In a nutshell
- The right Istanbul City Pass can save you serious time and money — we compare all four options so you can pick the one that fits your trip.
- Istanbul only has time-based passes, which let you visit as many attractions as you like within the validity period.
- Want to pack in as many sights as possible? We’d go with the Istanbul E-Pass — it covers around 55 attractions including the Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace.
- Traveling with kids? The Istanbul Tourist Pass is the only card with reduced children’s prices — plus family-friendly extras like Sea Life and Legoland.
- For a first visit on a budget, the Welcome Card Premium at 135 euros covers the essentials without overwhelming you.
How does an Istanbul City Pass work?
City passes are now available in most major cities. You buy a pass once and get free or discounted admission to the most popular attractions.
Free tours and city tours are often included too. In Istanbul, for example, every pass includes a free boat tour on the Bosphorus.
The passes differ in their validity period, how many attractions you can visit with them, and of course their price. Some passes you can save digitally on your phone, while others you need in paper form.
In this article we’ll walk you through four Istanbul Cards and explain exactly when each one is worth it, where to get them, and what’s included.
Our Recommendation: This Istanbul Pass Is Worth It for You!
Don’t feel like comparing offers for ages? No problem! Here’s a quick rundown of which pass makes the most sense for your travel plans.
#1 For First-Time Visitors: Istanbul Welcome Card – Premium
If you’re visiting Istanbul for the first time and want to hit the city’s most important highlights, the Welcome Card Premium is perfect for you. All the top attractions are included, along with guided tours of the Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace. Plus, ten individual rides on public transit are included.
Buy Welcome Card – Premium online
#2 For History Buffs: Istanbul Welcome Card – Deluxe
The Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe is pricier and only valid for five days. With this pass you can join several guided tours and visit numerous museums across Istanbul. We’d only recommend it if you’re seriously into history and culture and want to go beyond a quick look at the highlights.
Buy Welcome Card – Deluxe online
#3 For Families: Istanbul Tourist Pass
The Istanbul Tourist Pass covers not only the top sights but also loads of fun activities for kids — Sea Life, the underwater zoo, Legoland, and the Toy Museum. It’s also super convenient: you can show it digitally, and it includes an airport transfer from Istanbul Airport.
Buy Istanbul Tourist Pass online
#4 For Turbo Sightseeing: Istanbul E-Pass
The E-Pass covers all the major attractions and a wide range of additional discounts. To get your money’s worth, you’ll want to visit as many places as possible. It’s especially great if you haven’t quite decided what you want to see yet — you can keep your options open.
The Best Istanbul Passes at a Glance
Not sure which category fits you best? No worries. We’ve put together a table with the key info on all four Istanbul passes. That way you can get a quick overview before diving into the details.
| Welcome Card - Premium | Welcome Card - Deluxe | Tourist Pass | Istanbul E-Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variants | Valid 7 days | Valid 5 days | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days | 2, 3, 5, or 7 days |
| Included Attractions | 3 + tours and additional discounts + 10 tickets for public transportation | Access to many museums + tours and additional discounts + 20 tickets for public transportation | over 100 | 50 and additional discounts |
| Price | 135 EUR | 189 EUR | from 155 EUR | from 145 EUR |
| Get Pass | Get Pass | Get Pass | Get Pass |
Need a more detailed breakdown? This table shows you exactly which pass includes which attractions in Istanbul.
| Welcome Card - Premium | Welcome Card - Deluxe | Tourist Pass | E-Pass | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tours through Hagia Sophia | can be added | no | no | no |
| Blue Mosque | free | free | free | free |
| Topkapi Palace | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Harem Museum at Topkapi Palace | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Bosphorus boat cruise | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Basilica Cistern | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Galata Tower | no | yes | yes | yes |
| Public transportation | 10 single tickets for metro, bus, and ferry | 20 single tickets for metro, bus, and ferry | discounts | yes |
| Hop-on & Hop-off | no | no | discount | discount |
| Guided tour of Dolmabahçe Palace Museum | no | no | yes | yes |
| Istanbul Aquarium | no | no | yes | yes |
| Madame Tussauds Wax Museum | no | no | yes | yes |
| Sapphire Observation Deck | no | no | yes | yes |
Istanbul Welcome Card - Premium: For First-Time Visitors
The Welcome Card Premium is a great choice if you want to visit a solid number of attractions in Istanbul without burning yourself out. It offers a well-rounded combination of sights, museums, and guided tours.
What does the Istanbul Welcome Card Premium offer?
- Valid for 7 days
- 3 attractions
- 10 rides on public transit – bus, metro, tram, ferry, cable car, metrobus
- Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern included
- Additional discounts
How much does the Istanbul Welcome Card Premium cost?
The pass costs 135 euros and is valid for seven days.
Pros and cons of the Welcome Card Premium
- Skip the ticket line
- Top attractions included
- Public transit ticket included
- No discount for children
- Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern only with an English-speaking guide
Our verdict on the Istanbul Welcome Card Premium
The Welcome Card Premium has a fairly focused set of features, but everything that matters is included — and you’ll get good use out of the public transit rides too. Do the math carefully to see whether the price works out for you. For a first visit to Istanbul, it’s more than enough.
Go to the Istanbul Welcome Card Premium
Istanbul Welcome Card - Deluxe: For History Buffs
With the Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe, unlike the Premium Card, you can join tours led by a historian and you get even more public transit rides. In our opinion, it’s only really worth it if you’re deeply interested in history and culture and want to go well beyond a quick look at the main sights.
