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Istanbul City
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Istanbul's airport , 24km west, has two connected terminals, international and domestic.
Buses run to Taksim Square northeast of Beyoglu ($4) stopping at Aksaray, from where trams
run to Sultanahmet ($0.40). Taxis taking the direct route along the seafront road (Sahil
Yolu) cost $12-15 - make sure they use the meter. Construction work on the airport metro
station is due to be completed by the end of 2002, when it will give a direct link to the
centre. There are two main train stations : trains from Europe terminate at Sirkeci ,
linked to Sultanahmet by a short tram ride; trains from Asia end at Haydarpasa on the east
bank of the Bosphorus, from where you can get a ferry to Karaköy and a bus from there to
Sultanahmet. From Istanbul's otogar (bus station) at Esenler, around 15km northwest, the
better bus companies run courtesy minibuses to various points of the city including
Taksim, although if you're heading for Sultanahmet it might be quicker to take the metro
(actually an express tramway) to Aksaray, where you can change to the Eminönü-bound tram
line which passes through Sultanahmet and Sirkeci. Most buses arrive at the Esenler otogar
, including European and Asian services, although some also stop at the Harem bus station
on the Asian side, from where there are regular dolmuses to Haydarpasa station.
The most central tourist office is in Sultanahmet near the Hippodrome on Divanyolu Caddesi
(daily 9am-5pm, sometimes later; tel 0212/518 8754); with other branches at the airport
and the two train stations. They usually have a good range of brochures and maps and can
help with accommodation. |
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