Note: The Akbil is no longer used in Istanbul. Instead, you can use the Istanbulkart or other contactless cards (such as some bank and credit cards) for public transportation.
When you board a bus, tram, Tünel, Metro, sea bus, Füniküler, or ferry in Istanbul, look for people touching their Akbil electronic transit passes to the Akbil fare-point, a little circular socket.
In buses, it's at the front near the driver. For trams, the Tünel and ferries are in the turnstiles.) When you touch it correctly, the fare-point emits a double beep tone (BEE-boop) to let you and the conductor know that you've paid the fare.
The fare is deducted electronically from your Akbil button. When you've used up most of its value, recharge it by paying cash to a guy in one of the ubiquitous snack/drink/news kiosks you'll see near Metro, tram, and ferry stations. Give him your Akbil button and the amount of liras you want to recharge it with, and he'll do the deed and give you a receipt and any change.
Biletmatik Machines are located at busy transit points. They are of several shapes and sizes, with an Akbil contact point, a slot to insert TL notes/bills, and a TV screen with instructions (in Turkish or English).
Here's what the instructions say:
1. Touch your Akbil button to the contact point and hold it there
2. Insert a newish, undamaged Turkish Lira note of 5, 10, or 20 liras into the slot to the right
3. Your Akbil button will be recharged with the amount of the note/bill you've inserted.
These automated recharge points may reject bills/notes that are well-worn, and the machines are sometimes out of order.
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