Is it safe to drink the tap water?

No, stick to bottled or filtered water for drinking. It is fine for brushing your teeth.

How do I get from the airport?

Use the HAVAIST airport shuttle buses. They are reliable, affordable, and drop you at major hubs like Taksim or Sultanahmet.

How to plan your first 3 days in Istanbul

Focus your first three days on Sultanahmet for history, Beyoğlu for modern culture, and the Bosphorus for perspective. Use the Istanbulkart for all public transit to avoid ticket lines and save money.

Get an Istanbulkart. Buy an Istanbulkart at any major transit stop or airport kiosk. Load it with 300 TL to start; it works for trams, metros, ferries, and funiculars.
Use the T1 Tram line. Stay near the T1 tram line if possible. It connects the major historic sites in Sultanahmet with the shopping and dining areas of Karaköy and Eminönü.
Pre-book major site entries. Buy your museum passes or tickets online for the Topkapı Palace and Galata Tower to skip the 45-minute queues.
Master the ferry. Do not pay for expensive 'private' boat tours. Use the public city ferries (Şehir Hatları) from Eminönü or Karaköy to cross the Bosphorus for about 20 TL.

Is it safe to drink the tap water?: No, stick to bottled or filtered water for drinking. It is fine for brushing your teeth.
How do I get from the airport?: Use the HAVAIST airport shuttle buses. They are reliable, affordable, and drop you at major hubs like Taksim or Sultanahmet.