Kirazlı-Bağcılar: Metro Transit Hub and Transfer Point Guide

Kirazlı-Bağcılar is one of the main metro interchanges on the European side of Istanbul. Two lines share one underground station complex in the Kirazlı neighbourhood of Bağcılar: the M1B, which runs east to Yenikapı, and the M3, which links Bakırköy Sahil in the south with Kayaşehir Merkez in the north.

It is a working station rather than a sightseeing stop, and that is exactly why it deserves a page. Anyone who stays in the old city or near the coast and wants to reach the western suburbs, the Ikitelli area or Başakşehir will probably pass through here, and so will many commuters who live in Bağcılar and work elsewhere along the two lines. The Kirazlı-Bağcılar metro interchange is compact, and knowing which platform you need before you arrive saves a lot of hesitation in the passages. This guide explains how the station is laid out, which lines and buses connect here, who it suits and what to know about fares and crowds.

Lines and interchanges: M1B, M3. Interchange: Kirazlı (M1B), Kirazlı (M3).

Quick Facts

Turkish name	Kirazlı-Bağcılar
Built / opened	2013
Address	Kirazlı Mahallesi, Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Caddesi, 34210 Bağcılar/İstanbul Google MapsApple MapsYandex Maps
District	Bağcılar
Interchanges	Kirazlı (M1B, Station entrances on the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Street side) Kirazlı (M3, Same station complex, reached by the interchange passages)
Best time to visit	Weekday mid-morning and early afternoon are the calmest times to change trains. The worst crowds are on weekday mornings and late afternoons, when both lines carry commuters between the suburbs and the city. The M3 and M1 run roughly from 06:00 to midnight, and there is no night service on the M3 as of October 2026. Check the official site for current timetables. The station works in any season, since it is underground, though summer can feel warm in the passages and winter rain adds to the crowds above ground.

Why Visit Kirazlı-Bağcılar?

Most visitors will not come to Kirazlı for its own sake. They come because the station is the cleanest way to change between two lines that serve very different parts of the city.

• It connects the M1B toward Yenikapı and the historic peninsula with the M3, which runs north to Başakşehir and Kayaşehir and south to the Bakırköy coast.
• Bus routes 92K, 98K, HT10, HT13 and MK42 stop nearby, and minibuses run from the area toward Bakırköy.
• It is a useful place to see an ordinary western Istanbul neighbourhood that most guidebook routes skip.
• The station is listed as accessible, which matters if you travel with luggage, a stroller or limited mobility.

Treat it as a smart connection point, not a destination, and you will use it well.

How Kirazlı-Bağcılar Is Laid Out

Kirazlı is an underground station built as one complex for two lines. Each line has its own island platform with two tracks, so every platform serves trains in both directions. That means the first decision is simply which line you need, and the second is which direction, shown on the signs above the platforms and on the train fronts.

The M1B platform is the end of the line for trains from Yenikapı and the central peninsula. Trains on this line begin and end their journey here, so the direction question is easy: you are either going toward Yenikapı or you have just arrived from it. The M3 platform is different. Since the southern extension opened, M3 trains pass through Kirazlı in both directions, one way toward Bakırköy Sahil and the other toward Kayaşehir Merkez.

Plan to follow the interchange signs from platform to platform rather than leaving the fare gates, because the connection between the lines is inside the complex. Street exits lead to the Kirazlı neighbourhood on the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Street side. If you exit by mistake, you will need to pass the gates again, so check the interchange signs before you walk through.

Highlights of Kirazlı-Bağcılar

Two lines in one underground complex

Kirazlı opened in June 2013 as the meeting point of two different metro lines, the M1B coming from Yenikapı and the M3 heading north toward Başakşehir. Both lines have an island platform with two tracks, so trains stop on both sides of each platform. Look at the overhead signs to match your line colour and direction before you step onto the platform. The two lines run on different electrical systems, which is why the trains look and sound different when you compare them side by side.

Tip: Stand away from the platform edge until the display shows which direction the next train is heading.

