How to Get an Istanbul Kart

Istanbul Kart (Istanbul Card) is in essence an all-round public transportation boarding pass. To immediately answer the question raised in the title: yes it is worth getting one if you plan to use (the advantages of) public transportation multiple times during your stay in Istanbul. So, unless you prefer to do everything on foot or take a taxi to get around, please do continue reading to find out where to get it, how to use it, and the advantages it has.
What is Istanbul Kart?
The card was introduced in 2009. It’s a contact less or RFID (Radio-frequency identification) card for public transportation fare payment. It has the exact same size as a regular credit card, so it fits perfectly in your wallet. The card is pre-paid and easily rechargeable.

The Advantages of Istanbul Kart
There are quite a few advantages to getting an Istanbul Kart as opposed to buying tokens or ticket every time you’re going to use public transportation.
 

1. Multi-Purpose — This single card enables you to pay for multiple types of transportation: buses, metros, ferries, funiculars, and tramways (yes, even the nostalgic one running on Istiklal Caddesi). Moreover, most of these transportation types no longer accept cash payments, so you’ll have to buy some kind of token or ticket before boarding anyway.
 

2. Pre-Paid — Istanbul Kart is a prepaid and rechargeable card. This means that you don’t have to stand in line (and maybe miss the bus or tram) to get a valid boarding pass every time you plan to make use of public transportation. And uploading more credits can be done at designated machines, most of the times without a queue in front of you.

3. Ease of Use — It is not necessary to bring the Istanbul Kart in contact with the reader. You can pay for your fare by ‘waving’ the smart card within 8 cm (3.1 in) of the reader. In most cases you don’t even have to take it out of your wallet, purse or light hand bag. Upon making a successful payment, the reader will make a sound and the screen will light up showing the amount left on the card. In case of insufficient funds, the screen will read Kontör Yetersiz.
 

4. Multiple Travelers — There is no need to buy multiple cards since one Istanbul Kart can be used

for up to 5 passengers. After paying the fare for the first passenger, let him or her hop on or pass through the turnpike, wait a few seconds, and again wave the card in front of the reader.

5. Discounts — By using the card, you already benefit from a 10% discount over the normal fare. Instead of paying 5 TL per ride, you pay 2,6 TL. And there is more. You can make up until five transfers/connections within a two hour period, and you’ll pay less for every transfer, already only 2,4 TL for the first transfer.
 

Where to Get an Istanbul Kart
The easiest way to get the Istanbul Kart is at major transit stops such as the airport,Sultanahmet, and Eminönü. To buy an Istanbul Kart, you need to pay a non-refundable 10 TL fee (for the actual card and the service), and of course an amount of your choice to load onto the card.
How to Reload the Istanbul Kart
To reload the card, you can either go to newsstands and small shops (look for the phrase Akbil Dolum Noktası) which offer this service, use self-service special purpose machines at major transit stations. The machines accept notes of 5, 10, 20, and 50 TL and have instructions in multiple languages

Celebrating Christmas in Istanbul By Erlend Geerts

Celebrating Christmas in Istanbul 

The roots of Santa Claus lay in Turkey, to be precise in Patara near Myra. Already in the 4th century A.D.E. St Nicholas dropped bags of money down the chimneys to help people. But today, in a country with a 98% Muslim population, Christmas is a day like any other day. Yet, spending Christmas in Istanbul is not that odd an idea — here’s why.

5 Reasons Why Istanbul Is a Nice Christmas Destination

• Christmas Decoration — Starting mid-December, streets and stores are decorated in a similar fashion Western countries do for Christmas. You’ll find plenty of Christmas trees, (street) lights and even an occasional Santa Claus. Not that Turks celebrate the birth of Christ; they’re just gearing up for New Year celebrations. But the atmosphere leading up to that day is similar to what we’re used to for Christmas in the West.
• No Christmas Hype — You can enjoy the Christmas atmosphere without all the commercial elements. I personally don’t miss 30 repetitions a day of Jingle Bells or White Christmas, just to name a few. There simply aren’t any special celebrations, except for masses held at some churches (see below).
• Lesser Sightseeing Queues — In Istanbul, December 25th is business as usual. In other words, Istanbul spends the festive season in much the same way as it always does: bustling and at your service. Not only are all the historic sights open, on top of it they are fairly quiet with pretty short queues — a blessing.

