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These two types of transport in Istanbul are inextricably linked and represent a perfect complement to each other. We are just going to tell you how.
The most important thing tourists should know when arriving in Istanbul is that there’s subway in the city. And it has three tram-lines that are NOT linked. Now more details about each line.
The first subway line in Istanbul is Tunnel line in Beyoglu. For those accustomed to the subways in metropolitan areas of Europe and the USA, the size of the branch will seem a bit unusual. It is very small. The fact is that Tunnel is an ancient branch of the underground built in 1875! It has only two stations: one at the waterfront of the Golden Horn, the second - at the Tunnel Square. You probably wonder why is this branch for? But only until you visit Istanbul and see this is a very hilly city. So, Tunnel line connects the foot of the hill and its summit. If you go walking on this pretty steep hill, you will have to spend at least half an hour or forty minutes. But the distance is not very long... Subway Tunnel branch will take you up from the Golden Horn to the area in the Taksim district in five minutes. Together with boarding and waiting. Your way will take you a minute or two.
Then if you climb up, you will be on Taksim Square. The iconic Istiklal Avenue is placed here which rages 24 hours a day and represents a huge pedestrian avenue with hundreds of restaurants, cafes, bars, clubs, cinemas, bookstores, souvenir shops and stores with branded clothing and footwear.
After the Tunnel Square you get to the tram stop. It is called "Nostaljik Tram" and is more decorative. This is the only means of transport which is allowed on Istiklal Avenue. It goes slowly and the trip is an excellent city-tour along Independence Avenue (the second name is Istiklal).
How to pay for travel in Tunnel and tram at Istiklal? The first method is with simple tokens that can be purchased at stands at bus stops and at the Tunnel itself. They cost a little less than 1 turkish lira (about 60 U.S. cents). The second method is the electronic ticket "akbil".
After admiring the Taksim district and having a good riding in an old tram along Istiklal, you can continue your acquaintance with Istanbul metro. To do this you can go to the recently opened terminus station. The trains start from here to the new parts of Istanbul.
The second metro branch line in Istanbul is called "Hafif Metro". It means in Turkish the "light metro", which implies the existence of a large line segment not under the ground, but in the open air. That is a part of underground. Its direction is from Aksaray Square to Ataturk airport (the biggest and modern airport in the city). According to the route - Esenler station. Two cars are moving under the ground only the initial part of their way, then go to the surface. The letters "M" in the blue circle with a red pointer located at stations on large plates on top show that it is really a subway.
This line is best for those who first leave the city and head for the airport during rush hours, and secondly for those wishing to see the walls of Constantinople of more than one and a half thousand years. Yet this branch of subway is very convenient for visiting the suburbs and towns in the Sea of Marmara, just note you will have to take an electric train.
The third branch is a modern tram which is called "modern tram" in contrast to his colleague at Taksim. His direction is from the west, from suburbs of Istanbul to Kabatas and Besiktas. Along the way it meets twice with the "light metro" tram and crosses Sultanahmet area completely. Also it passes Eminonu pier and then goes right along the Galata Bridge to Kabatas. It is from his final stop where you can take the Tunnel subway.
This tram branch is ideal for traveling from Laleli in Sultanahmet and Taksim, from Sultanahmet to Taksim and vice versa. The tram this outwardly the same as the subway. Comfortable large cars, soft rapid movement. To sit in such a tram you should pass a turnstile at the bus stop. The drive is paid with a token.
The working hours of Istanbul subway are the following: from Monday till Saturday - from 7:00 to 22:00, on Sunday - from 7:30 to 20:00. Trains move with the intervals of 4-5 minutes. The cost of travel depends on the method of payment. A token costs 1 lira, electronic ticket - 1 turkish lira.
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