Ortaköy transfer and taxi by the Bosphorus Bridge

Ortaköy Mosque, formally the Büyük Mecidiye Mosque, stands at the edge of the pier square, with the 15 July Martyrs Bridge rising behind its domes. It was built in the 1850s by the Balyan architects, who also designed Dolmabahçe Palace.

Around the square are cafés, small shops and stalls known for stuffed baked potatoes. Galatasaray University and Kabataş high school are in the neighbourhood, and the shore road continues north to Kuruçeşme and Arnavutköy.

Arnavutköy, the next village north along the shore, has rows of old wooden houses facing the water. Both villages are popular for an evening walk, and both are booked at the same fares as Ortaköy.

Hotels in Ortaköy are either on the busy shore road or on the steep streets that climb inland from the square. The square itself and the lanes right around the mosque are pedestrian, so the car stops at the nearest street.

Weekend evenings are busy on the waterfront between Ortaköy and Kuruçeşme. Give the driver the hotel's exact address, and he will choose the approach that avoids a slow crawl along the shore.

At night, the square's restaurants and cafés draw crowds into the narrow streets behind the mosque. A late arrival can still mean a slow last few hundred metres.

If you are heading to a hotel in Kuruçeşme or Arnavutköy rather than Ortaköy itself, put that name in the booking. The fare stays the same; the driver just needs to know where to stop.

We meet you right at the exit door you come out of at the airport; the driver holds your name on a printed sign. Your flight is tracked, so if it lands late the driver is still there and the wait is free.

For your flight home, the measured drive from Ortaköy to Istanbul Airport is about 41 km and 40 minutes on clear roads, and to Sabiha Gökçen about 41 km and 31 minutes. Bridge traffic at rush hour can add a lot to the SAW leg.

Pay at the end of the ride in cash (euros, pounds or Turkish lira) or by card on the terminal every car carries; Visa and Mastercard both work, including contactless.

Child seats are free; mention the children's ages when you book. For a family of five with full-size cases, a Vito at €60 from IST gives more boot space than the Eco Van.

You can book the return leg at the same time, as two one-way fares, or later on WhatsApp once your plans are fixed.

Not decided on dates yet? Message us on WhatsApp with Ortaköy as the destination and ask anything; the actual booking needs the date, time and address.