• Christmas Masses — If you wish to attend a special Christmas mass, that’s no problem. Just go to Anthony of Padua, the largest Catholic church in Istanbul. It’s located on Istiklal Caddesi, on your left as you walk from Taksim towards Tünel. On foot it will take about 20-25 minutes. To be on the safe side, please check out mass hours at least a day beforehand.
• It’s Only a Week from New Year — Istanbul’s New Year celebrations are famous. On New Year’s Eve Istanbul is at full swing with restaurants, cafes, bars and night clubs fully booked. And if you prefer to celebrate outdoors, head for Nişantası‘s giant street party. So why not combine both year-end festivities while you’re here?

Why an Istanbul Christmas May Not Be Your Cup of Tea

• Not Really Low Season — Istanbul’s winter is not the most attractive travel weather for the average tourist. Yet, the last week of the year hotel prices tend to rise a bit. Be on the lookout for early booking discounts.
• It’s Winter Time — If you don’t like the summer heat, the festive season is a great alternative. But Istanbul winters can be wet and cold. To make sure you’ll have a fantastic time, pack something waterproof and wear lots of layers.

Istanbul Street Life

Discovering Istanbul - Üsküdar

Yıldız Sarayı | YILDIZ PALACE

GRAND BAZAAR-KAPALI ÇARŞI

Turkish Airlines - Istanbul | Flow Through the City of Tales

Istanbul City in 4K

Watchtower of Turkey

Atatürk's Memorial Day and Atatürk Week

Memorial Day of Ataturk on November 10th, National Constitution annually held on Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey and the first President of the Republic, who lost his life at 09:05 10. November 1938. The Atatürk Week which covers November 10 is the presentation of Ataturk's films throughout the country, the principles and events of which are told, the speeches of radio and television on their own voice, the films about Atatürk; It is called the week corresponding to November 10-16.

On November 10th, at 09.05 am with siren
voices, the whole of Turkey is passed for 2 minutes in respect of Ataturk's memorial. Then, except for the flags in front of the building of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the flags are minted as mourning indicators in all the official buildings in Turkey and in the foreign representations of the country. The flags in Anıtkabir are not to be used for any other reason in other days. Where the flag is not drawn continuously, the flag is first drawn to the sender; then it is lowered

Hattusa

The Ultimate Istanbul Turkish Food Tour - JUICY Kokoreç, Balık Ekmek (Fi...

Ankara

29 Ekim Cumhuriyet Bayramı

Istanbul | Flow Through the City of Tales

Mustafa YILDIZDOĞAN -TÜRKİYEM-

Hey Gidi Karadeniz (Özlem Çelik)

Trabzon, Uzungöl

Sümela Manastırı Trabzon

Turkish Islamic art

Turkish Carpets

Rumi ~ My Heart

Amazing Turkish Art technique known as Ebru

Palandöken kayak merkezi Erzurum

Kurban bayram

KURBAN BAYRAM
Sviatok obetovania  (arabsky عيد الأضحى‎‎, Íd al-adhá, tureckyKurban Bayramı, persky عید قربان‎‎, Eid-e Gorbán), je náboženský sviatok, ktorý oslavujú muslimovia  a drúzovia. Prebieha  formou  obeti, ako pripomienka na Ibrahimovu obeť barana Bohu.  Ľudia obetujú najčastejšie barana, alebo iné zviera, z ktorého je možné pripraviť jedlo.  sviatok obetovania sa  oslavuje 10. deň mesiaca Dhul hidždža islámskeho kalendára. Tento  deň je  aj  obetným  dňom v  Mekke, kde  vrcholí  hadždž.

