r/istanbul • u/Specific_Release_778 • 2d ago

Travel Good Experience with Rideshare in Istanbul

Uber isn't paying me to write this 😄

I noticed that most Reddit posts about taxis and rideshares in Istanbul tend to be negative, but I decided to give Uber a chance anyway.

Over the last two days, I took six Uber rides—both short and long distances. All of them were metered rides, and I wasn't scammed a single time. I followed a few simple rules:

  • I booked every ride through Uber.
  • I used a credit card for payment. This makes it much easier to work with Uber support if something goes wrong (although I never needed to contact them).
  • When the ride starts, Uber shows the route the driver is expected to follow. If a driver takes a significantly longer route, Uber already has systems in place to detect that, so drivers generally don't try it.
  • Uber allows you to record audio during a ride if you feel uncomfortable or if a dispute arises.
  • I kept an eye on the map during the trip to make sure the route made sense.
  • If a driver does take an unusual route, there's no need to argue. Just take screenshots of map in uber app it and contact Uber support afterward.
  • There is a driver rating in uber app, so they need to maintain their reputation

Obviously, this is just my personal experience, but six rides in two days without any issues was much better than I expected based on what I had read online.

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u/ImOuttaHereTravel 1d ago

I agree that using Uber in Istanbul is smarter than simply hailing a cab, because of all the checks and balances you mention. Overall, though, I do try to minimize cabs in the Istanbul area.

A newer scam that I noticed last year was Uber drivers not stopping the meter when they drop you off. One driver, as we got out, was chatting with another driver and just kept the meter running. :| Just something to watch out for.

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u/Anxious_Ad_4352 1d ago

Uber doesn’t have a meter.

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u/ImOuttaHereTravel 3h ago

In Turkiye, Uber just calls the cab system with a more convenient way to pay. Uber is not private drivers there. So yes, there *is* a meter in that part of the world. I am a dual citizen and have experienced Turkish Ubers many times!