To and From the Airport

Istanbul - Atatürk Intl (IST):

Location: 24 km/15 Miles WSW of the City.
Airport Overview: 2 terminals, International & Domestic, both connected to the Metro system by underground walkways.
Airport Map: Click here.

By Taxi:
Meter Basis: TRY 2 + TRY 1.30 per km. A 50% surcharge is added between midnight and 6 am.
Typical Fares: To the city centre (European side) TRY 20-30/US$15+/30-50 mins. To Bakirköy (for Crowne Plaza & Holiday Inn Hotels and the Ferry terminal) TYL 12-14/10-15 mins. A 50% surcharge is added between midnight and 6 am.
Backpackers Travel: Offer transfers from this airport to: Sultanahmet €15, Taksim €20 & Beşiktaş-Levent €25. Prices are for up to 4 people, not including taxes. Contact: Tel 0212 638 6343 or 0212 638 2562.
Taxi Companies: Tel 0212 663 68 14.
By Public Bus:
General: Public buses leave from the arrivals level of both terminals.
IETT Buses: Run to Yenibosna Metro station and via Highway E5 to Taksim. Buses leave the airport every 30 mins 0630-1200, 1240, 1320, 1400, 1440, 1520, 1600, 1640, 1720, 1750, 1820, 1850, 1920, 2000, 2040 & 2100.
Public Bus #96: Is reported to run into town ~every hour 0700-1940.
Other Buses: Buses also run to Akmerkez (Etiler) hourly 0700-2100. Shuttles run to Aqua Dolphin Water park 8 times per day.
Hotel Shuttles: Several local hotels run shuttles for guests. The Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn run a combined shuttle to and from the airport. Shuttles leave the hotels hourly 0700-2300. They leave the airport arrivals areas hourly 0730-2330.
By Havas Bus:
General: Havas Airport buses leave from the arrivals level of both terminals.
Havaş bus to Taksim: Route: Runs to Taksim square in central Istanbul (European side). The bus leaves from outside the DHL office on the North side of Taksim Square. Go past the McDonalds, and the THY airline offive, and you will see a timetable posted on the wall. Timings: Buses leave the airport at 0500, 0600, then every 30 mins until 0100. Buses leave Taksim at 0500, 0600, then every 30 mins until 0100. Travel Time: Takes 30-45 mins. Cost: To Taksim Square TYL 10. Contact: Tel 0212 465 47 00.
Havataş bus to Taksim: Route: Havatas also runs a bus to Taksim square in central Istanbul (European side). Cost: To Taksim Square TYL 10.
Havaş bus to Kozyataği: Route: Runs to the Havas Office in Kozyatagi (Asian side). Timings: Buses leave the airport at 0400, then every hour until 2300. Buses leave Kozyatagi at 0400, then every hour until 2300. Travel Time: Takes 60-90 mins. Cost: To Kozyataği TYL 15. Contact: Tel 0212 465 47 00.
Havaş bus to Akmerkez: Route: Runs to Akmerkez (Etitler). Timings: Buses leave the airport at 0700, then every 2 hours until 2300. Buses leave Akmerkez at 0500, 0600, then every 2 hrs until 2200. Cost: To Akmerkez TYL 10. Contact: Tel 0212 465 47 00.
Sea Bus Shuttle Shuttle buses run to the Seabus Port (Bakirkoy) coinciding with boats to and from Bostanci & Kadiköy. Departures from the airport are at 0655, 0720, 0750, 0840 and every 30-50 mins until 2050. Travel Time: Takes 15 mins. Cost: TYL 3.50.
By Train:
General: The METRO is a cheap and convenient means of reaching the city. Both terminals are connected to the METRO station by an underground walkway. From the domestic terminal 10 mins, Intl 5 mins.
Route: Airport - DTM-CNR Expo Exhibition centre - Yenibosna - Ataköy/Şirinevler - Bahçelievler - Bakirköy/Incirli - Zeytinburnu (connection to tram system) - Merter - Davutpaşa - Terazidere - Otogar (intl bus station) - Kartaltepe/Kocatepe - Sağmalcilar - Bayrampaşa - Topkapi/Ulubatli - Emniyet/Fatih - Aksaray (connection to city tram & bus system.
Cost: A bargain at only TRY 2 per trip.
Timings: Regular departures. To Aksaray ~30 mins.
Rental Cars:
Intl Terminal Rental Car Providers: AVIS (212) 663 06 46/47, Budget, ALAMO/National, EUROPCAR +90 212 465 3696, Kavas, ULGER & HERTZ 663 08 07 are available in the Intl Arrivals area.
Domestic Terminal Rental Car Providers: EUROPCAR +90 212 465 6284, Euro Park/ADVANTAGE, Budget, HERTZ, AVIS, eSixT, Arti & Decar are in the Domestic terminal arrivals level.

