Bakirkoy-İncirli Metro Stop: Which Line and Where To?

The metro stop in Bakırköy is called Bakırköy-İncirli and it sits on the M1A line (Yenikapı–Atatürk Havalimanı). It is about 1.4 km, an 18-minute walk, from our place in Zeytinlik, and the İncirli Metrobus stop is in the same area.

You may come across older information online that puts this stop on a different line. The correct line is M1A; the details below follow that route. Before you travel, have a look at the line map in the station as well.

The two directions on the M1A

M1A trains run both ways and the sign shows the train's final destination. From Bakırköy-İncirli, take the train signed Yenikapı for the east and the one signed Atatürk Havalimanı for the west.

Towards Yenikapı

The main stops in this direction, in order, are as follows (some intermediate stops are not listed):

1. Zeytinburnu
2. Merter
3. Otogar (Istanbul main bus terminal, Esenler)
4. Aksaray
5. Yenikapı

This is the direction our guests heading to the bus terminal use most. The ride takes about 15 minutes; we have laid out the step-by-step plan in getting from Bakırköy to the Otogar by metro.

Towards Atatürk Havalimanı

In this direction the stops are Bahçelievler, Ataköy-Şirinevler, Yenibosna, DTM-İstanbul Fuar Merkezi and Atatürk Havalimanı. If you are going to an event at the Istanbul Expo Center, you get off at DTM-İstanbul Fuar Merkezi.

Do not let the sign mislead you: Atatürk Havalimanı is closed to passenger flights. Flights to and from Istanbul use Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW); IST is reached by taxi, car or Havaist buses, and SAW by Marmaray with an M4 transfer. For a flight day, see our early morning departure plan.

Transferring at Yenikapı

Yenikapı, the eastern end of the M1A, is a major transfer hub. Here you can switch to the M2 metro and to Marmaray. The M2 takes you to Taksim, Şişli and Levent; Marmaray continues to Sirkeci and through the tunnel to the Asian side.

That said, if you are starting out from Zeytinlik, the shorter way to Yenikapı is usually Marmaray: Marmaray Bakırköy station is an 8-minute walk from us and Yenikapı is about 15 minutes away on Marmaray. Taking the M1A to Yenikapı makes sense if you are already in İncirli, or if you have business in Merter or Aksaray along the way.

Which destination for the M1A?

Common mix-ups

• Two different stations carry Bakırköy in their name. Marmaray Bakırköy station is 8 minutes from us, while the M1A Bakırköy-İncirli stop is 18 minutes away. Different lines, different places.
• The Metrobus and the M1A are separate lines. Both stop in İncirli; the M1A goes to Yenikapı, while the Metrobus runs along the E-5 towards Beylikdüzü and Söğütlüçeşme.
• Check the sign when you return from the Otogar. Trains at the Otogar can also depart in other directions; to get back to Bakırköy, make sure the train is M1A and heading for Atatürk Havalimanı.
• For flights, aim for IST and SAW. The western end of the line, Atatürk Havalimanı, is closed to passenger flights; the name appears on signs only as a direction.

Using the M1A with luggage

The M1A is often a luggage line, thanks to guests travelling to and from the bus terminal. A few practical notes:

• Carriages get crowded at morning and evening rush hour; with a big suitcase, travel outside those hours if you can.
• Keep your suitcase beside you in a way that does not block the way through, rather than leaving it in front of the doors.
• You may meet stairs at station entrances; check the signs on the spot for lifts and escalators.
• The 18-minute walk from us to the stop gets longer with luggage. With heavy bags, a short taxi ride to İncirli is worth considering.
• Our building has a lift, so when you come back from the Otogar with your suitcase you ride straight up to your floor.

Cards and timetables

Istanbulkart is valid on the M1A, and the same card also covers the Metrobus and Marmaray. If you are staying a few days, load your balance before you travel so you do not lose time at the turnstile. Departure times and headways change, so check the current information from official sources; on early morning or late night trips in particular, look up the first and last departure in advance.

For the walk to the stop, see our walking guide from Zeytinlik to İncirli. If you are not sure which direction to take, message us on WhatsApp in English at +90 532 655 43 32 and we will check your route together.

Common questions