How taxis work in Istanbul
Istanbul taxis are yellow, with a "TAKSİ" sign on the roof and a meter, the taksimetre. The driver must switch it on at the start, and you pay the amount shown on arrival. You can hail one in the street, find one at the ranks outside stations, hotels and squares, or book through an app.
The official fare
For a standard yellow taxi, the fare observed in October 2026 is 71.94 TL to start, 47.92 TL per kilometre and 9.98 TL per minute when stopped or crawling, with a minimum of 230 TL per ride. Larger, electric and luxury vehicles charge more. Fares are revised regularly: the meter is what counts, not a price remembered from a previous year. To see what these amounts mean in a trip budget, read our guide to the budget for a trip to Istanbul.
Booking with an app
Apps spare you the haggling and the explaining of the route. The three most used:
- BiTaksi: calls a nearby yellow taxi and shows the route and the plate;
- İTaksi: the Istanbul municipality's app, which works the same way;
- Uber: in Istanbul the app also sends ordinary yellow taxis.
In all three you see the driver and the vehicle before getting in. Check the plate, then keep an eye on the meter: it should be running during the ride, even if the app gave a price estimate. Depending on the app you pay in cash or by card, so a data connection (eSIM or local SIM) is useful.
The classic scams
- The "broken" or switched-off meter. If the driver refuses to turn it on or offers a fixed price, get out and take another taxi. Easiest is to say it before getting in: "Taksimetre, lütfen".
- The fixed price announced in advance. A price without the meter is almost always higher, especially from tourist areas such as Sultanahmet or Taksim Square.
- The detour. Follow your route on your phone's map; if in doubt, ask about the route or get out.
- Change. Some drivers "have no change": keep small notes, because a large note is rarely returned in full.
- Taxis waiting outside tourist sights. They often quote a "special" price: walk two streets further or book through an app.
The city's other scams, from shoe-shine men to fake guides, are covered in our guide to scams and safety in Istanbul.
To and from the airport
To reach the centre from Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gökçen, a taxi is the simplest option with luggage, but the ride is long and the meter climbs in traffic. Always take a taxi from the official rank at the terminal, never a driver who approaches you in the hall, and check that the meter is on. The cheaper alternatives are compared in our guide from the airport to central Istanbul.
When to take a taxi, and when not to
- Taxi: late arrival, after midnight when trams and metros have stopped, with suitcases, or for getting up to Galata or Taksim with a load.
- Tram, metro and ferry: all daytime trips between the old city, Karaköy and Taksim. At rush hour a taxi will take longer than the tram, especially around Galata Bridge and Eminönü.
- Funiculars: for the climbs, see our guide to funiculars, cable cars and the nostalgic tram.
Key points
Meter on, app if possible, small change in your pocket: these three habits prevent most unpleasant surprises. To plan your journeys and visits, follow our Istanbul in 3 days itinerary.
