How does the Istanbul transport card work — top-up limits and tips
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 4 days ago
TL;DR
IstanbulKart has a 2,750 TRY monthly top-up limit. Luggage storage at IST airport costs 550 TRY per day, cash only (EUR/USD accepted). Transfer between IST and SAW airports costs around 85 EUR.
What the community said
Topping up an IstanbulKart with cash at a machine/kiosk incurs a fee of about 2 TRY per banknote used — assuming you even have cash on you.
4 days ago Top-up fee: ~2 TRY/banknote
The IstanbulKart has a monthly top-up limit of 2,750 TRY. There's no easy way to check how much of that limit has already been used, which can be inconvenient if you need to add a large amount (e.g. 800 TRY for an airport trip) and aren't sure if the card will accept it.
4 days ago Top-up limit: 2,750 TRY/month
Istanbul Airport (IST) has a left luggage office opposite Gate 8 at the far end of the arrivals hall. An escalator nearby leads up to the departures floor. Payment is cash only, but EUR and USD are accepted in addition to TRY. Storing a large suitcase costs 550 TRY per day — handy for transit passengers heading into the city.
4 days ago IST luggage storage: 550 TRY/day, Gate 8
A private transfer between Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) costs around 85 EUR. It's worth comparing this with shared shuttle services like Havaş buses for a cheaper alternative.
4 days ago IST to SAW transfer: ~85 EUR