​Public Transportation card integrating to the HES CODE for tourists

It is call Istanbul Card. This is a card which you can use for all public transports in Istanbul ; Tram, metro, bus, ferry and cable car. 

It can be provided from the machines behind every tram stations and ferry piers. The machines have language options so you easily can choose the language you speak and follow the instructions to get a card. 
The card cost you 10 TL = 0,9 euro or 1.20 USD. And you will need to top up money to use. 

When you add money, you just put the card on the marked point on the machine and put the money in the money receiving hole. You need to be carefully here that any money you put in the machine you won’t get any change back. All the money you put will be loaded to the card. If you have done that by mistake and you won’t be using it then you need to go to IETT ( Istanbul public transports service ) and you will be able to get the money back. This is in Karakoy neighborhood just behind the Tunnel ( the oldest subway system in Istanbul ). Our recommendation is to put 20 TL if you are one and 40-50 tl if you are a couple staying for a 3-7 days. Each ride cost you 4.20 TL.And this is the same for all type of transports. You don’t need to use the card to get off of the stations so it means go any destinations cost the same. If you Interchange to another public transports in one hour then this goes to 2.80 TL. 

Before the Covid you wouldn’t need to purchase a card for each person as one card could be used for a group of people. However, due to Covid regulations to prevent the people who have Covid to use the public transportation the city municipality has brought some rules. According to this rules, each card can only be used for one person. So in this case you won’t be able to use the card right after you buy it from the machines but first you will need to integrate it to your HES code. What is HES code, where can l get it ? You normally already have that code if you are already in Turkey. It is in the papers you got your visa to Turkey. This is one of the example ( MYX5- 8775-19) . If you don’t  the code but there is an QR code then you can make the code read and you will be able to get the code. Another alternative is you can send an sms to 2023 with writing “ HES nationality ( short), passport number, date of birth ( year only ), and surname. Please don’t forget to put the space in between each section. After you send the sms you will get your HES code in few seconds. 
Example: HES UKR 123456789 1991 TKACHENKO
 

Now that you have both HES Code and Istanbul card the next step is to integrate your card with the HES code then you can be free bird with public transportations. Please follow this link which will take you to the official page. https://kisisellestirme.istanbulkart.istanbul/
We hope this information will help and we hope you will enjoy your stay in Istanbul.