Guide · 8 min read

Turkish for taxis and airports: phrases that save you money and stress

The first hour after landing sets the tone for the whole trip. You are tired, the airport is busy and taxi drivers are calling out to you. Knowing a few Turkish sentences here does two things: it helps you get exactly where you want to go, and it quietly tells everyone that you are not a clueless tourist. In my experience that alone makes many prices fairer.

Fatih Koçoğlu · Turkish teacher

This guide walks you through the airport, the taxi and public transport in Türkiye, with the phrases you really need at each step and the small cultural rules nobody tells you about.

At the airport

Istanbul has two big airports: Istanbul Airport (İstanbul Havalimanı) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. Signs are in Turkish and English, so you will manage, but you will hear Turkish announcements and staff will often start in Turkish. The word for airport is havalimanı, and for flight it is uçuş.

At passport control you usually do not need to say much. A friendly Merhaba and Teşekkür ederim are enough. If your bag does not appear on the belt, go to the lost and found desk (kayıp eşya) and say Bagajım kayboldu. Keep your baggage tag; they will ask for it.

Useful airport words: giriş (entrance), çıkış (exit), kalkış (departures), varış (arrivals), aktarma (transfer) and bagaj (luggage). If you see "rötar", your flight is delayed. "İptal" means cancelled.

Taking a taxi

Turkish taxis are yellow in Istanbul and most big cities, and they all have a meter (taksimetre). The fare should start when you get in. If the meter is off, ask politely but firmly: "Taksimetreyi açar mısınız?". Most drivers are honest, but this one sentence prevents the occasional "special price".

Tell the driver your destination clearly, then add "lütfen". Showing the address on your phone helps, but saying the name of the neighbourhood (semt) first is even better, for example "Sultanahmet, lütfen" or "Kadıköy, lütfen". Turkish drivers navigate by areas and landmarks more than by street names.

Drivers may ask "Hangi yoldan gidelim?" (which way shall we take?). If you do not know, "Siz bilirsiniz" (you know best) is a friendly answer, and asking "Ne kadar sürer?" (how long does it take?) helps you judge the traffic.

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Paying the taxi

Many taxis now accept cards, but not all. Ask before the ride: "Kartla ödeyebilir miyim?". Rounding up the fare is common, and drivers appreciate it, but large tips are not expected. If you only have a big note, ask "Bozuk paranız var mı?" (do you have change?) before you start, not at the end.

Apps like BiTaksi and Uber (which in Istanbul calls regular yellow taxis) are popular and show the price range in advance. Even with an app, a Merhaba and Teşekkürler make the ride warmer.

Public transport: Istanbulkart, metro, tram and ferry

In Istanbul you pay for the metro, tram, buses and ferries with an Istanbulkart, a rechargeable card. You can buy and top it up at the yellow machines at stations. If you cannot find one, ask: "İstanbulkart nereden alınır?". Other cities have their own cards, but the principle is the same.

The ferries (vapur) across the Bosphorus are cheap, beautiful and one of the best experiences in the city. Buy a simit and a tea on board, and watch the seagulls follow the boat. Ferry times are posted at every pier, but locals will happily tell you if you ask "Vapur kaçta kalkıyor?".

The dolmuş: a ride with its own rules

A dolmuş is a shared minibus that follows a fixed route. You can wave it down on the street and get off wherever you like. You pay the driver directly, often by passing the money forward through the other passengers. Yes, really: people will pass your coins to the front and your change back to you. This is completely normal.

When you want to get off, say loudly "İnecek var!" (someone is getting off!). It sounds funny to learners, but it is exactly what Turks say.

Asking for directions

Turks are very helpful with directions, sometimes so helpful that they will walk you there. Start with Pardon and then ask "... nasıl giderim?" (how do I get to ...?). The answers usually include these words: düz (straight), sağ (right), sol (left), köşe (corner) and karşı (opposite).

If someone gives you a long explanation, it is perfectly fine to say "Yavaş konuşur musunuz?" or simply "Haritada gösterebilir misiniz?" and hand them your phone.

Car rental and long-distance buses

Intercity buses in Türkiye are excellent: comfortable seats, free tea and snacks, and a steward who offers cologne (kolonya) to freshen your hands. They leave from the otogar, the bus station. If you prefer to drive, rental offices are at every airport.

A quick checklist before you land

Save the Turkish name of your hotel and neighbourhood on your phone. Learn to say "... lütfen" with your destination. Remember "Taksimetreyi açar mısınız?". Download a taxi app as a backup. Keep some small notes and coins for the dolmuş, public toilets and tips. And practise "İnecek var!" so you are ready for your first dolmuş adventure.

You will notice that Turkish drivers and travellers talk a lot. A driver might ask where you are from (Nerelisiniz?) and tell you about his cousin in Germany. Enjoy it; it is part of travelling in Türkiye. If you want every travel phrase in your pocket, offline, the travel phrasebook below covers airports, taxis, hotels and restaurants in one small book.