Istanbul Metro: A Comprehensive Guide
Table of Contents
Istanbul Metro is one of the most important means of transportation in Istanbul, as it provides fast transportation service at an affordable price to many different places in the city.
The Istanbul metro connects the European side with the Asian side through the Marmaray metro line. In addition to that, the country is working on expanding and establishing many additional lines in the future.
About Istanbul Metro
Istanbul Metro is divided into 10 basic lines in addition to the Marmaray metro line.
Istanbul Metro began operating on September 3, 1989 and has expanded enormously since that time until now. The number of passengers per day is about one and a half million people, and the number of passengers annually is about half a billion people.
Istanbul Metro Map
We offer you the latest Istanbul Metro map for 2024, which shows all metro lines under construction and in service.
Istanbul Metro Lines
The number of metro lines in Istanbul is seven, in addition to 6 other lines under construction.
| Line | Way | Opened | Length | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1A | Yenikapi ↔ Ataturk Airport | 1989 | 26,8 km | 18 |
| M1B | Yenikapi ↔ Kirazlı-Bağcılar | 1989 | 26,8 km | 13 |
| M2 | Yenikapi ↔ Seyrantepe-Hacıosman | 2000 | 23,49 km | 16 |
| M3 | Kirazlı ↔ Kayaşehir Merkez | 2013 | 15.9 km | 13 |
| M4 | Kadıköy ↔ Sabiha Gökçen Airport | 2012 | 33,5 km | 23 |
| M5 | Üsküdar ↔ Çekmeköy | 2017 | 20 km | 16 |
| M6 | Levent ↔ Boğaziçi Ü./Hisarüstü | 2015 | 3.3 km | 4 |
| M7 | Yıldız ↔ Mahmutbey | 2020 | 20 km | 17 |
| M8 | Bostancı-Dudullu-Parseller | 2023 | 14,27 km | 13 |
| M9 | Bahariye-Olimpiyat | 2021 | 5,9 km | 5 |
| M11 | Kâğıthane ↔ Kargo Terminali | 2023 | 34,0 km | 7 |
M1 Metro Line in Istanbul
M1A
- Line Length: 26, 8 Km. (Total km data of the system between Yenikapi-Otogar-Ataturk Airport and Otogar-Kirazli)
- Number of Stations: 13
- Number of Vehicles: 105
- Duration: 25 Min.
- Operating Hours: 06.00 – 00.00
- Number of Daily Passengers: 400,000 Passengers
- Number of Daily Journeys: Yenikapi – Kirazli 168 Journeys / One Way
- Journey Frequency: 4 Min. (In Peak Hour)
It is the first metro line in Istanbul that connects Yenikapi station and passes through the Bayrampasa district to the Otogar station, “Istanbul Bus Station.”.
All stations feature indoor seating, and there are 61 escalators and 45 elevators.
M1A Metro Stations
- Yenikapi Station
- Aksaray Station
- Emniyet-Fatih Station
- Topkapi Ulubatli Station
- Bayrampasa-Maltepe Station
- Sagmalcilar Station
- Kocatepe Station
- Otogar Station
- Terazidere Station
- Davutpasa – YTU Station
- Merter Station
- Zeytinburnu Station
- Bakirkoy-Incirli Station
- Bahcelievler Station
- Atakoy-Sirinevler Station
- Yenibosna Station
- DTM – Istanbul Expo Center Station
- Ataturk Airport Station
Integration
- To M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman Metro Line and Marmaray from Yenikapi Station,
- To BRT (Metrobus) from Aksaray, Merter, Zeytinburnu, Bahcelievler and Atakoy – Sirinevler stations,
- To T1 Bagcilar – Kabatas Tram Line from Aksaray and Zeytinburnu stations, transfers to the relevant modes can be made from the above mentioned stations.
M1B
- Line Length: 26, 8 Km
- Number of Stations: 23
- Number of Cars: 105
- Journey Duration: 35 min.
- Operational Hours: 06.00 – 00.00
- Daily Ridership: 400.000 Passengers
- Journey Frequency: 2, 5 min. (during peak hours)
Integration
- To M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman Metro Line and Marmaray from Yenikapi Station,
- To T1 Bagcilar – Kabatas Tram Line from Aksaray and Bagcilar Square stations,
- To M3 Kirazli-Olimpiyat-Basaksehir Metro Line from Kirazli station, transfers to the relevant modes can be made from the above mentioned stations.
M1B Metro Stations
- Yenikapı
- Aksaray
- Emniyet Müdürlüğü
- Topkapı – Ulubatlı
- Bayrampaşa
- Sağmalcılar
- Kocatepe
- Esenler Otogarı
- Esenler
- Menderes
- Üçyüzlü
- Bağcılar Meydan
- Kirazlı – Bağcılar
M2 Metro Line in Istanbul
The first stage of the line, which began in 1992 to provide service between Yenikapi and Haci Osman, was commissioned on September 16, 2000.
- Line length: 23,49 km.
