How to use Istanbul Card (İstanbulkart): where to buy, top up, and what types exist?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 26 days ago
TL;DR
İstanbulkart is sold at dedicated vending machines (not Ptt or CityCard machines). There are different card types: the blue one is unlimited, the red one is standard pay-per-ride.
What the community said
When looking for an İstanbulkart vending machine, make sure it actually says İstanbulkart. Machines labeled Ptt or CityCard do not sell or top up the İstanbulkart.
26 days ago İstanbulkart machines (not Ptt, not CityCard)
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The blue İstanbulkart is an unlimited-ride version, not the standard card. If you accidentally bought the blue one instead of the red, note that it may not work on all metro lines — check which transport types it covers before use.
26 days ago Blue card = unlimited; red card = standard
Topping up an İstanbulkart via a foreign bank's online app using the barcode on the card is uncertain — no confirmed successful cases have been reported. It's safer to top up at local vending machines or kiosks.
26 days ago