All the important things about the subway in Istanbul

Did you know that the Istanbul Metro was the first subway in the world to connect two continents?

Some interesting facts:

• The first M1 metro line was opened on September 3, 1989.
• The lines are 288.9 kilometers long with 158 stations. There are a total of 10 lines in the system, of which 7 are in the European part of the city.
• The M5 and M7 lines use driverless trains.
• The Marmaray line is a railroad integrated with the metro that runs under the Bosphorus Strait.
• Marmaray is the world's first railway tunnel under the seabed at a depth of 60 meters below sea level.
• Every day, the metro carries more than 1.3 million passengers.
• During the construction of the subway, historical artifacts are often found. For example, during the construction of Yenikapi station, an ancient harbor with ships and other objects dating back to the Byzantine era was discovered.
• Sultanahmet station is decorated with mosaics and patterns inspired by the design of the Blue Mosque.
• You can pay for your fare with an Istanbulkart, which costs 70 Turkish Liras (about 200 rubles).
• Metro fare costs 17.2 lira (about 50 rubles) for a single trip. Each transfer is charged separately, so if you need to make several transfers, the cost of the trip will increase.
• The Marmaray line is more expensive, starting at 23 liras (about 70 rubles) per trip. Istanbulkart can be purchased from vending machines at subway stations and bus stops. For locals and residence permit holders there is an opportunity to make the card personalized and link it to the application on your phone, which will give a discount on travel of about 10%.
• 7 subway lines operate 24 hours a day on weekends and on holidays.
• All stations and passages are equipped with escalators, which facilitates the movement of passengers with baby strollers or heavy luggage. Stairs are located in the center and are used mainly as an emergency exit or for those who prefer to walk.