Bicycles & Scooters in Istanbul

Istanbul has plenty of one way streets which can be confusing to an outsider.Istanbul is not NewYork where streets go diretly from one end to another without any twist .Snake like narrow streets full of parked cars will give you a headache which your migrane pills will not be in any way effective.There is also the foundation of the city which can be a serious problem .Istanbul has many hills..it is not a flat city which will make bicycle ride a torture.Take a taxi to longer distances or walk if it is an OK distance.Bring good walking shoes.

the tram system is cheap and convenient, as are taxis. as poster #1 said, istanbul is pretty hilly, really big and not very bicycle friendly, so, while it is definitely possible, a bicycle may not be the most enjoyable means of transport. i thoroughly enjoyed walking and public transport for my two weeks there.

GTI is absolutely right, renting a bike or a scooter (I don't even know if it's possible) would not be a good idea. To give you an idea of how steep some streets are; in my street the city put a railing down the middle because when it rains it even was somewhat difficult to WALK down. Also, Istanbul traffic is crazy and dangerous enough if you're inside a car.

Stick to walking, public transport and taxis. Take good walking shoes, and if you're not used to a hilly hike, prepare for horrible muscle aches after your first days. Every time when you come back to your hotels it would be a good idea to rinse your calves down with cold water.

Thank you all for the advice, I didn't realize Ist. was that hilly. I'm used to walking but not so much in hilly areas. I guess I'll have to get in better shape.

I personally enjoyed biking in Istanbul for the two years I spent there. Beautiful routes along the Bosporus or the Marmara Sea (on both sides) and of course wonderful trips on the islands. Actually it is also a quick way to get around in the city, but be prepared for steep hills and a crazy traffic with no co-bikers!