Too few taxis for a very big city
According to Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality figures reported in 2021, the city had 17,395 taxis, the same number as in the 1990s, while the population more than doubled from 7.5 million to over 16 million. That is about one taxi per 1,000 residents. For comparison, New York had 13,587 taxis for 8.4 million people (source).
The result is simple: at busy times there are far more people looking for a taxi than there are taxis.
Drivers choose their passengers
The most common complaint about Istanbul taxis is not price, it is drivers picking passengers and routes. In the first six months of 2023 the municipality received 33,878 complaints about taxis. More than half, 18,079, were about drivers being picky about the passenger or the destination. Others were about overcharging (3,026), longer routes (1,386), refusing short rides (1,290) and not switching on the meter (712) (source).
For a visitor with suitcases who does not speak Turkish, this is exactly what makes the first hour in Istanbul stressful.
Where it is hardest
- At the airport after a late flight: long queues at the taxi rank, and families or groups often do not fit in one yellow cab.
- At rush hour and in the rain: taxis are full or drivers turn down trips into traffic.
- Short trips and the Asian side: some drivers refuse rides they consider not worth it, or a Bosphorus crossing.
The easy way: book before you land
A pre-booked transfer solves all of this. With ITB Transfer you choose your car and see the fixed price before you travel. Your driver tracks your flight and waits in the arrivals hall with your name sign, so there is no queue, no negotiation and no meter. You pay the same price in cash at the end of the ride.
Booking takes about a minute: no account and no payment up front. You get an e-mail that we received your request, then a confirmation e-mail once your car is assigned.