Transfer between terminals: Shuttle buses and taxis are available to transfer passengers between the terminals, but walking via the Metro access tunnel only takes 10 mins.
Notes: Left luggage facilities are available in both terminals.
Airport Tax: Visa on arrival - see above. On departure, a fee of around GBP 10/US$15-20 is also payable.
Steve's Tip: The new airport Metro link is cheap and convenient, and has markedly improved the transport options at this airport.
Airport Hotel: Istanbul International Airport Hotel is very close to the terminal and well signed. Tel +90 212 465 4030.
Airport Tel No: +90 212 663 6262.
Updated Dec13 ADV. Last Visit Apr09.

Istanbul - Sabiha Gökçen Int'l (SAW):

Location: 32 km/20 Miles ESE of central Istanbul, on the Asian side.
Website: www.istanbul-airport.com
Airport Overview: 2 small, modern terminals side by side, and easily walked in 3 minutes. Terminal A is called the domestic terminal and is purely for domestic arrivals and departures to Adana, Izmir, Trabzon, Kars, Van, Diyarbakir & Bodrum. Terminal B is called the Intl terminal as it is for international flights, but domestic flights to Ankara, Antalya, Erzurum, Gaziantep, Dalaman & Gidiş also operate from here.
By Road: To Taksim (Istanbul city centre) 50 km/32 Miles.

