Istanbul public transport

timefore


Joined: 01/08/2008
Posts: 495

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 14:54

Does anyone the best way to travel from Sabiha Gokcen airport to Sultanahmet by public transport

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 15:31

Hi Timefore,



I don't have a clue about PT from SAW but we do have a large number of hotels in Istanbul (inc. Sultanahmet) on our web site and both shuttle and transfer services too.



Tom

http://www.flightholiday.co.uk

Treesy


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 406

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 15:37

No but I know a very nice tour guide who will take you by car to the center - 2 min walk to Sultan Ahmet and then take you for a guided tour of covered market, other sights etc. He is an Istanbul local and I'm sure would help you get a good price if you fancy a bit of shopping - his name is Murat Karakoc - tel +90 212 517 87 06 or +90 544 591 45 91, don't text him as his written English isn't very good but he speaks it very well.

Tell him Tricia - the English Muslim teacher who moved to Cyprus gave him your number - he should remember me!



He charged me about £30 for transport from and to airport and 3 hour tour of city - I had some time between connections.

Another time I was there overnight and he arranged hotel for me and took me there and back to airport in morning - think was about £20.

This was a year ago now so allow for inflation - but don't be afraid to negotiate with him.



Good Luck.

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 16:18

Treesy,



Sounds like a very good contact. Are we to assume he is a qualified and certified tour guide (as you know he should be). A good price if it was from Sabiha Gokcen - still more than a simple shuttle.



I doubt he gives the added protection that you can get with a Tursab bonded agent.



At the end of the day it always depends on what Timefore needs especially if the shuttles are time dependant.

Treesy


Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 406

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 16:31

Flightholiday



Yes he is a Tursab agent - his company is called Buyuk Tourism and Rent a car. I saw his identification and confirmed it with another tourism office in Istanbul airport before I got into a car with him!- I am a Muslim lady and was travelling alone - so needed to be extra careful! We later parked outside his office near to SultanAhmet - where he took me to pray.



Yes is more than a shuttle - but if Timefore is in Istanbul for a short time I think a guided tour is invaluable as you get to see what you want to hassle free.



Is a personal choice - depending on circumstances!

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 16:48

hi timefore

there are many ways you can get from the airport to sultan ahmet, firstly by taxi which can be quite expensive, you can get the local dolmus even thou this is cheap it does take quite long becasue it goes the long way round to service all the locals, now if you go by turkish airlines they normally have a service bus which is included in your ticket some of them stop at diffrent locations or they just go to the local turkish airline office and from there you can get a bus or cab to where you are going

hope this helps

ukturk

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 17:46

"...becasue it goes the long way round to service all the locals..."



That never happened to me when I was in a cab over there. I even had my good aftershave on.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 17:53

so you do have a sense of houmour pike!!!! LOL LOL

you should have got on the local domus then not a cab plus it depends what you class as good aftershave

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 17:56

Well, it wasn't any of the stuff they flog around Taksim Square. I still bought it, though!

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 18:46

Hi Treesy - I have heard of Buyuk as a name in the past they do not seem to come up on the current TURSAB list (but it is difficult to search so I am not surprised). I am very sensitive to it as we ensure all our suppliers are Tursab A bonded or Kitsab A in TRNC.



Knowing how much there is to see in Istanbul your 3 hours must have been a very large and tiring learning curve as I don't think I could take it in in three days, let alone weeks.



You were happy and felt safe and that is most important.



Any lady (or gent.) should be careful when travelling alone anywhere.



I would expect that no matter what religion; in Turkey you would be treated with courtesy and that people will try to treaa you as a personal guest & accord to your needs.



I know that you also may have wanted to know for modesty's sake if you were travelling with a "safe" person and it is certainley nice to be taken to a place of prayer in the way you were.

TimothyCadman


Joined: 13/12/2007
Posts: 1040

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 20:45

Best way is to take thye E-10 Bus Service to Kadikoy (timetable to be found at http://www.iett.gov.tr/en/saat/hareketsaati.php?hid=hat&hatcode=E-10&a%26=BtnSaatler.x%3D25%26BtnSaatler.y%3D12&imageField2.x=10&imageField2.y=10 )



Then take the Ferry across the Bospherous (every 20 minutes to Eminounu until 7pm then half hourly till 9pm), then the Tramway to Sultanhamet.



Total cost 5.20YTL per person. Journey time 2 hours to 2 hours 15 minutes

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 20:53

When you get to Eminonu keep your hand on your wallet! You have been warned....

flightholiday


Joined: 19/07/2007
Posts: 3217

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 21:29

So we now know PT is 5.20YTL about 0.25 % of a shuttle but no handling baggage once you are on board till you get off in Taksim or Sultanahmet which is the case with the shuttle.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
10/09/2008 21:47

hi

instead of going thru the greif of using the bus or dolmus and even expensive cab their is a service that my friend uses link provided below

http://www.istanbulairportshuttle.com/index.php

hope this helps

ukturk