of the time they are ‘unavailable’
- Black Taxis: They are premium taxis which can fit up to 8 people, and are usually in more luxurious vehicles
Is Uber safe in istanbul?
When traveling in a foreign country, safety is one of the main areas of concern. We have used Uber worldwide and have had overall positive experiences. Having Uber as the intermediary between the passenger and driver also adds a certain layer of security.
But is Uber safe in Istanbul? let’s take a look.
Before arriving in Istanbul, we met with several fellow travelers who warned us against using the taxis. We heard of several horror stories where they were yelled at and forced to pay sums significantly higher than what was agreed upon.
In one instance, the driver drove off before the passenger could say where she was going and before agreeing on a price. The driver later stopped along the highway and asked where she wanted to go. After providing this detail, the driver quoted a sum 2-3x higher than what was normal. When she refused, the driver said if she didn’t pay he would just leave her there. In the end, she had no choice but to pay the sum.
Now certainly every country has its share of negative experiences, however, we later heard of 3 more similar cases.
When we spoke with some local shopkeepers about the taxis in Istanbul, they laughed nervously and also warned us to be very careful. Even a local newspaper TRT World said that Istanbul’s taxi drivers are “notorious for their bad behaviour […] it’s not uncommon to see a video of a taxi driver misbehaving going viral”
For those reasons, when we traveled in Istanbul, we arranged all our transportation without using Taxis. For the airport, we pre-booked a private transport and when navigating the city, we used public transport.
So is Uber safe in Istanbul? We don’t believe there is any threat to physical safety, but there is a higher chance of being scammed.
Although these incidents may not be everyday occurrences, we wanted to at least provide this information as a word of caution. We do believe there are always kind people in every city, so your experience with Ubers may end up being positive.
Further down, we will discuss what extra steps of care you can use to minimize the risk of scams.
🎟️ Istanbul access passes
Don’t want to worry about which attractions to visit, how to get to the city from the airport, and how to get around the city? There is a very convenient Istanbul Tourist pass as well as Istanbul E-pass that allows you to purchase a pass for your stay and gives you access to all the tourist sites. If you will be visiting many of the attractions, this pass provides you with huge savings up to 70%!
Is Uber reliable in Istanbul?
The second most important issue to consider in transportation is its reliability.
Is Uber reliable in Istanbul? Based on our experience, we would say no.
During the 4 days we spent in Istanbul, there were 2 to 3 instances where we did try to hail an Uber. What happened truly surprised us.
Incident 1
When hailing an Uber for the first time, a driver accepted the order and proceeded to drive in my direction. We then received a private message in the Uber app asking where we were going. Even though it was clearly marked in the Uber request, we retold him the destination. He then answered saying that the price will not be 129TRY like stated in the app, and instead, it will be 400 TRY because there is heavy traffic.
This was the first time we had had an Uber driver negotiate the price with us. We refused his quote and told him that the app says 129 TRY so that is what we are paying. He then refused and said that we could pay 350 TRY if we paid in cash. After that, we simply cancelled the ride.
Incident 2
We then re-tried hailing an Uber, and although the app showed several vehicles around, no driver accepted the ride. We tried for 10 minutes and eventually gave up.
Incident 3
When returning back to our hotel in the evening, we tried to hail an Uber again. Same as before, although the app showed several vehicles around, none of the drivers accepted the ride. We believe that since Ubers are taxis, the driver would prefer to find a taxi-riding passenger so that they can state whatever price they want to charge.
Therefore, based on our experience, we did not feel Uber was reliable in Istanbul.
Following our trip, we perused through the Istanbul forums about Uber experiences. In the comments, we found mixed reviews but also many cases where the passengers had no issues with their Uber rides in Istanbul.
So are we recommending not using Uber at all? Not necessarily. We simply want to arm you with the knowledge of our experience so you can make the best decision.
ℹ️📅 Planning your trip to Turkey? Make sure to check out our Complete Turkey Itinerary Guide where we share what places to go to, what to do there, where to stay, how to get around, and many essential tips!
How do you pay for Uber Istanbul?
Uber accepts most payment methods including credit and debit cards, Paypal, Google Pay, and Uber gift cards. This is one of the big positives about using Uber in a foreign country since you may not always have the exact cash amount in the foreign currency. Wondering if you need to tip? Check out this post where we discuss the tipping etiquette in Turkey.
This post is part of our series about Turkey. If you want to learn more about Turkey, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:
Common uber/taxi scams in Istanbul
- Saying the meter is broken: By law, all taxis in Turkey are required to use the taxi meter when driving. So if the driver tells you that the taxi meter is broken, just get out and find a different taxi.
- Charging an evening rate when it is daytime: During the evenings and nights, taxis charge a higher rate. Make sure that the driver is not charging the night rate if it is not nighttime.
- Charging a higher price than the meter: We have heard many instances where the taxi meter upon arrival will show one price, but the driver will quote another significantly higher price. Sometimes there are legitimate surcharges due to going over certain bridges or tunnels, but make sure that the amount seems reasonable.