The M1B platform

The M1B is the older of the two lines, extended to Kirazlı from Esenler in June 2013 together with Bağcılar Meydan and the stations in between. The line splits at Otogar, so only trains marked for Kirazlı or Yenikapı come here; the other branch goes toward the former Atatürk Airport area. For visitors the practical meaning is simple: if your train shows Kirazlı on the front, you are on the right branch, and if you are heading back toward the old city, the Yenikapı direction is what you want.

Tip: Check the destination on the train front, because M1 trains share track toward Otogar and head to different branches.

The M3 platform and its through service

Until March 2024 this was the southern end of the M3. Since the extension to Bakırköy Sahil, M3 trains pass through Kirazlı in both directions, one way toward the Bakırköy coast and the other toward Mahmutbey, Ikitelli and Başakşehir. This matters because older maps and blog posts still show Kirazlı as a terminus. The M3 runs with automated train control, so the ride is smooth, and trains arrive every few minutes at busy times.

Tip: Ignore old maps that show Kirazlı as the end of the M3; the line now continues both ways.

Street level in Kirazlı

Above ground the station sits in the Kirazlı neighbourhood of Bağcılar, on Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Street. This is a dense residential and commercial area of western Istanbul, with shops, bakeries and small cafes serving local residents rather than tourists. The station is useful as a bridge to the surrounding districts, not as a gateway to a historic site. If you need to go somewhere local, the bus stops and minibus stands around the entrances are the quickest way to continue your trip.

Tip: Look for the minibus stops around the station for shared rides toward Bakırköy.

Bus and minibus connections

Kirazlı works as a transfer point for the surface network too. The İETT bus routes 92K, 98K, HT10, HT13 and MK42 serve the station area, and minibuses run toward Bakırköy Metro-Evren Mahallesi, Bakırköy-Barbaros and Bakırköy-İstoç. This makes it possible to cross the western suburbs without going back through the city centre. For visitors staying near Bağcılar or heading to a business appointment or hospital visit in the suburbs, it can be the fastest connection. Check the route display on the bus before boarding.

Tip: Check the route number on the bus front, since routes change from time to time.

A station built for growth

The M1B is planned to be extended west from Kirazlı toward Halkalı, which would turn this station into a through stop for that line as well. As of October 2026 the project is still under construction and the first section toward Halkalı-Üniversite is not open. Until it is, Kirazlı remains the western end of the M1B. The station was built as a major interchange, which explains the generous size of the underground complex compared with a typical neighbourhood stop.

Tip: Check the Metro Istanbul website before your trip if you rely on a western extension; it may not be open yet.

Atmosphere

Down in the station the mood is one of steady commuting rather than sightseeing. Passages are wide and lit evenly, and the sound is mostly footsteps, announcements and the hum of arriving trains. On weekday mornings and late afternoons you will see families, students and workers moving quickly between the M1B and M3 platforms, with queues at the escalators during peak times.

Outside, Bağcılar is an everyday neighbourhood: dense apartment blocks, shops, and the traffic of minibuses and buses. Midday is calmer, and evenings bring many people home. There is little here that is designed for visitors, and that is part of the charm for anyone curious about how most of Istanbul lives and moves.

History of Kirazlı-Bağcılar

Kirazlı is a young station by Istanbul standards, and its history is tied to the growth of the western suburbs. The M1 line began as a light metro in the late 1980s, with trains built in Austria. Over the years the line was extended, and on 20 December 2002 the M1A branch reached the Atatürk Airport area. The line splits at Otogar, which is the reason there are two branches, M1A and M1B.

The westward branch toward Bağcılar followed later. On 14 June 2013 the Esenler to Kirazlı extension opened, adding four stations: Menderes, Üçyüzlü, Bağcılar Meydan and Kirazlı. That extension created the M1B as a branch of its own. It gave residents of Bağcılar a direct rail link toward Yenikapı and the historic peninsula.

The same station was designed to be the starting point of another line. The M3, whose first stage ran from Kirazlı toward Başakşehir-Metrokent, began operating unofficially on 10 September 2012 and was officially opened on 14 June 2013, the same day as the M1B extension. This is the reason the two lines meet in a single complex. For years Kirazlı was the southwestern end of the M3, and the connection between the M1B and M3 was treated as one continuous journey.

