Istanbul's public transit card is the Istanbulkart.
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Istanbul uses the Istanbulkart. The Istanbulkart covers the metro, tram, bus, and even ferries across the Bosphorus — genuinely essential and gets cheaper with each transfer.
You can buy it at kiosks near metro/tram/ferry stops.
Usually yes — it's typically faster than buying paper tickets and often cheaper per ride, even for just a couple of days.
In some cities you can tap a contactless card or phone directly, though it's worth checking current signage or the transit authority's site, since not every system supports it yet.