- Number of stations: 16
- Number of vehicles: 180
- Journey time: 32 minutes one way
- Working hours: 06.00 – 00.00
- Number of daily trips: 219 / one way
M2 Metro Stations
- Yenikapı
- Vezneciler
- Haliç
- Şişhane
- Taksim
- Osmanbey
- Şişli – Mecidiyeköy
- Gayrettepe
- Levent
- 4. Levent
- Sanayi Mahallesi
- Seyrantepe
- İTÜ – Ayazağa
- Atatürk Oto Sanayi
- Darüşşafaka
- Hacıosman
Integration
- At Yenikapi Station, you can change for M1A Ataturk Airport, M1B Kirazli Metro Line, and Marmaray.
- At Vezneciler – Istanbul University Station, you can change for T1 Bagcilar – Kabatas Tram Line.
- At Sishane Station, you can change for T2 Istiklal Caddesi Tram Line and F2 Karakoy – Beyoglu Historical Tunnel Line.
- At Taksim Station, you can change for T2 Istiklal Caddesi Tram Line and F1 Kabatas Funicular.
- At Sisli – Mecidiyekoy and Gayrettepe stations, you can change for Metrobus (BRT) Line.
- At Levent Station, you can change for M6 Metro Line.
- At Sanayi Mahallesi Station (without leaving the system, passing to a separate platform area), you can change to Seyrantepe Shuttle Extension.
M3 Metro Line in Istanbul
Construction of the line began in 2006.
- Line Length: 18 Km
- Number of Stations: 13
- Number of Cars: 80 (20 units of 4-car series)
- Journey Duration: 30 min (One Way)
- Operational Hours: 06:00 – 00:00
- Passenger Capacity: 70,000 Passengers/Hour
- Journey Frequency Design: 120 sec
- Journey Frequency: 6 min (During Peak Hours)
M3 Metro Stations
- Kirazlı
- Yenimahalle
- Mahmutbey
- İSTOÇ
- İkitelli Sanayi
- Ziya Gökalp Mah.
- Olimpiyat Stadyumu
- MASKO
- Bahariye
- Turgut Özal
- Siteler
- Başak Konutları
- Başakşehir Metrokent
- Onurkent
- Şehir Hastanesi
- Toplu Konutlar
- Kayaşehir Merkez
Integration
- You can change for M9 Bahariye-Olimpiyat Metro Line at İkitelli Sanayi Station, by passing from the turnstile area to the platform area.
- You can change for M7 Yildiz-Mahmutbey Metro Line at Mahmutbey Station.
- You can change for M1B Yenikapi-Kirazli Metro Line at Kirazli Station.
M4 Metro Line in Istanbul
The construction of the first phase of the M4 Istanbul metro line was completed in 2012.
- Line Length: 33, 5 Km.
- Number of Stations: 23
- Number of Cars: 144 (36 units of 4-car series)
- Journey Duration: 52 min.
- Operational Hours: 06.00 – 00.00
- Passenger Capacity: 70.000 Passengers/Hour
- Projected Journey Frequency: 90 Sn. (Ideal), 120 Sn. (Actual)
- Journey Frequency: 5 min. (during peak hours)
M4 Metro Stations
- Kadıköy
- Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Acıbadem
- Ünalan
- Göztepe
- Yenisahra
- Kozyatağı
- Bostancı
- Küçükyalı
- Maltepe
- Huzurevi
- Gülsuyu
- Esenkent
- Hastane – Anadolu Adliyesi
- Soğanlık
- Kartal
- Yakacık – Adnan Kahveci
- Pendik
- Tavşantepe
- Fevzi Çakmak – Hastane
- Yayalar – Şeyhli
- Kurtköy
- Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı
Integration
- You can change for T3 Kadikoy – Moda Tram Line, sea lines, sea buses, and motorboats at Kadikoy Station.
- You can change for Marmaray at Ayrilik Cesmesi station.
- You can change for Metrobus (BRT) Line at Unalan station.
- You can change for M8 Bostanci-Parseller Metro Line at Kozyatagi station.
- You can change for Pendik High-Speed Train Station using IETT buses at Pendik station.
M5 Metro Line in Istanbul
The M5 is the second metro line on the Anatolia side, and it is the first driverless metro line in Turkey. The line starts at Uskudar Square, then passes through the center of Umraniye district and ends at Cekmekoy.
- Line Length: 20 Km
- Number of Stations: 16
- Number of Cars: 126
- Journey Duration: 32 min (One direction)
- Operational Hours: 06:00 – 24:00
- Daily Ridership: 220,000 (Average)
- Journey Frequency: 4 min 40 sec (During peak hours)
M5 Metro Stations
- Üsküdar
- Fıstıkağacı
- Bağlarbaşı
- Altunizade
- Kısıklı
- Bulgurlu
- Ümraniye
- Çarşı
- Yamanevler
- Çakmak
- Ihlamurkuyu
- Altınşehir
- İmam Hatip Lisesi
- Dudullu
- Necip Fazıl
- Çekmeköy
Integration
- You can change for Marmaray, IETT and piers at Uskudar station,
- You can change for Metrobus (BRT) line at Altunizade station.