- Saying they have no change when paying cash: This is one of the most common scams worldwide. To avoid this, either use Uber and stick to the quoted price, or bring exact change.
- Quoting a fixed rate for the trip that will be far higher than the meter price: When getting into the taxi, the driver may simply state a fixed price rather than using the meter. In all cases, this price will be higher than the metered price. For that reason, always insist on calculating the rate based on the taxi meter.
- Driving off before you have the chance to discuss the destination: This happened to one of the fellow travelers we met in Turkey. In order to avoid this, after you get in, do not close the car door immediately. Only do so after you have discussed and agreed upon the destination and taxi meter.
Alternatives to uber in Istanbul
Other than Uber, what are the alternative means of transportation?
BiTaksi
BiTaksi is another app that you can use to hail a taxi with a pre-determined fare for the ride. Overall the app appears to have a good rating of 4.7/5 in the Google Play store. However, when perusing the reviews, we did find several negative reviews of people being scammed by the taxi driver. In fact, in the top 10 latest reviews, most of them were 1 star.
We tried using BiTaksi after our frustration with Uber, however, the activation code in order to start using the app did not work. This is apparently a common issue when using a foreign mobile number. For that reason, we did not succeed in using BiTaksi.
ITaksi
ITaksi is another lesser-known alternative to Uber in Istanbul. However, similar to BiTaksi, there seems to be a common issue with registering a phone that has a foreign mobile number.
car rental
When in Istanbul, you also have the option of renting a car. However, we would not recommend it since the traffic is heavy at all times and the drivers are quite aggressive. It can be challenging to navigate the circulation in this bustling city.
If you are still confident with driving in Turkey, then I would fully recommend booking through Discovercars
🚘 Our trusted car rental agency: Discover Cars
Reliable, internationally supported, and affordable car rentals with the option of easily adding on insurance coverage. Click here to reserve!
Private transport
Private transportation is another option and alternative to using Uber. We did end up hiring private transport in order to bring us from the airport to our hotel as well as the return trip a few days later. We had a very positive experience and were picked up in a large Mercedes Van with leather seats. The vehicle was incredibly spacious and comfortable.
🚙 to book a Convenient and affordable private transport: Welcome Pickups
They provide 24/7 service, easy communication, affordable price, and always English-speaking drivers. Click here to reserve!
Public Transportation
The final option is public transportation. During our 3 day itinerary in Istanbul, we extensively used their public transportation system to get to the city’s main attractions. Fortunately, the city is very well connected with the available buses, metros, trams, and ferries. This option is not only economical but also safe.
We will discuss below the options for getting around with public transport.
Public transportation options for Istanbul
The network of public transportation is very good in Istanbul and can efficiently bring you to all the main attractions. Their public transportation system includes the bus, tram, metro, and ferries.
One of the main reasons why we recommend using public transportation In Istanbul is the fact that it is not only economical but can also avoid the traffic. Unlike Ubers and Taxis, the available metro, tram, and ferry system avoids the congested city roads.
Their trams are essentially above-ground train lines with their own roadway so it is only negligibly affected by traffic.
The Metro is underground, therefore also unaffected by traffic.
The Ferries go by the water and can bring you between Karakoy (nearby Galata), Kabatas, Besiktas, and Eminonu (nearby Sultanahmet) on the European side; Uskudar and Kadikoy on the Asian side.
Finally, the bus system, although it does not avoid traffic, is very convenient. Buses come often and there are usually multiple bus options to get to your point B.
accommodation location tip
When booking your accommodation, I would recommend that you look for an area that is well connected to the Tram or Metro lines. We often took the Tram from Sultanahmet to Karakoy/Tophane in order to get from Galata (where our hotel was) to the main attractions in Sultanahmet. This took about 12 minutes and was never affected by traffic.
Top recommended accommodations in Istanbul
📍 Art Nouveau Pera Hotel:
Located in Galata area and boasts an incredible rooftop terrace
overlooking the Galata Tower and the Bosphorus.
📍 Sublime Porte Hotel:
Located in Sultanahmet area, boasts a very modern Art Deco room with
balcony view of the Bosphorous, located only steps away from the main sites.
📍 Meroddi Barnathan Hotel:
Located in Galata area, decorated in a Victorian style, and includes a
complete Turkish breakfast as well as a rooftop terrace.
Check out the top recommended accommodations in Istanbul:
Cost of public transportation in Istanbul
When using public transportation in Istanbul, there are several methods of purchasing passes.
Istanbulkart
You can buy an Istanbulkart which costs 130 TRY (as of Jan 01, 2025) and then you can load it with money. It can then be used for all means of public transport including bus, metro, tram, and boat. Having the Istanbulkart makes you eligible for a discounted rate on transportation as compared to buying passes or just paying for the transport directly with a credit card.
