for those who are rich, own a private helicopter or are simply willing to wait for Elon Musk to build his groundbreaking Hyperloop, traffic may not be a paralyzing aspect of daily life. On the other hand, for the average urban dweller the horror of daily traffic jams is inescapable and a part of the daily landscape for the city's nearly 15 million people, defining the city just like the Blue Mosque and other iconic images of Istanbul. Despite recent and ongoing construction projects resulting in newly built roads, tunnels and bridges, Istanbul's traffic problem has been slightly abated but is far from being solved.

Beating the city's traffic is like cracking a code, and for the city slickers who have lived in Istanbul for a long time, it is not difficult. On the other hand, for those who are new to the city it can be a challenge, so we have compiled some tips to help you decipher the maze of the infamous Istanbul traffic jam.

Always leave early



The key to arriving at your destination on time in Istanbul is to always leave early: No matter how close you think your destination is. Istanbul is a city where anything can happen at any time. There is always a chance you will encounter lane closures due to car accidents, entire road closures and undesirable detours So, it is always wise to leave for your destination early. Don't forget that it is better to be early rather than late.



Avoid traffic completely



Istanbul probably has the best public transport system in Turkey. Being that traffic is the number-one problem in this city, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality mainly focuses on public transportation mediums that travel outside of the main Istanbul traffic. With Istanbul's extensive sea transport system, passengers can easily get to their destinations on the European and Asian sides of the city easier and more quickly. With ports established on both sides of the Bosporus, state-run and private ferry lines run from Asia to Europe, cruising between the ferry docks of Kadiköy, Eminönü, Karaköy and Üsküdar on the Asian side to carry Istanbulites across the Bosporus or down the coast, you avoid traffic altogether. Moreover, sea buses run by private companies help Istanbulites to cross the Bosporus from the Bakırköy, Yenikapı, Bostancı and Kadıköy docks.

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