Istanbul public transport, in one app
Bus, metrobus, metro, tram, Marmaray, ferry and minibus. See where your bus is right now, get door-to-door directions and follow them step by step. Free, ad-free, no account needed.
What ekRota does
Every way of getting around Istanbul
Where is my bus?
Live GPS positions of İETT buses and metrobuses on the map, with an estimate of when the next one reaches your stop. Metro, Marmaray and ferry movement is calculated from the official timetable and labelled as such.
Door-to-door directions
One route planner for bus, metrobus, metro, tram, Marmaray, ferry and minibus, including walking, waiting and transfer times. Then follow the trip step by step with live navigation.
Stop alarm
Pick a bus and a stop; ekRota notifies you when the bus is a few stops away, so you do not have to wait outside.
Timetables
First and last departures and frequencies for Marmaray, metro, tram, metrobus, ferries and every bus line, from the official schedule.
Made for visitors too
The app works in English, Arabic, German, Russian, Persian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, French, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Ukrainian and Uzbek as well as Turkish.
Private by design
Completely free with no ads, subscriptions or in-app purchases. No account, email or phone number required.
Istanbul transit at a glance
- Marmaray is the suburban rail line between Halkalı and Gebze that crosses the Bosphorus in an undersea tunnel. Stations and timetable (Turkish).
- Metro lines are coded with M (M1A, M2, M4 …), trams with T, funiculars with F and cable cars with TF. All rail lines.
- Metrobus is a bus rapid transit corridor along the D-100 highway between Beylikdüzü and Söğütlüçeşme. Metrobus lines.
- City ferries (Şehir Hatları) connect both shores of the Bosphorus and the Princes' Islands. Ferry lines.
- Timetables for every rail, metrobus and ferry line are on one page: sefer saatleri.
The guide pages on this site are in Turkish; the app itself is available in 15 languages. ekRota is an independent app and is not affiliated with İBB, İETT, Metro İstanbul, Şehir Hatları or TCDD.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best app for public transport in Istanbul?
If you want every mode in one place, ekRota covers İETT buses, metrobus, metro, tram, funicular, cable car, Marmaray, city ferries and minibuses. It shows live GPS positions of buses and metrobuses, official timetables for rail and ferries, and plans door-to-door trips across all of them. It is free, shows no ads, needs no account and works in 15 languages including English.
Can I see where my bus is in real time?
Yes. For İETT buses and metrobuses, ekRota shows each vehicle's live GPS position on the map and estimates when it will reach your stop. You can also set a stop alarm and get a notification when the bus is a few stops away. For metro, Marmaray and ferries, vehicle-level live data is not public, so movement is calculated from the official timetable and clearly labelled as timetable-based.
What are the Marmaray and metro operating hours?
Most Istanbul metro lines and Marmaray run roughly from 06:00 until around midnight, with exact first and last departures varying by line and day type. The timetable page at www.ekrota.com/sefer-saatleri lists the first and last departure and average frequency of every Marmaray, metro, tram, metrobus and ferry line, generated daily from the official schedule.
Do I need an Istanbulkart?
Public transport in Istanbul is mainly paid with the Istanbulkart travel card. ekRota does not sell tickets or top up cards; it helps you plan and follow your journey and shows fare tables.