Your flight has just landed.
Everyone immediately stands up to go nowhere.
You know what I’m talking about, and maybe you’re guilty of it too, but let’s be honest. Once you finally get out of the airport, getting to the city centre can be confusing, exhausting, and time-consuming.
So, how can you get from Istanbul Airport to city centre in the least hectic way possible?
Let me show you.
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First, you’re going to want to download the Airalo Mobile App to get your eSIM. This will allow you to bypass all those annoying salespeople in the arrivals hall asking if you want to buy a SIM card.
Airalo is easy to use and even lets you download an eSIM for the entire continent of Europe. So if you’re planning on visiting other countries close to Turkey like Greece, you don’t have to purchase separate eSIM cards.
Just search for the country or region below to find the perfect plan for you to have a worry-free vacation.
Now that you’ve got your phone working in Istanbul, it’s time to start the journey into the city center.
And I’m not kidding, it really is a journey. The Istanbul Airport is about 40km away from the city center.
Istanbul Airport to City Centre by Metro
The first option is to take the metro. This metro line was just completed in 2023 linking the Istanbul Airport to the city center in about 25-30 minutes.
You will have to make a transfer depending on where you are staying in the city center, but it is the fastest.
It’s also the most convenient if you don’t have a bunch of luggage and you are just solo traveling.
How to use the Istanbul metro?
The metro is located outside the airport. You’ll see plenty of signs directing you to the entrance. Be aware that you will be doing a lot of walking. It will take about 10-15 minutes to walk to the metro, so if you have a lot of luggage, you might be struggling.
Before getting on the metro, you’ll need to purchase an IstanbulKart card. These cards can be purchased at the blue and yellow kisoks at the station. One card costs 70 TL, which is about $2 USD. Add some money to the card to load it, and you’ll be ready to go.
A one-way fare is about 17 TL.
The kisoks accept contactless card payments (mobile payments are not accepted).
If the kisoks aren’t working, you can still use your own contactless card to pay at the fare gate. The price will be slightly higher than if you use the IstanbulKart card directly.
Take this metro line (M11) to the station called Gayrettepe. Here you’ll be able to transfer to buses, another metro line (M2), or the metrobus line.
Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet by Metro
If you’re staying in the Sultanahmet area, you’ll need to transfer to the M2 line or the green line from the airport line (M11).
Again, you’ll be doing a lot of walking in between the transfer station. It will take another 10-15 minutes to reach the fare gate of the M2 line.
Once you finally get there, take the train going in the direction of Yenıkapı.
Depending on the location of your hotel, you can get off at any of these 3 stations: Halıç, Vezneciler or Yenıkapı.
The total travel time with transfers and walking will be about 1.5 hours.
Istanbul Airport to Taksim by Metro
If you’re staying in the Taksim area, you’ll need to transfer to the M2 line or the green line from the airport line (M11).
Again, you’ll be doing a lot of walking in between the transfer station. It will take another 10-15 minutes to reach the fare gate of the M2 line.
Once you finally get there, take the train going in the direction of Yenıkapı.
Depending on the location of your hotel, you can get off at either of these 2 stations: Taksim or Şişhane.
The total travel time with transfers and walking will be about 1 hour.
Istanbul Airport to City Centre by Bus
If you have a bit more luggage and want a comfortable transfer from the Istanbul Airport to city centre, then you’ll want to consider taking the airport bus.
There is no public bus that connects the Istanbul Airport to city centre, but there is a specific bus company that has routes to various parts of the city.
This company is called Havaist. They operate coach buses just for transfer to and from the airport. To locate the buses, head down to the -2 floor of the Istanbul Airport.
Use this map to decide which line you’ll need to take to get to your hotel and the timetable.
Popular options are:
- To Taksim take the HVİST – 16 route. Price is 170 TL.
- To Sultanahmet take the HVİST – 12 route. Price is 170 TL.
Prices will vary depending on which line you take and where you want to get off. You can purchase a ticket directly on the bus with a credit card or cash.
The time it takes to reach your destination can vary on traffic and previous stops, but a good estimate would be about 60 to 90 mins.
Istanbul Aiport to City Centre by Taxi or Private Transfer
The final option to get from the Istanbul Aiport to city centre is to take a taxi or have your hotel arrange for a private transfer.
Taking a taxi is the most costly but gives you the most direct route without having to transfer or walk a ton. These reasons can be life-saving especially if you just came from a long 8+ hour flight.
To get a taxi from the Istanbul Airport to city centre, you’ll want to look for the taxi stands right outside the arrivals hall.
The taxis are color-coded and the color does mean something.
The yellow taxis are the basic taxi style and usually the most available.
Blue taxis are a step up from basic. They are slightly more roomy and have more trunk storage if you have multiple bags.
Black taxis are luxury taxis. They can accommodate more people and would be good for families or groups of 5-6 people.
Each of the colors has different fare rates. Check out the rates on this chart.
Istanbul Airport to Kadikoy
Kadikoy is located on the Asian side of Istanbul making the journey from Istanbul Airport to Kadikoy over 50km.
From my experience, the best way to get to Kadikoy is to take the Havaist bus. The route is HVİST – 14 and will drop you off right in the center of Kadikoy.
Of course, if you want to be a bit adventurous, it is possible to take the metro from the Istanbul Airport to Kadikoy. However, you will have to transfer twice after you get off from Gayrettepe station.
Here are some quick directions:
After you get off from Gayrettepe station, head directly up the escalators to the metrobus in the direction of Söğütlüçeşme. Get on any of the buses and take it to the last stop, which is Söğütlüçeşme.
From here you can either walk to your hotel or take another bus from the bus stop. Having an eSIM is definitely going to come in handy here to check which bus you’ll need to get on because it can be confusing.
And as always, taxis are an option from the Istanbul Airport to Kadikoy. Expect to pay at least 1300TL.
FAQs
How long does it take to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center?
Depending on which form of transportation you opt for, it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours. The airport is 40km away from the city center.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to the city center?
Taxi fares vary on type of vehicle but expect to pay an average of 1000TL.
Useful Links for Planning Your Trip to Istanbul
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