The M3 itself kept growing. The Ikitelli Sanayi to Olimpiyat branch opened in November 2013 and was later transferred to the M9 in 2021. A northern extension from Başakşehir-Metrokent to Kayaşehir Merkez opened on 8 April 2023. Then, on 10 March 2024, the southern extension from Kirazlı to Bakırköy Sahil opened, adding six stations over about 8.4 kilometres. Kirazlı stopped being a terminus and became a through station on the M3. Yıldıztepe, between Kirazlı and Bakırköy, opened on 8 October 2025.

The wider picture explains why the interchange matters. Before these lines arrived, the western suburbs depended mostly on buses and minibuses to reach the centre. The metro changed that by giving Bağcılar, Esenler and the Ikitelli and Başakşehir areas a direct rail connection, and Kirazlı became the point where those two systems meet. Its generous underground size reflects that role. The M1 line is about 26.8 kilometres long in total, with the M1B branch about 14 kilometres and thirteen stations, and trains run roughly from 06:00 to midnight.

For travellers, the main lesson from the history is that older descriptions can be wrong. Maps and articles written before March 2024 show Kirazlı as the end of the M3, and some earlier sources describe the connection between M1B and M3 as one continuous journey. Today the two lines are separate services that happen to share a station, and the M3 continues south through Yıldıztepe and İncirli to the Bakırköy coast.

The story is not finished. A 9.7 kilometre extension of the M1B west from Kirazlı toward Halkalı has been planned, with nine new stations, and the first section toward Halkalı-Üniversite has been described as an opening for the end of this decade. Work on the remaining part is reported to be on hold because of land acquisition problems. As of October 2026 you should check the official Metro Istanbul site for the current status.

Tickets and Booking for Kirazlı-Bağcılar

The station is part of the Istanbul metro network, and fares and payment follow the same system as the rest of the city.

• Istanbulkart is the standard rechargeable transit card. It can be bought and topped up at machines and kiosks in stations and at many shops, and it is the easiest option for several rides.
• Fare level for a single ride: ₺. Transfers between lines may be treated differently from a simple second ride, so check the current rules.
• Contactless bank cards, mobile payment and single-use tickets are accepted on some parts of the network. As of October 2026, availability varies, so check the Metro Istanbul website or the machines on site.
• Foreign visitors can use the system, and a foreign-issued card is the main thing to check at the machine.

Rush hours are roughly the weekday morning and late afternoon, when the interchange passages and escalators are at their busiest. For the current rules and fares, see the official Metro Istanbul website.

How to Get to Kirazlı-Bağcılar

By metro. Take the M1B to Kirazlı from Yenikapı, Aksaray or Otogar, or the M3 from Bakırköy Sahil, Mahmutbey, Ikitelli or Başakşehir. Both lines stop in the same station complex, so follow the interchange signs rather than leaving through the fare gates.

On foot* from the street. The station entrances are in the Kirazlı neighbourhood on the Hoca Ahmet Yesevi Street side. Follow the metro signs from the pavement down into the complex.

• Buses: İETT routes 92K, 98K, HT10, HT13 and MK42 serve the area.
• Minibuses: shared minibuses run toward Bakırköy Metro-Evren Mahallesi, Bakırköy-Barbaros and Bakırköy-İstoç.
• Taxi: a taxi to the entrance is simple, but the station has no parking, so ask to be dropped at the pavement.

Accessibility

The station is listed as accessible, and step-free access is provided for a station of this kind. Look for the elevator signs at the entrances and follow the step-free route markings inside the station.

Because Kirazlı is a large interchange, the walk between the M1B and M3 platforms can be long. Allow extra time if you travel with a wheelchair, a stroller or heavy luggage, and ask staff for help if a lift is out of service.

Food Nearby

There is no single famous restaurant to point to here, and we have not verified individual venues. The streets around the station are lined with everyday places typical of Bağcılar: bakeries, simit sellers, small cafes, kebab and pide shops, and grocery stores that stay open late.

For a quick bite, look for the shops on the main street near the exits and choose a busy counter with a fast turnover. For a longer sit-down meal, many visitors prefer to ride one or two stops to a busier district.

What to Bring

An Istanbulkart or another valid payment method, a charged phone* with an offline map, and comfortable shoes for the long interchange passages. In summer carry water and in winter bring a layer, since platforms can be cooler or warmer than the street.

