Istanbul Marathon 2026 Road Closures: Bridges, Trams and Ferries on 1 November
Bosphorus Bridge, Eurasia Tunnel and Galata Bridge are closed for the Istanbul Marathon on 1 Nov 2026. Reopening times, tram changes and airport tips.
Istanbul is running today. The 48th Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Marathon takes place on Sunday, 1 November 2026, and many of the districts visitors use most are closed to traffic until mid-afternoon. The 15 July Martyrs Bridge (the Bosphorus Bridge) has been closed to vehicles since 03:00. The Eurasia Tunnel and the Galata Bridge have been closed since 06:00. The T1 tram is not running to Sultanahmet, Eminönü, Karaköy or Kabataş.
If you have a flight, a tour or a cruise departure today, this guide covers what is closed, when it reopens and how to plan around it.
At a glance: what's closed and when it reopens
Road or service | Status today | Expected to reopen |
|---|---|---|
15 July Martyrs (Bosphorus) Bridge | Closed to vehicles since 03:00 | Around 14:00 (2 p.m.) |
Eurasia Tunnel | Closed both ways since 06:00 | Around 15:00 (3 p.m.) |
Galata Bridge | Closed both ways since 06:00 | With the rest of the route, gradually |
Whole marathon route (Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Beşiktaş, coastal road) | Closed since 06:00 | Around 15:30 (3:30 p.m.) |
Metrobus, Zincirlikuyu–Söğütlüçeşme | No service while the bridge is closed | After the bridge reopens |
T1 tram | Runs only Bağcılar–Beyazıt, 07:00–17:00 | Full line after 17:00 (5 p.m.) |
These are the official planned times. Roads reopen gradually as the course is cleared, so allow some extra time even after the stated hours.
The route: from Asia to Europe past the landmarks
The Istanbul Marathon is billed as the world's only intercontinental marathon. The full marathon starts at 09:00 on the Asian side of the Bosphorus Bridge, crosses into Europe and follows Barbaros Boulevard down to Dolmabahçe Avenue, past Dolmabahçe Palace. It continues along Meclis-i Mebusan Avenue through Fındıklı, Tophane and Karaköy, crosses the Galata Bridge, then runs past Sirkeci onto Kennedy Avenue, the coastal road along the Sea of Marmara.
Runners head out past Zeytinburnu and Bakırköy, turn at the Air Force Academy and come back through Sirkeci and Gülhane Park. The finish is at the Obelisk (Dikilitaş) in Sultanahmet, in the old Hippodrome, a few minutes' walk from the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia.
Race-day timetable
08:45: wheelchair race starts
09:00: marathon (42K) starts
09:19, 09:38 and 10:05: 15.5K waves start (the 15.5K finishes at Yenikapı)
Around 11:10: the marathon winner is expected at the Sultanahmet finish
12:14: public fun run starts
15:20: the marathon finish closes in Sultanahmet
Which roads are closed today? District by district
Sultanahmet and the Old City
Divanyolu, Alemdar and Ankara avenues are closed, along with Kennedy Avenue (the coastal road) in both directions and Ragıp Gümüşpala and Reşadiye avenues around Eminönü and Sirkeci. Ahırkapı, Genç Osman, Gazi Mustafa Kemalpaşa and Namık Kemal avenues are closed too. If your hotel is in Sultanahmet, a taxi or transfer probably cannot reach your door before mid-afternoon.
Karaköy, Tophane and Galataport
Meclis-i Mebusan, Kemeraltı and Necatibey avenues, Karaköy Square and the Galata Bridge are all on the course. The Galataport cruise terminal sits right on the route.
Beşiktaş, Dolmabahçe and Ortaköy
Barbaros Boulevard, Dolmabahçe Avenue, Çırağan Avenue, Beşiktaş Square and Kabataş are closed. So are the Balmumcu tunnel entrance and the Zincirlikuyu entry to the D-100 highway.
The Asian side
Roads leading to the bridge are closed in Üsküdar, Altunizade, Beylerbeyi and Kuzguncuk, including Kısıklı Avenue and the Şile road between the Libadiye junction and Kısıklı Avenue.
Official detours: to cross between the continents, use the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. In the city, the D-100 highway, Atatürk Boulevard, the Atatürk (Unkapanı) Bridge and Tarlabaşı Boulevard stay open. Expect them to be much busier than on a normal Sunday.
Is public transport running during the marathon?
T1 tram: normal service ran from 06:00 to 07:00. From 07:00 to 17:00 trams run only between Bağcılar and Beyazıt, so there is no tram to Sultanahmet, Gülhane, Sirkeci, Eminönü, Karaköy, Tophane or Kabataş. Beyazıt, next to the Grand Bazaar, is the closest working stop to the Old City.
Metrobus: no service between Zincirlikuyu and Söğütlüçeşme while the bridge is closed, so you can't cross to the Asian side by metrobus. Istanbul's bus operator, İETT, recommends bus lines that use the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, or the rail system.
Ferries: some sailings are cancelled on the Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü, Üsküdar–Karaköy–Eminönü, Kadıköy–Beşiktaş and Kabataş–Princes' Islands routes. Check the Şehir Hatları timetable before you head to the pier.
