Karaköy transfer and taxi on the Golden Horn waterfront

Historically the port of Galata, Karaköy has been a harbour since Byzantine times. Its old bank street, Bankalar Caddesi, and its warehouse blocks now hold design hotels, restaurants and galleries alongside long-established hardware shops.

Galataport, the cruise port in Karaköy on the European side, lies just along the shore from the ferry pier. The Galata Bridge links the quarter with Eminönü and the Old City.

The quarter is a transport hub as well: ferries cross from the Karaköy pier to the Asian shore, and the old Tünel funicular climbs from here up to the Pera end of İstiklal.

The streets behind the waterfront are a grid of short, narrow blocks, busy with delivery vans and pedestrians during the day. The coastal road itself is wide, but stopping on it is limited.

Send the full address of your hotel so the driver can choose the right side street before arriving. If you are joining a ship at Galataport, that has its own page with the port-specific details.

Many design hotels sit in converted warehouses or old office blocks on streets only a car wide. Expect the driver to stop a few steps from the door rather than right at it.

The driver meets you right at the exit door you come out of, holding a printed sign with your name, at either airport. If the flight lands late, we already know, and the wait is free.

For departures, Karaköy to Istanbul Airport measures about 40 km and 42 minutes in light traffic, Karaköy to Sabiha Gökçen about 42 km and 33 minutes. Allow extra time on weekday evenings and before public holidays.

Cruise passengers flying out after disembarking at Galataport should read the cruise-port page: the fares from the port to each airport follow the same side rule.

You pay at the hotel, not online: cash in euros, pounds or lira, or Visa and Mastercard on the card terminal in the car, contactless welcome.

Ask for child seats with the booking and give the children's ages; they cost nothing. A Karaköy return from IST in the Eco Van is €100.

Not booking yet? A WhatsApp message with "Karaköy" as the destination is enough to ask a question; the full booking then needs the date, the time and the hotel address.