Şişli transfer and taxi from IST and Sabiha Gökçen

Şişli grew in the late Ottoman years as a middle-class district of wide avenues and stone apartment blocks, many with wrought-iron balconies. Kurtuluş, in the north of the district, still has a strong Armenian community.

Büyükdere Avenue runs through it towards the business districts further north. The Cevahir shopping centre stands on that avenue and opened in 2005 as one of the largest malls in Europe. Several metro stations on the M2 line serve the district.

The district's character changes a lot from one end to the other: elegant older blocks near Nişantaşı, busy offices and malls along the avenue, quieter residential streets in Kurtuluş and Feriköy. All of it counts as Şişli for the fare.

Many Şişli hotels are tall buildings on main avenues with a forecourt or a side entrance for cars, which makes drop-off easy. Others sit on residential streets that are narrow and often lined with parked cars.

The main avenues are some of the busiest in the city on weekdays. Give the full hotel address, and the driver picks the entrance and the approach before you get close.

Mecidiyeköy, the busy junction on the district's northern edge, is one of the heaviest traffic points on the European side. A hotel just beyond it may still be easier to reach from a side road; leave that choice to the driver.

Coming out of arrivals, find the driver right at the exit door you come out of; he holds a printed sign with your name. We check your flight's progress, so late arrivals are never charged for waiting.

Heading back, Şişli to Istanbul Airport measures about 37 km and 37 minutes on free roads, and Şişli to Sabiha Gökçen about 40 km and 31 minutes. On weekday evenings, estimate about 50 to 65 minutes to IST and 40 to 55 to SAW, and treat the empty-road figures as minimums.

Arriving at Sabiha Gökçen for a meeting in Şişli? The ride crosses the Bosphorus on a bridge or through the tunnel; the fixed €70 holds however long that takes.

Pay at the end of the ride: cash in euros, pounds or lira, or Visa and Mastercard on the terminal fitted in every car, contactless included. There is no prepayment.

For children, booster and child seats are free; add their ages to the Şişli booking. A return from IST in the Eco Van costs €100, two one-way fares.

For a group of eight or ten colleagues, the Sprinter at €80 from IST carries everyone in one vehicle.

A WhatsApp question with only the destination is always welcome; the booking itself needs the date, the time and the street address in Şişli.