How to use Istanbul transport card (Istanbulkart): top-up limit, cost, and sharing between passengers
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 28 days ago
TL;DR
One Istanbulkart can be shared between two people, but transfer discounts apply only once per tap. Metro fares range from 42 to 75 lira depending on the route, and the card has a top-up limit of 2,750 lira.
What the community said
Metro fares on lines M2 and M11 range from 42 to 75 lira per person. If you're heading to the airport and want to spend down your card balance, plan around these fare amounts.
28 days ago Metro M2 + M11: 42–75 lira
Two people can share a single Istanbulkart by tapping it twice at the turnstile. However, the transfer discount (partial refund when changing lines) is applied only once per trip, not per passenger — so sharing is less economical than having two separate cards.
28 days ago Shared card: transfer discount applies once only
The Istanbulkart has a maximum balance limit of 2,750 lira. To find out how much more you can add, subtract your current balance from 2,750. If the machine refuses a top-up, you've hit the limit. The remaining balance does not expire and cannot be transferred to another card — it stays on the same card for future use.
28 days ago Card balance limit: 2,750 lira