Independent guide
Busforus Istanbul: routes, stops and tickets
Independent guide, not operated by or affiliated with Busforus.
We list 6 Busforus ticket options in Istanbul, from 2–24 hr. Busforus is the open-top hop-on hop-off bus brand of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, run through its transport subsidiary Istanbul Ulasim AS, with tickets sold through the busforus.istanbul site and by resellers. This guide covers 2 routes, its 20 distinct stops, when to ride and who it suits, then lines up the tickets.
- Routes2
- Stops20
- Shortest loop1H 30M
- Tickets6
Route and stops
- Sultanahmet - Beylerbeyi (Bosphorus line, 121CS)
- Sultanahmet - Haliç (Golden Horn line)
A single loop that starts at Sultanahmet Square, runs down to the Golden Horn waterfront and Galataport, then follows the European shore of the Bosphorus past Dolmabahce and out to Beylerbeyi Palace on the Asian side. It returns through Besiktas, Taksim and Sishane to the Spice Bazaar before ending back in the old city.
Sultanahmet - Beylerbeyi (Bosphorus line, 121CS)
Show all 11 stops
A newer loop that leaves Sultanahmet and tracks the Golden Horn inlet through the old Greek and Jewish quarters of Cibali, Fener and Balat up to Eyup. It comes back along the north shore past Miniaturk, the Rahmi Koc Museum and the Santral Istanbul arts site before finishing at the Spice Bazaar and Sarayburnu.
Sultanahmet - Haliç (Golden Horn line)
Show all 10 stops
Busforus tickets in Istanbul
Want to see every hop-on hop-off bus in Istanbul, not just this one? Compare hop-on hop-off tours in Istanbul.
What riders say
Across these tickets travellers rate Busforus Istanbul 3.9 out of 5 from 548 reviews.
Gives a good tour of the City. Being able to get off at spots of interest was nice. Close to the Tram so could get on the Tram as well for another experience which was good
Clean bus, easy to find and great way to get a lay of the land, where things are and what you want to see. Recording did not always match what you were seeing and sometimes what was being talked about was on the other side of the bus but it was covered due to rain, was warm and dry. Fully recommend this.
If you are in for a short visit, this tour will cover most of the landmarks. We only spent 2 days but we covered almost all the landmarks… it was raining- but the tour guide made our tour as memorable as possible.
Best time to ride
Spring and autumn give mild air for sitting on the open upper deck, and weekday mornings tend to have lighter road traffic. Summer afternoons can be hot and traffic around the bridges and Taksim slows the loop in any season.
Who it suits
- Families
- The upper deck suits children who like views, but a full Bosphorus loop is long, so hopping off at Dolmabahce or the Spice Bazaar breaks it up.
- Couples
- The Golden Horn line gives a quieter look at Balat and Fener, and the Bosphorus line covers the waterfront palaces in one ticket.
- Seniors
- Boarding at Sultanahmet means a short, level walk from Hagia Sophia, and staying on board for the whole loop avoids long walks between sights.
- First-time visitors
- The Bosphorus line links the main historic and waterfront sights in one pass, which makes it a reasonable first orientation before choosing where to spend time.
Tips before you go
- A new trip starts at Sultanahmet, so if you board at a middle stop, check when the last departure from the first stop is.
- Allow extra time on the Bosphorus line because traffic on the bridge and around Taksim can stretch a loop well beyond its usual length.
- Tickets are activated on first use and the municipal transport page describes them as hop-on hop-off for 24 hours, so plan which stops you want in that window.
- Check the current timetable by email to busforus@ulasim.istanbul or on the busforus.istanbul site, since resellers list different schedules.
Good to know
- Commentary languages listed by the operator: English, Turkish, German, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Persian, French.
- Buses: about hourly from Sultanahmet on the Bosphorus line according to one guide; press reports describe roughly every 30 minutes on the Golden Horn line.
Sights along the way
Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern, Topkapi Palace, Spice Bazaar, Galata Tower, Dolmabahce Palace, Taksim Square, Beylerbeyi Palace, Balat and Fener, Eyup and the cable car to Pierre Loti Hill, Miniaturk.
Top-ranked in Istanbul: Dolmabahce Palace (Dolmabahce Sarayi), Bosphorus, Bosphorus Bridge (Bogazici Koprusu), Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya), Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii). All things to do in Istanbul.
Questions about Busforus Istanbul
Who runs the hop-on hop-off buses in Istanbul now?
Busforus is run by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality through its transport subsidiary Istanbul Ulasim AS, according to the municipal transport FAQ. Older red-bus brands such as Big Bus Istanbul still appear on some reseller pages, but a guide to Busforus says that service no longer operates.
What does the main Busforus route cover?
It is one loop of eleven stops that starts and ends at Sultanahmet and includes Eminonu, Karakoy, Galataport, Dolmabahce Palace, the Naval Museum, Beylerbeyi Palace, Besiktas Bazaar, Taksim Square, Sishane and the Spice Bazaar. Guides describe a full circuit of about two and a half hours without getting off.
Is there a Golden Horn route?
Yes, Turkish press reports from April 2026 describe a Sultanahmet-Halic line that runs through Cibali, Fener-Balat and Eyup to Miniaturk and the Rahmi Koc Museum before returning to Eminonu. It is reported to take about an hour and a half, though the reports disagree on the exact stop count.
Which languages does the audio guide use?
Guides and the Istanbul tourism site list eight languages: English, Turkish, German, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Persian and French. Press coverage of the Golden Horn line mentions 14 languages across the Busforus service.
Can I board at any stop?
Yes, the municipal FAQ says the tour begins at Sultanahmet Square but passengers can board at any stop. It adds that a new trip must leave from Sultanahmet, so check the last departure if you join mid-route.
How many Busforus ticket options are there in Istanbul?
We list 6 Busforus ticket options in Istanbul, lasting 2–24 hr, rated 3.9 out of 5 across 548 traveller reviews.
Route and stop details checked 2026-10-15, from the operator's own pages where they could be read and from independent guides where they could not; where sources differ, the list may be incomplete. Routes and times change with the season, so confirm on the ticket page before you travel.