Practical advice
Use all forms of public transport: Metro, rail and maritime. Boats are especially useful for navigating the urban sprawl and trips on the sea are both practical and enjoyable. Privately run dolmuşlar, or shared passenger vans, are a very cheap option for getting from A to B but try to avoid rush hour. Traffic can be hellish and the main bridges tend to clog easily. For getting to and from the airports, the Havaist coaches are inexpensive, frequent, and reliable. And don’t forget to walk. The megacity is a pleasure to explore on foot, but be careful when walking alone in crowds. However, it’s enough to take basic precautions and to not have a “please rob me” demeanour. Always carry your smartphone next to your body, not in a back pocket or a bag. — Éamonn Maguire, journalist
Transport is very user-friendly and the best way to see the city (cliché, but very true, especially in Istanbul where every building is of a different style, era and home to different demographics, which teach you implicitly about the city). Also, don’t be conned into taking a touristic ferry ride. Simply get on the ferry that the locals use to commute. It’s cheaper, the routes are convenient (they are designed to be) and, of course, all-round more authentic. — Mila Robins, environmental designer