- You can change for M8 Bostanci-Parseller Metro Line at Dudullu station.
M6 Metro Line in Istanbul
The M6 metro line connects the M2 metro line to the Bosphorus University and the Hisarustu area. The M6 metro line is built using the new Austrian tunneling method (NATM) as a single tube, and it differs from other metro lines in this respect.
- Line Length: 3, 3 Km.
- Number of Stations: 4
- Number of Cars: 12
- Journey Duration: 7 minute in one way
- Operational Hours: 06.00 – 00.00
- Daily Ridership: 20.000 (Average)
- Number of Daily Journeys: 156 Journeys/One Way
- Journey Frequency: 5 min. (during peak hours between 07:00-10:00 and 16:00-20:00)
M6 Metro Stations
- Levent
- Nispetiye
- Etiler
- Boğaziçi Ü.-Hisarüstü
Integration
You can change for M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman Metro Line at Levent Station.
M7 Metro Line in Istanbul
The M7 Mecidiyekoy-Mahmutbey metro line has been in operation as the first fully automatic driverless metro line in the European side of Istanbul.
- Line Length: 20 km
- Number of Stations: 17
- Number of Vehicles: 80
- One Way Travel Time: 32 minutes
- Operating Hours: 06:00 – 00:00
- Travel Frequency (at opening): 6 minutes (at peak hour)
- Vehicle Passenger Capacity: 2,160 (1 set)
- Hourly Passenger Transport Capacity in One Direction: 70,000
M7 Metro Stations
- Mecidiyeköy
- Çağlayan
- Kağıthane
- Nurtepe
- Alibeyköy
- Çırçır
- Veysel Karani – Akşemsettin
- Yeşilpınar
- Kazım Karabekir
- Yenimahalle
- Karadeniz Mahallesi
- Tekstilkent – Giyimkent
- Oruç Reis
- Göztepe Mahallesi
- Mahmutbey
Integration
- M2 Yenikapi-Haciosman Metro Line and BRT (Metrobus) operation at Mecidiyekoy Station
- T4 Topkapi-Mescid-i Selam Tram Line at Karadeniz Mahallesi Station
- M3 Kirazli-Olimpiyat-Basaksehir Metro Line at Mahmutbey Station
- T5 Eminonu-Alibeykoy Cep Otogari Tram Line at Alibeykoy Station
- M11 Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport Metro Line at Kagithane Station
M8 Metro Line in Istanbul
IMM began construction on the line in February 2016 with the purpose of connecting the east-west lines on the Anatolian Side in a north-south direction. The construction was carried out as planned.
- Line Length: 14.27 Km
- Number of Stations: 13
- Number of Cars: 40 (10 4-car trains)
- Journey Duration: 25 Min (in one direction)
- Operating Hours: 06:00 – 23:00
- Number of Daily Passengers: 43,280 Passengers/Hour
- Journey Frequency: 8 minutes 40 seconds
M8 Metro Stations
- Bostancı
- Emin Ali Paşa
- Ayşekadın
- Kozyatağı
- Küçükbakkalköy
- İçerenköy
- Kayışdağı
- Mevlana
- İmes
- Modoko-Keyap
- Dudullu
- Huzur
- Parseller
Integration
- You can change for Marmaray, high speed train station, sea lines and seabuses at Bostanci station.
- You can change for M4 Kadikoy-Sabiha Gokcen Airport metro line at Kozyatagi station.
- You can change for M5 Uskudar-Cekmekoy metro line at Dudullu station.
M9 Metro Line in Istanbul
The Bahariye and Masko stations of the M9 Atakoy-Olimpiyat Metro Line will start operating on May 29th, 2021.
M9 Metro Stations
- Olimpiyat
- Ziya Gökalp Mahallesi
- İkitelli Sanayi
- Masko
- Bahariye
Integration
M3 Kirazli-Basaksehir/Metrokent Metro Line at İkitelli Sanayi Station
M11 Metro Line in Istanbul
- Line length: 34 kilometers
- Number of stations: 7
- Number of cars: 80 (176 cars in the future)
- Train set: 20 sets of 4-car trains (3 trains are currently in operation)
- Travel time: Kağıthane – Cargo Terminal: 24 minutes
- Operating hours: 06:00 – 00:40
- Daily number of passengers transported: 12,785 passengers
- Daily passenger carrying capacity: 800,000 passengers
- Frequency of trips: Every 20 minutes
M11 Metro Stations
- Gayrettepe
- Kâğıthane
- Hasdal
- Kemerburgaz
- Göktürk
- İhsaniye
- Terminal 2
- İstanbul Airport
- Kargo Terminali
- Taşoluk
- Arnavutköy
- Fenertepe
- Kayaşehir Merkez
- Olimpiyat
- Halkalı Stadı
- Halkalı
Integration
You can transfer to the M7 line by walking about 230 meters from Kağıthane station.
Marmaray Metro
Marmaray Metro is one of the most important infrastructure projects that connects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
The Marmaray metro line starts from Gebze on the Asian side and ends at Halkali on the European side, passing through Uskudar, Sirkeci, and Yenikapı.
