Istanbul Transport After Midnight: Night Buses, Ferries and Taxis

Is there public transport in Istanbul after midnight?

Yes, but it thins out fast and depends on the day. On Friday and Saturday nights the main metro lines run 24 hours, so you have real options until dawn. On weeknights most metro and tram service stops around midnight, ferries go quiet after 23:00, and your realistic choices become the night bus network or a taxi app. Here is how each one works.

What time does the Istanbul metro stop running?

On regular weeknights the metro and tram run from around 06:00 to just past midnight, with the last trains leaving terminal stations near 00:00. On Friday and Saturday nights Metro Istanbul runs several lines around the clock, including the M2 (Yenikapı to Hacıosman through Taksim and Şişli) and the M4 on the Asian side. Check the current timetable on Metro Istanbul's site before you head out, since holiday and maintenance schedules shift.

The practical takeaway: if it's a weekend and you're anywhere near the M2 corridor (Taksim, Şişhane, Osmanbey), you can ride home at 03:00 for the price of a normal fare, around 35 lira with a contactless card. On a Tuesday at 01:00, that same line is dead and you're looking at a bus or a taxi.

Getting around Istanbul on the night bus

The İETT night bus network covers the gaps the metro leaves, and it's the price-friendly option after the trains stop. Buses run roughly every 30 to 60 minutes on the main corridors, cost the same 35 lira or so with your card, and connect the big nightlife areas across both continents. The catch is you need to know your route number before you're standing at a dark stop.

The workhorse lines to know: buses on the Beyoğlu axis run down to Kabataş and along the shore, and cross-continent services use the bridges since the ferries are asleep. To get a live route and the next departure, use Moovit rather than guessing at the printed schedule, which changes with roadwork.

One honest limit: night buses are fine and used by plenty of people heading home, but they're slow and the gaps between them are long. If you've had a good night in Kadıköy and want to be back in Karaköy in 20 minutes, the bus is not that. It's the 45-minute, save-your-money choice.

Are there ferries in Istanbul after midnight?

Mostly no. The public ferries that make crossing the Bosphorus so pleasant during the day wind down in the evening, and the last runs on the main commuter routes (Eminönü, Karaköy, Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Beşiktaş) generally go around 22:00 to 23:00, with a few slightly later on busy lines. After that the water is quiet and the bridges do the work.

So if your plan involves being on the Asian side at 01:00 and sleeping on the European side, don't count on a boat. You're crossing by bus over the bridge, or by taxi. Plan the last ferry into your evening if you want the cheap, scenic crossing; miss it and you're on tarmac.

How do I get to the airport from Sultanahmet after midnight?

The M11 metro to Istanbul Airport doesn't run all night, so a late flight usually means a taxi. A metered taxi from Sultanahmet to the airport, about 50 kilometers, runs roughly 900 to 1,400 lira in 2026 depending on traffic, and takes 45 to 60 minutes on empty night roads. Use BiTaksi or Uber so the fare and plate number are logged.

Booking through an app also removes the meter argument at 03:00, which is exactly when you don't want one. Insist on the app fare, watch the route on your phone, and carry some cash as backup in case the card machine is mysteriously broken.

Taxi or Uber at night

For short in-city hops after midnight, a taxi app beats standing at a night bus stop. Open BiTaksi or Uber, check the estimate, and get a plate number attached to the ride. A cross-town trip like Beyoğlu to Kadıköy over the bridge lands somewhere around 300 to 500 lira at night, more if traffic is heavy near closing time on İstiklal.

Street-hailed taxis at night are where the meter games happen. If you hail one, insist on the meter before you sit down and walk away if the driver quotes a flat 500 lira. The apps are worth the small wait for the record alone.

The short version: on weekends, ride the 24-hour metro. On weeknights after midnight, it's the night bus if you're patient or a taxi app if you're not. Catch the last ferry by 23:00 or forget the boat entirely.