Eid al-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى‎‎ ʿīd al-aḍḥā, [ʕiːd ælˈʔɑdˤħæː], "Festival of the Sacrifice"), also called the "Sacrifice Feast" or "Bakr-Eid", is the second of two Muslim holidays celebrated worldwide each year, and considered the holier of the two. It honors the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son, as an act of submission to God's command, before God then intervened, through his angel Jibra'il (Gabriel) and informs him that his sacrifice has already been accepted. The meat from the sacrificed animal is preferred to be divided into three parts. The family retains one third of the share; another third is given to relatives, friends and neighbors; and the remaining third is given to the poor and needy.
In the Islamic lunar calendar, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of Dhu al-Hijjah and lasts for three days.[4] In the international (Gregorian) calendar, the dates vary from year to year drifting approximately 11 days earlier each year

 

30 Ağustos zafer bayramı

Victory Day in Turkey commemorates the key Turkish victory against Greek
forces in the Battle of Dumlupınar (August 26-30, 1922). The outcome of the
battle, which took place in Kütahya province in western Turkey, determined the
overall outcome of the Turkish War of Independence (1919-1923).
Although foreign forces left the country for good in the autumn (or fall) of
1922, Turkish people accept August 30 as the date of the Turkish troops’
overall victory. Victory Day was first celebrated in only a few cities in
Turkey – such as Ankara, Izmir and Afyonkarahisar – on August 30, 1923. It became
a national holiday in 1935.

Many people in Turkey celebrate Victory Day by attending military parades,
which take place in many big cities throughout the country. Air forces
celebrate the day with demonstration flights. The jets involved in such flights
usually leave a red-and-white trail, symbolizing the Turkish flag.

Residents and shop owners decorate their windows with Turkish flags and
images of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. State officials attend a ceremony at Atatürk's
Mausoleum in Ankara. All promotions in the Turkish Armed Forces take place on
this day, and military schools hold annual graduation ceremonies on August 30.

Muş Türküsü

KAHRAMANMARAŞ

AMASRA

TÜRK YILDIZLARI - TURKISH STARS'

Watchtower of Turkey

KUŞADASI

All About the Beautiful Gemstone Zultanite

Kilyos

Somuncu Baba Türbesi Darende/Malatya

Gunpinar Waterfall - DARENDE [Malatya / Turkey]

IZMIR

Çanakkale

"KUŞADASI"

EFEZ

Türk Yıldızları ve Şehit Ümit Özer Parkı (Konya)

Five days in Turkey - 4k

BAYRAMINIZ KUTLU OLSUN

Kudret Havuzu | Drone Hava Çekimi

Ankara

Ankara

Cappadocia

Pamukkale

Sivas

This beautiful city is situated at an altitude of 1275 m. Sivas is the highest city of the Central Anatolian Region, and the most mountainous one with the numerous peaks.
Sivas being at the junction point of the Persia and Baghdad caravan routes, was once a busy commercial center. During the interval between 1142 and 1171, it was the capital of the Turkish Danismend Emirs. Later, under the rule of the Seljuks, it became a cultural center, with importance given to learning and scholarship; and many related buildings were constructed by the remains of some, can still be seen today.
 

One of the outstanding numerous Seljuk works of art and architecture is Izzeddin Keykavus Sifahanesi, which was "a house of recovery" in those times; in other words "ahospital". It was built in 1217 by the order of the Seljuk Sultan, and its decoration with painted tiles is beautiful.
 

Gok Medrese (theological school) and Buruciye Medrese, both built in 1271, constitute the best examples of wonderful Seljuk artistic works, while the Ulu Mosque of the Danismend Emirate is another fine historical monument, reflecting a different style. The Cifte Minareli Medrese of the same year, is also noteworthy with its twin minarets rising elegantly on both sides of its ornate portal.
 

165 km southeast of Sivas, is Divrigi, an ancient town, which was once a Byzantine site. By the 12th and 13th centuries, it was the capital of Turkish Mengucek Emirs, and the remains of Ulu Mosque of 1229 and a citadel remain from the period. The Baroque style portal of this magnificent mosque is a real masterpiece of stonework, and this monumental building has been declared by UNESCO to be one of the eminent cultural heritages of the world.
 

Famous late Turkish folk poet and minstrel Asik Veysel was born in 1894 in Sivrialan village of Sivas. He lost his visual ability at a very young age due to pox but he continued writing and singing until he died in 1973. His house has been restored and opened as a museum in 1982.
 

