Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport Transport Guide

Istanbul Airport (IST), on the European side of the city and the main hub of Turkish Airlines, is one of the busiest airports in the world. To reach the city centre, Taksim, Sultanahmet and the historic peninsula you can use the M11 metro, the HAVAIST shuttle, İETT city buses, a taxi or a private transfer. Below is the price, departure point, journey time and best use case for each. The fastest and cheapest way is the metro, while HAVAIST is best for those who want to get straight into the city centre.

M11 Metro

The M11 metro line is the fastest and cheapest way from the airport into the city. The Airport–Gayrettepe journey costs 50 TRY and takes about 38 minutes. The station connects directly to the terminal. At Gayrettepe you can change to the M2 metro line for Taksim, Şişli, Levent and Yenikapı. Payment is by İstanbulkart; as it is unaffected by traffic, it is the most reliable choice in rush hour.

HAVAIST Shuttle

HAVAIST runs direct buses from outside the terminal to different parts of Istanbul. Fares and times on the main lines: Taksim 426 TRY (90 min), Aksaray 426 TRY (90 min), Otogar 336 TRY (45 min), Kadıköy 468 TRY (120 min), Beylikdüzü 420 TRY (75 min), Merter 384 TRY (60 min), Avcılar 336 TRY (60 min), Halkalı 318 TRY (60 min). It is practical for travellers with heavy luggage or those who want a single vehicle into the city without changing. Buy tickets via havaist or online. For current times see the Istanbul Airport shuttle page.

İETT City Buses

İETT city buses are among the most affordable options; payment is by İstanbulkart only and cash is not accepted. The main lines cost 84 TRY each: services run to Mahmutbey Metro, Mecidiyeköy Metrobüs, Halkalı Marmaray and Hacıosman/Sarıyer. From these stops you can change to the metro, metrobüs or Marmaray to reach the rest of the city. You will need to get the card in advance; the journey can take longer than the metro depending on traffic.

Taxi

Taxis wait outside the terminal around the clock and the fare is calculated by the meter. Approximate estimated fares: Beylikdüzü 849 TRY (18 km), Şişli/Mecidiyeköy 1,721 TRY (38 km), Beşiktaş 1,808 TRY (40 km), Taksim 1,938 TRY (43 km), Üsküdar 2,243 TRY (50 km), Kadıköy 2,461 TRY (55 km). For late-night arrivals or heavy luggage, a private transfer to the door can also be arranged in advance at a fixed price.

Getting to Sultanahmet and the Historic Peninsula

There are three practical ways to reach Sultanahmet, Hagia Sophia and the historic peninsula. The most direct public-transport option is the HAVAIST service to Aksaray (426 TRY, 90 min); Aksaray is the closest HAVAIST stop to the historic peninsula, and from there the T1 tram is a few stops from Sultanahmet. For a cheaper option, take the M11 metro to Gayrettepe, change to the M2 to Yenikapı, then take the T1 tram to Sultanahmet; this chain of changes is the cheapest but the longest. If you prefer no transfers, a taxi costs around 2,000 TRY (varies with distance and traffic).

Parking

The airport has an İGA multi-storey covered car park (740 TRY per day) and a more economical open car park (520 TRY per day). For the full hourly tariff, covered/open parking options and current prices, see the Istanbul Airport parking page.

Distances

Approximate road distances and times from Istanbul Airport to the main points (they vary with traffic and time of day):

Terminal

Istanbul Airport brings domestic and international flights together in a single vast terminal building. The terminal has food and drink outlets, a large duty free, ATMs, a pharmacy, car rental offices and an information desk. İGA Lounge and CIP lounges are located inside the terminal; access to these lounges may depend on your airline cabin class, Priority Pass or similar memberships, or bank-card conditions, so check the terms of your own card and ticket before entry. The metro station and the shuttle/taxi ranks connect directly to the terminal.

Istanbul Airport Flight Times — Arrivals & Departures

As the main hub of Turkish Airlines, Istanbul Airport handles very heavy year-round domestic and international traffic and flies to a wide network worldwide. The main routes and approximate flight times are below; check the current time and status of your flight (on time, delayed, landed) with your airline before departure.

Check the current status of arriving and departing flights (on time, delayed, landed) on your airline's website or with Istanbul Airport information. The route network varies by season and day, with extra flights added on international routes in summer.