Balat is the old city’s hidden quarter — off the tram lines, reached by the buses and the walking, and the better for being off the beaten path. The routes to the quarter are simple, cheap, and rewarding: the buses from the old city’s core, the ferries across the Golden Horn, the metro and the bus from the airports. This guide covers every route into Balat — the airports, the old city, the Asian side, and the connections beyond — with the lines, the times, and the tricks of each.
From Istanbul Airport (IST): The Metro and the Bus
The main airport of the city connects to Balat by public transport in about an hour and a half. The route: the M11 metro from the airport to the city, the connections to the old city, and the buses from the old city’s main stops to the quarter’s streets. The route is one card and three or four legs, and the last leg — the bus through the old city’s edge to the colorful streets — is the arrival worth having. The alternative is the taxi — forty minutes to an hour depending on the traffic, and substantially more expensive — or the HAVAIST airport shuttle to the city’s hubs, with the bus or a taxi covering the last stretch. For most travelers, the metro and the bus are the answer: cheap, reliable, and traffic-proof.
From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): The Crossing Route
The city’s second airport, on the Asian side, connects to Balat by public transport in about two hours. The route: the M4 metro from the airport to the Asian side’s main transfer, the Marmaray under the Bosphorus to the European side, and the connections onward to the old city and the quarter. The route is longer than the IST route but scenic: the underwater crossing of the Marmaray, the two sides of the city connected in minutes. The alternative is the taxi — an hour or more depending on the traffic, and the city’s most expensive ride — or the HAVAIST shuttle with the bus for the last stretch. The Sabiha route rewards the traveler with the crossing itself, and the time passes quickly.
From the Old City: The Buses and the Walk
The old city’s core — Sultanahmet, the Grand Bazaar, the monuments of the peninsula — connects to Balat by the buses from the main stops, and the ride is the quarter’s classic approach: about twenty minutes through the old city’s edge to the streets of the quarter. The buses run frequently through the day, and the Istanbulkart covers them at the price of a metro ride. The alternative is the walk: the route along the Golden Horn from the old city’s shore to the quarter — the waterfront walk, about an hour, with the ferries and the fishing boats and the quarter’s colors rising ahead. The choice is the traveler’s: the bus for the speed, the walk for the approach. Either way, the old city and the quarter are the same peninsula, joined by the buses and the shore.
From the Asian Side: The Ferry Across the Water
The Asian side — Kadıköy, Üsküdar, the life of the eastern shore — connects to Balat by the ferries across the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn, and the water routes are the scenic approach. The ferries cross the strait to the European side, and the connections along the Golden Horn land at the piers near the quarter — the crossings, the gulls and the spray, the skyline of both shores. The route is longer than the direct connections but the views are the reward: the city from the water, the quarter’s colors climbing the hill above the shore. For the traveler coming from the Asian side, the ferry is the way to arrive — the crossing that makes the trip.
From the Waterfront Quarters: The Shore Route
The waterfront quarters of the Golden Horn’s mouth — Karakoy, Eminönü, the gateway of the old city — connect to Balat by the ferries and the buses along the shore. The ferries run along the Golden Horn to the piers near the quarter, the short rides with the water views. The buses run the shore route from the gateway quarters to the quarter’s streets. And the walk along the Golden Horn — the waterfront path from the gateway to the quarter, the ferries and the fishing boats and the old city’s edge — is the scenic approach. The waterfront quarters and Balat are the same shore, and the routes between them are the water and the road.
The Quarter’s Own Transport: The Local Network
Once in Balat, the quarter’s own network takes over. The buses run through the quarter’s streets — the connections to the old city and the shore. The ferries land at the nearby piers — the crossings of the Golden Horn and the Bosphorus. The walking is the quarter’s real transport: the colored streets and the lanes are the experience, and the walker covers the quarter completely. And the buses to the wider city — the routes from the quarter’s stops to the monuments and the quarters beyond — open the whole old city. The Istanbulkart covers the whole network — one card, every mode, the quarter at the traveler’s feet.
The Practical Notes
A few things make the routes smooth. The Istanbulkart is the first purchase: buy it at any station, load it once, and it covers the buses, the ferries, the metros, and the trams — the whole city on one card, at a fraction of the taxi price. The buses are the quarter’s gate: the routes from the old city’s stops run to the streets — learn the stops and the quarter is yours. The ferries are the views: the crossings from the shore give the approach worth having — take the water when the time allows. The traffic is the enemy: the taxis sit in the city’s traffic while the buses and the rail run their lanes — for the speed and the price, the public transport wins. And the walking is the approach: the quarter is off the tram lines and the better for it — the extra effort of the buses and the walks is the price of the hidden quarter, and the reward is the color postcard itself.
The Night Connections: The Late Hours
The transport of the quarter runs into the evening, and the night connections cover the late arrivals and the long evenings. The buses run past midnight on the main routes — the old city’s lines carrying the late travelers, with the night reduced and the weekend service extended. The ferries run to the late hours on the main lines, with the reduced frequency of the night schedule. The night buses of the city’s network take over after the day routes close. And the taxis are at the main points at all hours, the standard city taxis of the old city. The practical notes: know the last buses, carry the card for the night routes, and keep the taxi app ready for the late hours — the quarter’s connections cover the night, and the traveler who knows the last rides moves through it easily.
The Takeaway
Getting to Balat is the old city’s hidden-route journey — the buses from the old city’s core, the ferries across the Golden Horn, the metro and the bus from the airports, and the walking along the shore. The routes are simple, cheap, and rewarding, and the Istanbulkart covers them all. The quarter is off the tram lines and the better for it — the extra effort of the approach is the price of the hidden quarter, and the reward is the color postcard itself: arrive by the bus through the old city’s edge or the ferry across the water, and the colored streets open at your feet, the most photographed corner of Istanbul at the end of the least-touristed route.
Frequently asked questions
What is the fastest way from Istanbul Airport to Balat?
The metro and the bus — the M11 to the city, the connections to the old city, and the bus to the quarter’s streets — about an hour and a half, cheap and reliable.
How do I get from the old city?
The buses from the main stops — about twenty minutes to the quarter’s streets — or the walk along the Golden Horn, the scenic hour.
Is the taxi worth it from the airport?
Only for the door-to-door convenience and the heavy luggage — the metro and the bus are cheaper and often faster in the traffic.
How do I get from the Asian side?
The ferries across the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn — the water route to the piers near the quarter, with the city from the deck.
Do I need a car in Balat?
No — the buses, the ferries, and the walking cover the quarter and the old city, and the traffic makes the car the slowest option.
All Over Information
The All Over Information editorial team researches and writes practical English-language guides to Turkey. Facts are checked against official and local sources before publication, prices are published as dated ranges rather than quotes, and guides are revised when things change. We accept no sponsored posts, paid placements or paid links.
More guides like this
Balat in Winter: What to Expect
Winter changes Balat the way it changes every old quarter — the crowds thin, the colors soften under the gray light, and…
Best Time of Year to Visit Balat
Balat is a year-round quarter — the colors and the cafes, the landmarks and the lanes run through all four seasons —…
Balat on a Budget: Money-Saving Travel Tips
Balat is the budget quarter of the old city — the colorful streets cost nothing to walk, the working tables feed the…
A First-Timer’s Guide to Balat
Balat is the color postcard of Istanbul — the old quarter on the Golden Horn where the houses climb the hill in…
Best Local Restaurants in Balat
Balat eats the old way and the new way, and the quarter's tables run the full range of the old city's food.
Top 10 Things to Do in Balat
Balat is the color postcard of Istanbul — the old quarter on the Golden Horn where the houses climb the hill in…