Besides its historical treasures, the city possesses several other specialties, one of which is Balikli Kaplica, an interesting spa of the town Kangal. It is a thermal spring, filled with tiny fish living in the hot waters, which provides a different type of cure for skin complaints. It is the only cure center in the world for "Sedef Hastaligi" (psoriasis). Soguk Cermik is another spa center. Hafik, Todurge (Zara), and Gokpinar (Gurun) Lakes are some of the interesting places for picnicking, boating and fishing.
 

Another special characteristic of this town, 68 km south of Sivas, are the world famous Kangal dogs. These sheep dogs have proven their loyalty and success even in the harshest climates such as in this city, and are confidently used in the area of police and military work.
 

Sivas is also known for its fine carpets of numerous designs and colors. These locally produced weavings offer a wide variety of choice, and the inherent high quality is not subject to variation.

Hattusha ancient Hittite Capital

Ḫattuša  was the capital of the Hittite Empire in the late Bronze Age. Its ruins lie near modern Boğazkale, Turkey, within the great loop of the Kızılırmak River (Hittite: Marashantiya; Greek: Halys).


Hattusha was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1986.

Darende

Darende is located in Malatya
district. Darende was a centre of science and culture, during the ancient silk
road times. The city centre is situated on the East Anatolia Region where there
is a statue of a big door that was the entrance of the city Malatya. The
largest district of Malatya is Darende. Darende is located in the west of the
city also placed on the trade route that is on the upper part of Euphrate (Firat)
and on the valley of Tohma where ancient caravans passed. The district, placed
on the road between Ankara and Istanbul have as borders Hekimhan on the South
of Akçadağ, on the southern west part of Gürün, and North of Kuluncak and
Kangal. It has 1540m2 area. Its height above sea level is 1006 m. 

İlçe topraklarını, Güneydoğu Toroslar'ın kuzeye doğru yönelmiş dağ
sıraları ve bunların arasında bulunan çöküntü alanı engebelendirmektedir. Bu
alanın güneyinde Nurhak Dağları'nın uzantıları
bulunmaktadır. Ayrıca kuzeydoğuya doğru uzanan ve Tohma Suyu Vadisi ile kesilen bu
dağlık alanda ayrı ayrı dağlar bulunmaktadır. Günpınar Şelalesi ilçe sınırlarında, Tohma Çayı
üzerinde bulunur. Güneydoğu Toroslar'ın bir kolu olan Hezanlı Dağı (2.283 m.) ilçenin
batısını engebelendirir.
Darende'nin doğu sınırı boyunca uzanan Akçababa Dağları ise Nurhak
Dağları'nın kuzeydoğu uzantılarıdır. Ancak bunlar çok yüksek dağlar değildir. Akçababa Çalı Tepe (2.164m.) ve kuzeydeki Leylek Dağı (2.052 m.) bu bölümdeki en yüksek dağlardır. İlçede aşınma sonucu ortaya çıkmış platolar oldukça geniş bir yer tutmaktadır. İlçenin deniz seviyesinden yüksekliği 1.006  metredir.

Sızır Şelalesi ..... Göksu waterfall

Sızır Şelalesi, Sivas ili, Gemerek ilçesi, Sızır beldesinde bulunan şelale. Kızılırmak'ın kollarından olan Göksu üzerinde bulunur. Sızır'ın 700 m kadar güneyinde, çevresi yeşllik bir alanda bulunur. Yöre halkı tarafından rekreasyon amaçlı olarak kullanılır.

Alanda kırkgöz denilen alandan çıkan kaynaklar toplanarak Göksu Çayı'nı oluşturur. Suyun bir kısmı Sızır Hidroelektrik Santraline giderken, bir kısmı yüksek kayalardan düşerek şelaleyi oluşturur. Şelale 2. derece doğal sit alanı ilan edilmiştir.

The Göksu waterfall is located on the Göksu, a tributary of the Kızılırmak river, near the large village of Sizir in the vicinity of Gemerek in the Turkish province of Kayseri. A hydroelectric plant was erected on the Göksu river twenty-five years ago by the General Directorate of the Iller Bank in order to supply the city of Kayseri with electricity, but was later attached to the national grid.

The Karstic springs arising from the skirts of the Ali Dag mountain in the village of Sizir have been diverted by the construction of a dam into a canal leading to the hydroelectric plant, with the result that, like most of our waterfalls, the Göksu fall is worth visiting only in very rainy seasons.