The Turkish government has announced that several metro and train lines across Turkey will be free on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026.
According to an official statement, and a presidential decision published in the Official Gazette, a number of rail and urban transit systems in major Turkish cities will operate at no cost for the entire day to mark the start of the new year.
Based on the official announcement and confirmation from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the following rail and metro lines will be completely free to use on January 1:
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Başkentray (Ankara): The main commuter rail line connecting Ankara with its surrounding suburbs.
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Marmaray (Istanbul): The rail tunnel linking the European and Asian sides of the city.
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İZBAN (Izmir): The urban rail network serving the greater Izmir area.
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Sirkeci–Kazlıçeşme Line (Istanbul): Part of Istanbul’s urban rail system.
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Gayrettepe–Istanbul Airport–Arnavutköy Metro Line: The metro line connecting Istanbul Airport to the city.
The government confirmed that no tickets or fees will be required on any of these lines throughout January 1, 2026, allowing residents and visitors to move around freely all day.
This decision comes as part of efforts to support public transportation, ease financial pressure on people during New Year celebrations, and make travel easier during the holiday in major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir.
