Istanbul Airport (IST) is about 40 kilometres northwest of the city centre. There are four ways into the city: the M11 metro, the Havaist bus, a taxi and a private transfer.
How to get from Istanbul Airport to the city centre
| Option | Cost | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| M11 metro | About 30-45 TRY with transfer | 45-70 minutes | Light luggage, tight budget |
| Havaist bus | About 130-330 TRY, by route | 60-90+ minutes | Big bags, late arrivals |
| Taxi | About 700-1,500+ TRY | 45-90 minutes | Door to door, heavy luggage |
| Private transfer | Fixed, often 25-45 euros per car | 45-90 minutes | Families, groups, very late arrivals |
How to take the metro from Istanbul Airport
The M11 runs from under the airport towards the city and is the cheapest option. It also avoids road traffic.
- Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport.
- Take the M11 to Gayrettepe, about 35 minutes.
- Change to the M2 for Taksim or the historic peninsula.
The whole journey takes 45 to 70 minutes, depending on your stop, and costs about 30-45 TRY including the transfer.
The M11 runs from early morning until around midnight. For a later landing, use a Havaist bus, a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
How to take the Havaist bus from Istanbul Airport
Havaist coaches are air-conditioned, have luggage holds and run direct to Taksim, Sultanahmet and other central stops, so there is no change on the way.
- Cost: about 130-330 TRY, depending on the route
- Time: 60 to 90+ minutes, longer at rush hour
- Hours: frequent departures, with key routes running through the night
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport?
A metered taxi to the centre costs about 700-1,500+ TRY and takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Use the meter, or book through the BiTaksi app so the route and price are tracked.
- Use the official taxi rank. Ignore touts inside the terminal.
- Expect higher fares in traffic, since the meter keeps running.
Should I book a private transfer from Istanbul Airport?
A pre-booked transfer has a driver waiting at arrivals with your name, at a fixed price, often 25-45 euros per car. The journey takes 45 to 90 minutes. Split between several people, it can cost about the same as a taxi. Book online before you fly.
How to get from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to the city
Sabiha Gökçen is Istanbul's second airport, on the Asian side, further from the main tourist areas than IST.
- Havabus coaches run to Taksim and Kadıköy.
- Metro plus Marmaray rail crosses under the Bosphorus to the European side.
- Taxis and private transfers work the same way as at IST.
Allow more time than from IST.
Which Istanbul Airport transfer should I choose?
- Travelling light on a budget: the M11 metro
- Big bags, or one ride with no changes: the Havaist bus
- Two or more heavy bags, or landing after midnight: a taxi or a pre-booked transfer
Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport whichever you choose. For the rest of the network, see Istanbul metro hours, and for where to base yourself, see where to stay in Istanbul.