Does Yandex Taxi work in Istanbul and how to pay?

In practice, the final fare with Yandex Taxi in Istanbul tends to come out roughly 10% higher than the price shown at the time of booking. Yandex appears to tolerate this — it reflects local custom, as Istanbul taxis have operated on meters since around 2017.

A comparison of ride apps in Istanbul: only Uber offers a guaranteed fixed price before the trip starts, and it tends to be cheaper than both Yandex Taxi and the local BiTaksi app.

There have been reports of double charges via Yandex Taxi in Istanbul — Yandex refunded the money in such cases, as it was a driver-side scam. A dedicated taxi enforcement police unit has also appeared; mentioning it can help in dispute situations.

Example fare shown in the app: route from Istanbul Airport (IST) to the Fatih district — approximately 900 ₺. Check in the app whether this is a fixed price for the route.

Yandex Taxi works in Istanbul, including routes from Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen airport. You can also use Yandex Metro app for route planning.

The app works without needing to speak to the driver — payment is charged automatically. Occasionally a driver may suggest an inconvenient pickup spot, but a second attempt usually resolves it.

Yandex Go is active in Istanbul. Payment via a linked bank account works, though driver availability is still somewhat limited.

Confirmed working: from Istanbul Airport (IST), booking goes through smoothly with ~5 min pickup time and reasonable fares.

Example route with pricing shown in-app: from Üsküdar ferry pier to Nakkaştepe park — fare is displayed before confirming the ride.

Yandex Taxi has launched in Istanbul with in-app card payment. The service is gradually expanding in the Turkish market.