About Istanbul
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural and historical center. The population of almost 15 million lives in Istanbul's vast area of 5,343 square kilometers. Istanbul is situated at the Bosphorus – one of the world's busiest waterways – in northwestern Turkey, between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Its commercial and historical center lies in Europe, while a third of its population lives on the Asian side. Tourist information can be found here
The today currency between TL and Euro is 1€ = 25 Turkish Lira (TL) (it is not stable).
Please don't change your money in the airport exchange office, use bank ATM or bank office in the airport.
It is strongly recommended to use always Turkish Lira (TL) for taxi, restaurant, etc...
There are two airports in the Istanbul which are called Sabiha Gökçen Airport and İstanbul Airport. You can find the information about the airports in below.
All taxis are official in Turkey. You can find three types of taxi (yellow, turquoise and black). Yellow cab is the cheapest option. For example turquoise cabs are more expensive than yellow ones. Black cabs are the most expensive.
You can take Turkish Visa on the Sabiha Gökçen/Istanbul airport or you can take the visa online. Yo can find more information for Turkish visa in here.
School Location
The scholl will take place at the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Istanbul University.
Metro line M2 and Tram line T1 are the closest public transportation to the university. Go to Vezneciler-Istanbul University stop for M2 and Laleli-Istanbul University stop for T1.
Lectures will take place (in the Nazım Terzioğlu Building - Feza Gürsey Lecture Hall) and hands on exercises will be held in the laboratories (Freshman laboratories - electric (no 208) & mechanic (no 209)) at Department of Physics. Coffee breaks will be served at Department of Physics and lunches will be served at Profesörler Evi of Istanbul University (https://goo.gl/maps/NQ5uZ2xTr62LHZvJA).
Public Transport in Istanbul
The city has a decent bus network, provided by the IETT. You can find route/station search and route planner link for bus/metro/ferry/train in the web or on android/apple applications. All public transportation can be paid by Istanbul Card. You can buy it from vending machines on metro/bus/ferry stops or small kiosk, where you can also refill it. It costs 60 TL (~ 2.5 €).
The regular cost is 9.90 TL (~ 0.50 €) per ride (no time limit and not including bus/metro/ferry changes). You can find more information for Istanbul Card and its cost in here. The price increases/decreases by distance and type of transportation.
Google maps does a good job with public transport.
Getting from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Laleli-Beyazıt Region
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is in the Asian part. You can find cheap flights from Europe to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport by Pegasus Airlines. Also Turkish Airlines has flights from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Option 1: Take the public bus
- From Sabiha Gökçen to Kadiköy bus line E10 (nonstop- every one hour) and then take a ferry from Kadiköy to Eminönü then take a tram line T1 and go out Laleli-Istanbul University stop. It is 3 minutes walk to the Physics Department. Taxi price for yellow cab from Kadiköy to the university is around 250 TL (~ 10 Euros) [ the bridge fee of ~100 TL included]
Option 2: With HAVABUS Shuttle you can travel to and from Sabiha Gökçen Airport, to Kadıköy and Taksim.
The shuttle are white colored and parked in front of the arrivals terminal building, at exit level, ready to take you to Kadıköy for a fee of 50.50 TL. Kadıköy departure point is the pier. You can check shuttle hours from here. You can find the information how to reach the university above.
From Taksim to Karaköy take the Funicular line F1 then the take a tram line T1 and go out Laleli-Istanbul University stop or from Taksim to Istanbul University take the metro line line M2 and exit at Vezneciler-Istanbul University stop. It is 3 minutes walk to the university. Taxi price from Taksim to the university is around 90 TL (~ 3.6 Euros)
Option 3: Take a taxi. Taxi price from airport to the university is around 690 TL (~ 28 Euros) [ the bridge fee of ~100 TL included]
Getting from Istanbul International Airport to Laleli-Beyazıt Region
Option 1: From Istanbul Airport to Laleli-Beyazıt: Havaist for a fee of 87 TL (3.5 Euros). Havaist, IETT and Istanbul Seyahat offer services to passengers who are looking to access Istanbul Airport via public transportation. Havaist carries out luxury passenger and luggage transportation services on 20 different lines, 65 stations and 150 buses. Ensuring full time city integration from Istanbul Airport.
Use Taksim from Istanbul Airport then take a metro line M2 or first take the Funicular line F1 and then a tram line T1.
Option 2: Take a taxi. Taxi price from airport to the university is around 500 TL (~ 20 Euros)
Please don't use private transportation!!! It will be very expensive to go to Laleli-Beyazıt by private transportation!!!