What does the Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe offer?
- Valid for 5 days
- Over 10 attractions
- 20 rides on public transit – bus, metro, metrobus, tram, ferry, cable car
- Topkapi Palace and Basilica Cistern included
- Many additional discounts
How much does the Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe cost?
The Deluxe Welcome Card costs 189 euros and is valid for five days.
Pros and cons of the Welcome Card Deluxe
- Audio guide can be downloaded to your smartphone. With a Turkey eSIM you can do this easily on the go.
- Digital travel guide as a PDF file
- Many tours and guided visits with a historian
- 90-minute Bosphorus boat tour & audio guide
- Fast-track entry to many museums
- 20 public transit rides included
- No discount for children
- Quite expensive — you’ll need to visit a lot of attractions to make it worthwhile
Our verdict on the Welcome Card – Deluxe
The Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe is pricier and only valid for five days, so you’ll need to pack in a lot of tours and attractions in a short window to make it pay off. But if you really want to dig into the history of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and the Basilica Cistern, this is a fantastic option for you.
Go to the Istanbul Welcome Card Deluxe
Istanbul Tourist Pass: For Families
Traveling with kids and want to cover not just the major sights but also some activities the little ones will love? Then the Istanbul Tourist Pass is the perfect fit.
What does the Istanbul Tourist Pass offer?
- Valid for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, or 10 days
- Over 100 attractions
- 90-minute Segway tour included
- Children under 4 don’t need a ticket
- Additional discounts
How much does the Istanbul Tourist Pass cost?
| Istanbul Tourist Pass | Adults 12 and older | Children ages 5–11 |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | 155 EUR | 110 EUR |
| 2 days | 175 EUR | 140 EUR |
| 3 days | 205 EUR | 165 EUR |
| 4 days | 225 EUR | 180 EUR |
| 5 days | 240 EUR | 195 EUR |
| 7 days | 260 EUR | 205 EUR |
| 10 days | 300 EUR | 235 EUR |
Pros and cons of the Istanbul Tourist Pass
- Digital pass available directly on your phone after ordering
- Many attractions specifically for kids
- Airport transfer included
- Discounts on public transit
- All guided tours are in English
Our verdict on the Istanbul Tourist Pass
The Istanbul Tourist Pass is generally on the pricier side — but for families, it’s a different story. It’s the only pass that offers reduced prices for children between five and eleven years old, and kids under four get in free. On top of that, it includes a great range of family-friendly attractions like the Sea Life Aquarium, the underwater zoo, and the Toy Museum.
Go to the Istanbul Tourist Pass
Istanbul E-Pass: For Turbo Sightseeing
The Istanbul E-Pass has the most extensive lineup of attractions of any card in our comparison. It’s ideal if you have a bit more time or want to cram in as much as possible in just a few days.
What does the Istanbul E-Pass offer?
- Valid for 2, 3, 5, or 7 days
- Digital pass
- Around 55 attractions
- One-way airport transfer included
- Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern included
- Additional discounts
How much does the Istanbul E-Pass cost?
| E-Pass | Adults 12 years and older | Children ages 5–11 |
|---|---|---|
| For 2 days | 145 EUR | 115 EUR |
| For 3 days | 175 EUR | 140 EUR |
| For 5 days | 205 EUR | 165 EUR |
| For 7 days | 225 EUR | 180 EUR |
Important booking information
For many attractions you’ll need to reserve a spot in advance. You can do this easily through the Istanbul E-Pass app on your phone — just make the reservation 24 hours before your visit.
Pros and cons of the Istanbul E-Pass
- Digital Istanbul travel guide with over 50 pages in six languages
- Your ticket is sent directly to your email after purchase
- WhatsApp customer service to help with your planning
- No public transit included
Our verdict on the Istanbul E-Pass
The Istanbul E-Pass offers serious variety. Beyond the major attractions, it also covers points of interest a little outside the city center. With the pass you can, for example, take a day trip to Lake Sapanca or a boat ride out to the Princes’ Islands.
Frequently Asked Questions About Istanbul City Cards
Still have questions about the Istanbul passes? You’ll find your answers right here!
Do the Istanbul passes include public transportation?
Public transit is only included with the Istanbul Welcome Cards. The Premium Card covers ten rides and the Deluxe Card covers 20 rides on the metro, bus, ferry, and more. With the Istanbul Tourist Pass, you get a 40% discount on public transit rides.
Are there discounts for children on Istanbul city passes?
Yes — the Istanbul Tourist Pass and the Istanbul E-Pass both offer discounted children’s tickets. The Welcome Cards, unfortunately, offer very little in the way of child discounts.
Are Istanbul passes cheaper to buy online or on-site?
Online is almost always cheaper. Some passes can only be purchased online in advance, so it’s worth booking ahead regardless.
Can I visit the same attraction multiple times with a pass?
No — each attraction can only be visited once per pass.
How do I receive my Istanbul pass after purchasing?
The two Welcome Cards are delivered to your hotel. When placing your order, you’ll need to specify which hotel in Istanbul you’re staying at — the pass will be waiting for you at the front desk on arrival. The Istanbul Tourist Pass and the Istanbul E-Pass are sent to you by email immediately after purchase.
Heads up: Our Istanbul pass comparison is updated regularly. That said, things can change unexpectedly. Always double-check the terms and included attractions before you commit to buying a pass. Thanks!