Keep your bag zipped and in front of you in crowds. Large luggage is possible but awkward at rush hour, so travel outside peak times if you can.

Photography Rules

Quick snapshots with a phone are the sensible approach in the passages and on the platforms. Avoid tripods, flash and drones, do not block the flow of people, and follow any instruction from station staff. Be considerate of other passengers and avoid close-up photos of people without their consent.

Family Suitability

The station works for families if you plan ahead. It is listed as accessible, so strollers are manageable. The interchange passages are long, and trains are crowded at rush hour, so choose off-peak times with small children.

Keep young children close at the platform edge and on the escalators. Older children usually enjoy the trains, especially the automated M3, but there is nothing at the station itself designed for kids.

Istanbul Vibes Tips

• Check the train front before boarding the M1. The line splits at Otogar, so only some trains come to Kirazlı.
• Do not rely on old maps. Kirazlı used to be the end of the M3, but trains now continue toward Bakırköy Sahil as well as north toward Başakşehir.
• Follow the interchange signs from platform to platform. Leaving through the street exits and coming back is the most common way to lose time here.
• Plan your connection with the bus stops in mind. The surface routes around the station can save you a long metro detour if you are heading to a neighbourhood the metro does not reach.
• Allow a few extra minutes for the walk between the two lines at rush hour, when the passages and escalators are busy.
• For a first-time ride, travel mid-morning or early afternoon. Trains are calmer, and the signs are easier to read without a crowd.

Explore Nearby Kirazlı-Bağcılar

Metro stations near Kirazlı-Bağcılar

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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Esenlerabout 3.9 km away
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Otogar – about 4.4 km awayOpen daily 06:00–00:00
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  AI

  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Mahmutbey – about 2.8 km awayOpen daily 06:00–00:00
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  Main image: AI-generated illustration. It may not show the place exactly as it looks.
  Bakırköy-İncirli – about 4.7 km awayOpen daily 06:00–00:30

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FAQ: Kirazlı-Bağcılar

Which lines stop at Kirazlı station?

Two lines share the station complex: the M1B, which runs toward Yenikapı and the old city, and the M3, which runs south to Bakırköy Sahil and north to Kayaşehir Merkez. Each line has its own island platform, and you change between them inside the complex without leaving the paid area.

Is Kirazlı the end of the M3 line?

Not any more. It was the southern end of the M3 until the extension to Bakırköy Sahil opened in March 2024. Trains now pass through in both directions, so older maps and articles that show Kirazlı as the terminus are out of date. The M1B, in contrast, still ends here as of October 2026.

Is the station accessible for wheelchairs and strollers?

It is listed as accessible, with step-free routes inside. The interchange passages are long, so allow extra time and avoid the busiest commuter hours if you travel with a wheelchair or stroller. If a lift is out of service, ask station staff for the nearest alternative route.

Is there parking at Kirazlı station?

The station has no car park. If you drive, plan to park elsewhere and take the bus, a minibus or a taxi to the entrance. Many visitors simply arrive by metro or bus, since the interchange is built around public transport rather than park and ride.

Which buses connect to the station?

İETT bus routes 92K, 98K, HT10, HT13 and MK42 serve the area, and minibuses run toward Bakırköy Metro-Evren Mahallesi, Bakırköy-Barbaros and Bakırköy-İstoç. Routes can change, so check the display on the bus or the official İETT information before you board.

Is there anything to see around Kirazlı?

Not in the sightseeing sense. The area is a dense residential and commercial part of Bağcılar, with shops and everyday cafes. Most visitors use Kirazlı to change lines or buses and continue to another part of the city, such as the old city via the M1B or the Bakırköy coast via the M3.

Will the M1B be extended beyond Kirazlı?

A westward extension toward Halkalı is planned and partly under construction, but as of October 2026 it is not open, and parts of the project have been reported as delayed. Until it opens, Kirazlı stays the end of the M1B. Check the Metro Istanbul website for the current status.

How long does it take to change between M1B and M3?

The walk between the platforms depends on crowds and your pace, so allow a comfortable margin rather than a tight connection. The connection is inside the complex, so you do not need to go outside. At rush hour the escalators and passages are busier, so add a few minutes if you have a tight connection.

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