Bakirkoy to Sultanahmet and Taksim: A One-Day Istanbul Plan

You can reach Sultanahmet from Bakırköy (Bakirkoy) in about 35–45 minutes by taking the Marmaray to Sirkeci and then walking or hopping on the T1 tram, and Taksim in about 40–50 minutes by taking the Marmaray to Yenikapı and changing to the M2 metro. Both districts work on the same day; Sultanahmet in the morning and Taksim in the evening keeps transfers to a minimum.

The plan below starts at Marmaray Bakırköy station, an 8-minute walk from our address in Zeytinlik. Istanbulkart is valid on every line in the plan.

The plan at a glance

Morning: Bakırköy to Sultanahmet

1. Walk from the address to Marmaray Bakırköy station: 600 metres, 8 minutes.
2. Take a train towards Gebze. Get off at Sirkeci, after Yenimahalle, Zeytinburnu, Kazlıçeşme and Yenikapı; the journey takes about 20 minutes.
3. From Sirkeci you can walk to Sultanahmet or take the T1 tram towards Bağcılar. Door to door the whole trip takes about 35–45 minutes.

Opening days and hours at the historic buildings and museums in Sultanahmet can change; check official sources before you go. Setting off early in the morning leaves plenty of time for the rest of the day.

Afternoon: the Eminönü and Karaköy option

The T1 tram runs between Kabataş and Bağcılar and stops at Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü and Karaköy. If you have time after Sultanahmet, take the T1 towards Kabataş to carry on to Eminönü and Karaköy. Galataport (Karaköy) is in Karaköy too; to come here directly from Bakırköy, take the Marmaray (Sirkeci) and change to the T1, which takes about 40–50 minutes.

To get from Karaköy to Taksim, take the T1 this time towards Bağcılar, get off at Sirkeci and change to the Marmaray.

Evening: moving on to Taksim

A simple way to get to Taksim from Sultanahmet or Karaköy is the Marmaray and M2 connection:

1. Take the Marmaray from Sirkeci towards Halkalı and get off one stop later at Yenikapı.
2. Change to the M2 metro at Yenikapı. The M2 runs between Yenikapı and Hacıosman; take a train towards Hacıosman.
3. Get off at Taksim. The same line also passes through Şişli and Levent.

Night: back to Bakırköy

On the way back, follow the same route in reverse: from Taksim take the M2 to Yenikapı, then the Marmaray towards Halkalı to Bakırköy. From Bakırköy station it's an 8-minute walk to the address. Taksim to Bakırköy takes about 40–50 minutes in total.

If you're heading back late at night, check the last departure times for the M2 and the Marmaray on the current timetable. If you miss the last train, you can take a taxi; taxis in Istanbul run on the meter.

Things to keep in mind when planning the day

• Istanbulkart: valid on the Marmaray, T1, M2 and other lines; one card is enough for the whole day. Check the current fare on official sources.
• Busy hours: trains can be crowded during the morning and evening commute; travel outside those hours if you can.
• Comfortable shoes: Sultanahmet and the surrounding area are largely explored on foot.
• A separate day for the Asian side: you can reach Kadıköy in about 40 minutes by taking the Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi and changing to the M4, or on foot.

Shortening or extending the plan

If you only have half a day, choose Sultanahmet: the Marmaray to Sirkeci and back is a direct ride, so you use your time well. If you're staying several days, you could give one day to the historic peninsula, one to Karaköy and Taksim, and one to Kadıköy. Saving your last day in Bakırköy for the seafront, Bakırköy Freedom Square (Özgürlük Meydanı) and Istanbul Caddesi means you won't be dragging your suitcase across town; for suggestions see our places to visit in Bakırköy article.

Why starting from Bakırköy is practical

The Marmaray runs to the historic peninsula and the far side of the Bosphorus without a change. Being an 8-minute walk from the station keeps the morning departure and the night return short. You can see the rail lines in Bakırköy in our transport guide and the distance from the address to the station on the location page. If you're staying a few days to explore the city, take a look at the options on the apartments page. Send your dates and the number of guests, in English on WhatsApp if that's easier, and we'll tell you the current price straight away: 0532 655 43 32.

Common questions