Runners and staff ride all public transport free from 06:00 to 17:00 by showing their bib number or staff card.
Flying out today? Getting to Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport (IST) is north of the city on the European side, and the main roads to it are not on the course. The hard part is reaching them. From Taksim, Şişli or Levent, the trip is mostly unaffected. From Sultanahmet, Sirkeci or Eminönü the coastal road is closed, so drivers use Atatürk Boulevard or the D-100 instead, often from a pickup point outside the closed zone.
Before 15:30:
Plan for a short walk. Your pickup may have to be at the nearest open street rather than at your hotel entrance. Cobblestones and suitcases don't mix well, so ask your hotel which street is open.
Leave early. Add a generous buffer. An extra hour is sensible from the Old City.
Crossing continents? If you're on the Asian side and flying from IST, the only road crossings until the Bosphorus Bridge and the Eurasia Tunnel reopen are the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and Yavuz Sultan Selim bridges, and traffic there is heavy.
A pre-booked Istanbul Airport transfer at a fixed price takes the guesswork out of it. Your driver plans the route around the closures and meets you at a point that's actually open.
Cruise passengers at Galataport
If your ship is docked at Galataport today, the marathon runs right past the terminal on Meclis-i Mebusan and Kemeraltı avenues, and the tram isn't running at Tophane or Karaköy. Leaving the port by car before the route reopens is difficult. Two things help:
Spend the morning on foot. Walk up to Galata Tower and Beyoğlu, away from the course, while the race passes.
Book your sightseeing for the afternoon. Once the roads reopen, a private Galataport shore excursion or a few hours with a driver gets you to the highlights without waiting for buses. Our guide to planning a port day in Istanbul from Galataport has more ideas.
How to enjoy marathon day instead of fighting it
Watch the race. Tens of thousands of people take part every year; more than 41,000 registered in 2025. The leaders are expected at the Obelisk finish in Sultanahmet around 11:10, and runners keep arriving well into the afternoon.
Walk the Old City. With no traffic on Divanyolu, the walk from the Grand Bazaar towards Sultanahmet is quieter than on any other day of the year.
Save the Bosphorus for later. By late afternoon the roads are open again. A private yacht tour on the Bosphorus at sunset is a relaxed way to see the bridge the runners crossed that morning.
Plan the rest of your week. If you're staying a few more days, a full-day trip out of the city, such as Bursa and Uludağ or Sapanca and Maşukiye, avoids city traffic altogether. Still here on 10 November? Read what visitors should know about Atatürk Memorial Day.
Why a private driver helps on a day like this
No vehicle, ours included, can drive on a closed marathon route. What a good local driver can do:
know which streets stay open around the course, and meet you at the closest one
follow the police diversions as roads reopen in stages, so you don't sit in a queue at a closed junction
take the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge or the D-100 when that's faster, without you having to work it out
wait for you between stops, so a closed tram line doesn't decide your plans
Our Istanbul private car hire with driver starts at €79 for 4 hours, per vehicle rather than per person, with hotel pickup included. A 4-hour booking from 15:30 covers the reopened city, a Bosphorus viewpoint at sunset and dinner. Istanbul Airport transfers are fixed-price, from €35. We drive Mercedes-Benz Vito, Maybach Vito and Sprinter vehicles for couples, families and groups, and drivers keep in touch on WhatsApp. Bridge and motorway tolls are paid separately.
Need a car today? Online bookings need at least 6 hours' notice, so for a same-day pickup message us on WhatsApp at +90 543 548 59 53. For later in your stay, book online. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup.
Frequently asked questions
Which roads are closed for the Istanbul Marathon on 1 November 2026?
The 15 July Martyrs (Bosphorus) Bridge, the Eurasia Tunnel, the Galata Bridge and the whole course: Barbaros Boulevard, Dolmabahçe, Kabataş, Karaköy, Kennedy Avenue (the coastal road) and the main streets of Sultanahmet, plus the bridge approaches in Üsküdar and Altunizade.
What time do the roads reopen after the Istanbul Marathon?
The Bosphorus Bridge is planned to reopen around 14:00, the Eurasia Tunnel around 15:00 and the whole route around 15:30. Reopening is gradual.
Is the tram running to Sultanahmet today?
No. From 07:00 to 17:00 the T1 tram runs only between Bağcılar and Beyazıt. Beyazıt (Grand Bazaar) is the closest working stop.
Can I get to Istanbul Airport during the marathon?
Yes. The roads to the airport are open, but getting out of the Old City and the Bosphorus shoreline takes longer. Leave early and arrange your pickup at an open street.
Are the ferries running?
Most are, but some sailings are cancelled on the Kadıköy–Karaköy–Eminönü, Üsküdar–Karaköy–Eminönü, Kadıköy–Beşiktaş and Kabataş–Princes' Islands routes.
How can I cross between Europe and Asia today?
By road, use the Fatih Sultan Mehmet or Yavuz Sultan Selim bridges until the Bosphorus Bridge and the Eurasia Tunnel reopen. The metrobus does not cross the Bosphorus during the closure.
Cover photo: the start of the Istanbul Marathon on the Asian side of the 15 July Martyrs (Bosphorus) Bridge in 2010. Photo: Gökhan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
