Metrobus in Istanbul: The Backbone of Rapid Intercontinental Transportation

The Metrobus is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system that operates on a fully dedicated lane in the middle of the road, with no traffic stops, which makes it one of the fastest public transportation options in Istanbul, especially during rush hours.

It is operated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İETT) and serves millions of passengers daily.

Metrobus Line: Where does it start and where does it end?

The Metrobus line extends from the far west of European Istanbul (Beylikdüzü Sondurak station), passes through the European city center, then crosses the Bosphorus Bridge to the Asian side, ending at Söğütlüçeşme station.

The line is approximately 52 kilometers long, includes 44 stations, and is considered a central means of connecting residential, commercial, and university areas in the city.

All Metrobus stations and their transport connections:

• Beylikdüzü Sondurak – No connection.
  
  

• Hadımköy – Local buses.
  
  

• Cumhuriyet Mahallesi – Internal buses.
  
  

• Beylikdüzü Belediye – Municipal buses.
  
  

• Beylikdüzü – No direct connection.
  
  

• Güzelyurt – Buses.
  
  

• Haramidere Sanayi – Industrial buses.
  
  

• Haramidere – Local buses.
  
  

• Saadetdere Mahallesi – Buses.
  
  

• Mustafa Kemal Paşa – Internal buses.
  
  

• Cihangir – Üniversite Mah. – Near universities.
  
  

• Avcılar Merkez – Üniversite Kampüsü – University connections.
  
  

• Şükrübey – Bus transfer center.
  
  

• İETT Camp – Buses only.
  
  

• İstanbul Üniversitesi – University buses.
  
  

• Cennet Mahallesi – Local buses.
  
  

• Küçükçekmece – Marmaray connection.
  
  

• Beşyol – No direct connection.
  
  

• Florya – Internal buses.
  
  

• Sefaköy – Buses.
  
  

• Yenibosna – Near former Atatürk Airport.
  
  

• Şirinevler (Ataköy) – M1A metro connection.
  
  

• Bahçelievler – M1A metro connection.
  
  

• İncirli – M1A metro.
  
  

• Zeytinburnu – M1A metro and T1 tram connection.
  
  

• Merter – M1A metro connection.
  
  

• Cevizlibağ – AÖY – T1 tram connection.
  
  

• Topkapı – T4 tram connection.
  
  

• Bayrampaşa – Maltepe – Near M1A metro.
  
  

• Vatan Caddesi – Buses only.
  
  

• Edirnekapı – T4 tram connection.
  
  

• Ayvansaray – Eyüpsultan – Buses only.
  
  

• Halıcıoğlu – No direct connection.
  
  

• Okmeydanı – Buses.
  
  

• Perpa – Commercial and bus connections.
  
  

• Çağlayan – Near Istanbul Courthouse.
  
  

• Mecidiyeköy – M2 metro and M7 line connection.
  
  

• Zincirlikuyu – M2 metro and multiple buses connection.
  
  

• Boğaziçi Köprüsü (Bosphorus Bridge) – Transit point only.
  
  

• Burhaniye Mahallesi – Buses.
  
  

• Altunizade – M5 metro connection.
  
  

• Acıbadem – Internal buses.
  
  

• Uzunçayır – M4 metro connection (Asian side).
  
  

• Söğütlüçeşme – Marmaray connection.
  
  

However, some of the most notable stations for transfers to other lines include:

• Zincirlikuyu station: Transfers to M2 metro (connecting Şişli, Taksim, Levent).
  
  

• Cevizlibağ station: Transfers to T1 tram (connecting to Eminönü and Sultanahmet).
  
  

• Mecidiyeköy station: Transfers to M2 metro and the new M7 line.
  
  

• Uzunçayır station: Transfers to M4 metro on the Asian side.
  
  

• Avcılar station: Also served by university and internal buses.
  
  

• Söğütlüçeşme station: Transfers to Marmaray, which crosses the Bosphorus underground.
  
  

Ticket Prices

The fare when using Istanbulkart is:
17.70 Turkish liras for a regular ticket.
12.47 liras for teachers.
8.64 liras for students.

Automatic discounts are applied when transferring within two hours.
There is no paper ticket available for Metrobus; the Istanbul smart card (Istanbulkart) is required.

Services and Features of the Metrobus:

Operates 24 hours a day.
Runs on a dedicated lane that avoids traffic delays.
Accessible for people with disabilities (elevators and ramps).
Some buses offer Wi-Fi service.
Equipped with surveillance cameras and real-time tracking systems.
Very short waiting times (30 seconds to 2 minutes during rush hours).
Electronic boards display arrival times at each station.

Tips and Notes:

Crowding increases significantly between 7:00 – 10:00 AM and 5:00 – 8:00 PM.
Make sure to recharge your Istanbulkart in advance to avoid delays.

Use apps such as Trafi, Moovit, or İBB CepTrafik to plan your journey easily.
You can transfer to the metro, tram, or Marmaray from several main stations as listed above.