For example, as of January 01, 2025, these are the rates you’ll pay for public transportation with the IstanbulKart:
- Buses: 20 TRY
- Tram: 20 TRY
- Metro: 20 TRY
- Boats: 19-57 TRY
- Funicular: 20 TRY
Keep in mind you can purchase one Istanbulkart and share it among yourself and your friend/partner. Be careful with how much you load on the card though as there is no refund (or at least the refund process is too complicated) of the remaining balance at the end.
The Istanbulkart as well as the passes can be purchased from these square yellow machines available at the airport, main bus stations, as well as most metro stations.
multi-ride passes
If there is a specific amount of rides you estimate during your trip, then you can purchase a multi-ride pass. We bought a 3-pass for 80 TRY but there are also 1-pass, 3-pass, 5-pass (120 TRY), and 10-pass (225 TRY). Again the same card can be used for multiple people.
For the most current fee structure of these passes, check out the IETT transport website.
Evidently, the more passes you buy, the cheaper each ride becomes. For example, the 10-pass was 225 TRY (we would’ve bought it but it is available at every machine)
credit card
Several buses and metros have now been outfitted with a machine that can accept credit card payments directly when boarding the bus. Once you get on the bus, there is a rectangular console on the right side with a square that shows the ‘credit card tap’ symbol. We paid for several bus rides this way when we were away from the yellow ticket machines.
Tour or private driver option
If you want a more relaxed and guided experience through Istanbul, then the Tour or Private driver option would be the best. Several options are available, although I would highly recommend booking this tour. It is costlier but if you are a group, then it is well worth it!
With a guide, not only will you have personal insights regarding the life and culture in Istanbul, but you will also learn a lot about each site you visit.
Furthermore, having a local guide also protects you from some of the local scams or being hassled too much by merchants. Finally, if you are nervous about taking an Uber in Istanbul, the tour or private driver option ensures that you have a smooth transportation experience.
Is Istanbul walkable?
Istanbul is a very large city and straddles the European and Asian continents. The question of if Istanbul is walkable would highly depend on where you are staying. If your hotel is in Sultanahmet, then you can walk to reach the main sites of Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Egyptian Obelisk, Basilica Cistern, and Grand Bazaar.
👉 Istanbul Tourist Pass
Don’t want to worry about waiting in line and spending a lot of money purchasing entrance tickets to the top sites?
Check out the Istanbul Tourist Pass which provides huge savings on entrance tickets, many of which include guided tours.
It can be purchased as a 2, 3, 5, or 7-day pass.
The Istanbul E-pass also includes huge discounts on essentials like public transportation passes and airport shuttles.
Click here to check out the Istanbul E-pass!
As described in our 3 days in Istanbul guide, you can easily get from each point to the next with a walk of around 10 minutes. If you were to then proceed on foot to Galata Tower and Istiklal Street, it would take another 30-40 minutes.
Ortakoy mosque would be somewhat too far to reach, located at around 1-hour walk from Istiklal Street.
So to answer the question, yes Istanbul is walkable. However, we do recommend combining walking with the convenient and affordable public transportation system.
Using WISE card in Turkey
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card review post.
Final thoughts
So is Uber in Istanbul?
Is it safe and reliable?
What alternative means of transportation are there?
Having discussed all these questions in the blog post, you are now armed with the tools to make an informed decision for your trip. Due to the reviews online, feedback from fellow travelers and locals, as well as our frustrating personal experience with Uber, we would recommend skipping Uber.
Instead, try to use their public transportation system or book a private tour. At the minimum, we recommend booking a private transport from the airport to your hotel to avoid the hassle for the long drive.
We hope you found this guide helpful and if ever you notice any information that is missing or not updated, please let us know. Our goal is to provide you with the most comprehensive information to help guide you on your next adventure!
Wondering where to head next?
Check out what you should do during your stay in Istanbul including one of the best food tours! Otherwise, if you’re wondering where else to go in Turkey, check out 10 reasons why you should visit Cappadocia and wonder at some of the most unique cave hotels in Cappadocia. If you want some beach time, check out some of the best activities in Kas! If you are in the early phase of planning, check out our Complete Turkey Itinerary Guide where we share the places to see and all the logistics in between!
Finally, it is important to know how much a trip to Turkey will cost. Check out our 16-day Turkey trip cost breakdown and money-saving tips!
Looking for more travel inspiration?
Incredible volcanoes and ancient Mayan civilizations: Tikal and Antigua in Guatemala.
Hiking in the Andes and discovering Machu Picchu: Travel itinerary in Peru, hiking to Machu Picchu
Exploring ancient Japanese onsens and tasting seafood Kaisekis in this Izu Peninsula Road Trip with some of the best activities and views of Mount Fuji. Or, check out the bowing deers in Nara.
Hiking in one of the US’s best national parks and road tripping through Utah
Discover Vietnam including the North on the Ha Giang loop, or venturing into the Unesco town of Hoi An.