By Taxi:
General: Taxis are available outside each terminal, where there is a taxi dispatcher's booth.
Destinations on the Asian/Anatolian side: To Harem (with a bus station for long distance buses) ~YTL 48/60 mins. To Yesilkoy ~YTL 108/90-110 mins. To Tuzla ~YTL 25/60 mins. To Beyazit ~YTL 65/60-90 mins. To Bostanci Ferry pier TYL 40/30 mins. To Pendik ferry pier TYL 20/15 mins. To Kadikoy ~YTL 45 & Kozyatagi ~TYL 40.
Destinations on the European side: To Istanbul Sultanahmet TYL 80-90/60-90 mins. To Taksim ~YTL 75/60-75 mins. To Eminonu ~YTL 75/60-90 mins. To Esenler Bus Terminal ~YTL 95/60-90 mins. To 4.Levent ~YTL 78.
Backpackers Travel: Offer transfers from this airport to: Sultanahmet €45 & Taksim. Prices are for up to 4 people, not including taxes. Contact: Tel 0212 638 6343 or 0212 638 2562.
Taxi Companies: Contact: Tel +90 216 588 00 35-36 or 0216 482 4091.
By Havaş Bus:
General: Havaş Airport buses run from this airport on 3 or 4 different routes. The buses can be found in the coach park opposite the domestic terminal (terminal A). There is no clear signage, so ask the driver for your destination. There is no timetable posted outside, but staff at the information desks in the terminals will be able to tell you when the next bus departs. Contact: Tel 0212 465 47 00.
To Levent/4.Levent Metro Station: Route: This bus runs non-stop from the airport, across the Bosphorus Bridge to Levent Metro on the European side (some signs indicate that the destination is 4.Levent Metro, but in March 2007 my bus dropped me near Levent Metro station). Here you can connect to the metro system which runs to Taksim Square (city centre). Metro trips cost TYL 1.30 regardless of distance.
Timings: From Sabiha Gökçen Airport: after each flight arrival, but generally hourly. From Levent: To be advised, but every hour or so. Transfer time: ~1 hour, but in heavy traffic can be longer. Cost: YTL 9.50 one way.
Note: This is a very useful bus for visitors to the European side as it crosses the bridge, removing the need for a boat. However, road traffic can be heavy, and it may be quicker to take a taxi to Pendik, or Havas Bus to Bostanci or Kadikoy ferry piers and take a boat from there. The boats are very fast and comfortable and run regularly. Cost TYL 4.50 per trip.
To Bostanci: Buses run non-stop to the ferry pier at Bostanci every hour or so. Takes ~20 mins. From here ferries run to Kadiköy (10 mins), Bakirköy on the European side (30 mins) and to the city centre.
To Kozyataği & Kadiköy: Havas services depart at least hourly from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Kozyatağı (22 Atatürk St, Kozyatagi) and on to Kadiköy.
To Taksim Square: A few services a day run to Taksim square, generally in accordance with the schedules of EasyJet, Germanwings and Condor.
By Public Bus:
General: Public buses stop at the bus shelter outside terminal B.
Public Bus E3 to Levent: Route: Airport - Uydukent - 4.Levent Metro Station in Northeast Istanbul (European side). Travel Time: takes 75+ mins. Timings: Buses leave the airport Mon-Fri at 0615, 0630, 0650, 0710, 1530, 1615, 1700 & 1745. Saturdays at 0630, 0650, 0710, 1600, 1645 & 1730. No Sunday Service. Buses leave Levent Metro Station Mon-Sat at 0800, 0825, 0845, 0900, 1215, 1300, 1600, 1700, 1800, 1900, 2000 & 2100. No Sunday Service. Cost: YTL 3.50.
Public Bus E10 to Kadikoy: Route: Airport - Kurtkoy - Kadikoy. Travel Time: takes ~1 hour. You can catch a ferry at Kadikoy to get to the European side of Istanbul. Timings: Buses leave the airport Mon-Sat every 20-40 mins 0600-1950 & 2035. Sundays every 45-55 mins 0620-2055. Buses leave Kadikoy Mon-Sat every 20-40 mins 0710-2100 & 2145. Sundays every 45-55 mins 0730-2210.
Notes from a Traveller December 2010: I was just there last week and we took the E10 bus to Kadikoy. Travel time was 80 min each way, I don't think it's possible to do this trip under 75 min. Fare from the airport to Kadikoy oneway is 3.50 TL. From there the ferry fare to Eminönü on the European side is YTL 1.70. Ferry takes about 20 min.
Public Bus 16S to Kozyatagi: Route: Bus 16S runs from the airport to Yenihesir & Kozyatagi. Timings: Buses leave the airport Mon-Sat every 40-55 mins 0550-2100. Sundays every 85-100 mins 0630-2100.
Other Buses: Shuttles run to Aqua Dolphin Water park 2 times per day.

By Train: 4 km to Pendik Train station.
By Sea: 4 km to the Pendik Sea Bus Jetty, or take a Havas bus to Bostanci or Kadikoy ferry terminals. Ferries run to outlying islands as well as to the European side for TYL 4.50 per trip. Ferries are very fast, clean and comfortable, and in many cases faster and more comfortable than the public buses.

Rental Cars:
On-Airport Rental Car Providers: EUROPCAR +90 216 427 0427, HERTZ, Avti & Ates Tur Rent a Car have desks near the exit of the Arrival hall. Tel: +90 (0) 216 585 57 05.

Notes: There is an ATM/Cash Machine outside, between the 2 terminals.
Airport Tax: Visa on arrival - see above. On departure, a fee of around GBP 10/US$15-20 is also payable.
Airport Website: www.sgairport.com.
Airport Tel No: +90 (0)216 585 5000.
Updated Dec13 ADV. Last Visit Mar07.


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