Otogar Esenler to Sirkeci Gari

jerbil · Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject: Otogar Esenler to Sirkeci Gari

Having decided to go by bus from Bulgaria to Istanbul because of the high cost by train (quoted 275e total, return for two, as opposed to 80e for bus) and length of time (34 hrs total travel, as opposed to 17hrs by bus) we are now stuck getting from Otogar Esenler to Sirkeci Gari area, where our hotel is.

Anyone have any ideas as to best route by public transport (and, how much deposit for an AKBIL, presumably you can get one at Esenler)?

Alternatively, any idea about taxi cost?

jerbil

OK, we are using Metro and apparently there are free transfer buses at Esenler. The service is termed "Istanbul City Service (free)" Istanbul sehir ici servis hizmetlerimiz (I guess it is only available to Metro bus users as neither of the other two providers in Varna offered free transfers). It lists seven different routes, of which the most appropriate seems to be...
Vatan Caddesi
Findikzade
Cara
Topkapi
Zeytinburnu
which, I guess means we should get off at Findikzade and get a tram from there to Gulhane (which looks like a 2 min walk from our hotel). The problem then is, where do we get our AkBil from? We arrive at Esenler at approx. 5 a.m. Should we buy it there before we take the transfer (and risk missing the mini-bus, particularly as we would have to find an ATM to get some lira, as well) or wait until we get to Findikzade (will trams be running at that time?).