fastest way to go from airport to port terminal
 

I have never been to Istanbul and I have no idea how the traffic will look like on a Friday afternoon around 2pm. I wonder whether someone could tell me what is faster to go from Ataturk airport to the Port of Istanbul Salipazari Yolcu Salonu: (1) taxi (2) metro M1+ tram T1. I do not have much luggage so walking is a not a problem. If taking M1+T1, should I transfer at Zeytinburnu or Aksaray station? Thank you!

Taxi to Aksaray tram stop and then the tram to Karakoy, just past the Galata Bridge on the Golden Horn should be the easiest and fast enough. You should see your ship as the tram crosses the bridge and your walk should not be long.

Tram, in Turkish is "tramvay" pronounced, "trum-why"

our tram should be going to your right in direction of "Kabatas"

The fastest way would obviously be in a taxi

Sorry, I missed your mention of Salipazari.

You should get off the tram at Tophane rather than Karakoy, since that is where Sali Pazari is, although I do not know if you should walk towards an entrance to the left of Istanbul Modern art museum, or to the right.

Friday, the rush traffic will have started and hit the last 4 miles of the coast road and the Galata Bridge by the time you clear passport control and collect your luggage. Hence, getting of the taxi and on the tram which is not subject to any vehicular traffic makes a great deal of sense despite any other posts by people who are not aware of Istanbul particulars.

otherchelebi, thank you for confirming my worry that traffic could be very bad friday afternoon in Istanbul downtown. So I will use tram for the last few miles. I am concerned about the rap of Istanbul's taxi drivers so I might take metro to get out of Ataturk airport. Looking at the map, the most direct way to transfer to T1 is at Zeytinburnu station but most travel books and websites recommend Aksaray. What you will recommend? Thanks so much!

I am not sure how close to the metro station T1 gets at Zeytinburnu, since I have never used the metro and have only used the tram between Aksaray and Kabatas. It is also possible that the tram from Zeytinburnu to Aksaray takes a long time due to long route and ten stops whereas the taxi should do it in about ten minutes.

The traffic to Yenikapi, following the coastal road will be quite good, and will get heavy only the last few hundred meters when you turn towards Aksaray at the Yenikapi roundbout.

The heavy traffic will be moving in both directions from Yenikapi, towards the airport and suburbs and towards the center and the ferryboat at Sirkeci, the Bosphorus bridges or the upscale central residential areas.