Complete guide to Istanbul International Airport
Istanbul Airport is one of the largest in the world and will be the entry point for most people traveling to Turkey.
In this article, I’ll explain everything you need to know to travel through Istanbul Airport, including tips on how to get from the airport to central Istanbul.
Over the last three years, practically all of our international trips have passed through this airport, so we’ve explored it top to bottom. Let’s dive into the tips.
Important Tip: To make your trip easier, I recommend buying the Istanbul ePass, which gives you access to the city’s main attractions (except Hagia Sophia). The biggest advantage of this pass is that you can skip the lines — a must in Istanbul!
What is the main airport in Istanbul?
Many people don’t realize Istanbul has two international airports:
- Istanbul Airport (IST): This is the city’s primary international airport and the main hub for Turkish Airlines’ international flights. It’s on the European side and closest to the main tourist areas.
- Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW): A secondary airport with plenty of domestic flight options. Many people flying from Istanbul to other regions like Cappadocia depart from here, so pay attention when booking. It’s located on the Asian side, farther from the city center.
In this guide, I’ll focus on the first one, Istanbul International Airport (IST)
Istanbul International Airport (Turkish Airlines’ main hub)
Istanbul International Airport (IST) sits on the European side, about 35 km from the city center.
This airport is huge. It was designed to be one of the largest in the world, with capacity for up to 150 million passengers.
Inside the airport you’ll find everything – restaurants, bars, convenience stores, brand-name shops, multiple lounges, and places to rest.
It’s worth mentioning the Turkish Airlines lounge in the international terminal – it’s wonderful. One of the best lounges I’ve ever visited.
Pro tip: Because Istanbul Airport is enormous, I recommend avoiding connections shorter than 2 hours, since walking from one gate to another can sometimes take more than 1 hour.
The eSim we recommend!
Don’t have time to read the entire guide? No problem, this is the international eSIM card we always recommend here at Mauka. It’s the one we always use when we travel and the only one that’s never let us down.
How to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center
If this is your first trip to Istanbul, the first thing to figure out is how to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center.
Although the airport is a bit far from downtown, it’s well connected with public transportation and private options like taxis.
Transport options at a glance:
- Metro: At least 1 h 20 min; fare 27 Lira per person
- Bus: About 1 h; price depends on the company
- Taxi: 40–50 min; price varies a lot
- Private transfer: 40–50 min; 27 Euros per person
Next, I’ll break down each option a bit more.
Taking the metro from Istanbul Airport to the center
The M11 metro line connects Istanbul Airport to the city. It’s easy to find the station when you exit the arrivals area – just follow the metro signs.
The only catch is that the M11 line probably won’t take you directly to your hotel if you’re staying downtown (which we highly recommend). See our guide to where to stay in Istanbul.
So you’ll likely need to transfer to another line that gets you closer to your accommodation. This depends on where you’re staying, but the M2 line is usually a good option for anyone near Galata Tower.
The metro is a good way to get from the airport to the center as long as you’re not in a hurry. I don’t recommend it if you’re arriving very late at night. In my opinion, a taxi or transfer will be more comfortable in that case.
Right now, the metro fare is 27 Lira per person.
Pro tip: Using public transport in Istanbul is very easy – they have a single stored-value card called Istanbulkart that works across all modes. It’s worth buying if you’ll use public transport a few times. I prepared a guide on how to use public transportation in Istanbul.
Taking the bus from Istanbul Airport to the center
To go from the airport to the center by bus, you’ll have two options: the local bus line (cheaper) or an international coach company (more expensive).
The local line is operated by Havaist. You can check schedules and prices on their website. As of writing, a one-way ticket from the airport to the center costs 275 Turkish Lira.
The downside is the website can be a bit confusing, but if you enter your origin and destination, you’ll see the available times.
The second option is Terravision, an international company that works very well across Europe. The Terravision ticket costs 29 euros per person, and you can buy it on their website.
The bus ride takes about 1 hour, depending on the stops on your route.
Taxi from Istanbul Airport to the center
If you prefer a private option, you can take a taxi or book a private transfer to get from the airport to central Istanbul.
The big advantage here is comfort. This is the fastest and most comfortable option, especially if you’re traveling with multiple bags or in a larger group.
A private transfer like this costs 27 euros per person. The driver will meet you at the airport and take you straight to your accommodation.
If you prefer, you can also take a regular taxi – just be alert, as taxi scams are quite common there.
On our last trip to Istanbul this year, we ordered a car via Uber and, as soon as the driver picked us up, he asked not to use Uber because the fees were too high.
We didn’t agree, said we didn’t have cash, and only then did he start the ride on Uber. We were lucky he didn’t push it further, but I’ve read several reports of drivers who don’t accept it so easily.
Keep your eyes open if you choose to use Uber or a regular taxi.
Book a private airport transfer
Where to stay near Istanbul Airport
If you have a very early or late flight, it may be smarter to book a place at the airport instead of transferring from downtown at odd hours.
There’s a hotel inside Istanbul Airport called YOTEL. It’s the most practical option if you truly want to stay by the terminal, although it’s fairly simple. Book your stay here.
Beyond that hotel, here are other places to stay near Istanbul Airport:
- Melano Hotel Premium Istanbul Airport: The best-equipped hotel near the airport
- Ozn Suit Airport Hotel: Simple, more affordable
- Aslan Airport Hotel: Private property stay, very well rated
Bonus: Long layover at Istanbul International Airport
Long layovers at Istanbul Airport are very common.
If that’s your case, here’s a quick guide with answers to the most common questions on how to make the most of your time.
Do you need a visa for a long layover at Istanbul Airport?
Most likely no — Istanbul generally doesn’t require an entry visa for many nationalities, for example, US or EU citizens don’t need it.
If your connection is between two international flights and you won’t leave the airside area, you won’t need to go through immigration.
If you want to leave the airport or if you have a domestic connection, you’ll need to pass immigration, but even then, a visa isn’t required.
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Can you leave the airport during a long layover?
Yes, you can.
Keep in mind Istanbul Airport is quite far from the center, so I only recommend leaving if your layover is 6 hours or longer.
There’s nothing around the airport — the only reason to leave is if you have enough time to reach the city center.
If your flight is operated by Turkish Airlines and your layover is between 6 and 24 hours, you can even join a free city tour.
How to take a free Istanbul tour during a long layover
If your flight is operated by Turkish Airlines and you have a layover between 6 and 24 hours, the airline offers free guided tours downtown.
Just go to the company’s counter in the arrivals area after you exit the gate.
There’s no need to book or pay. Show your boarding pass and they’ll put you on the next available tour.
The tour is very well organized. It includes round-trip transport from the airport to the center on a private bus, a guide who takes the group to see key sights, and it may include a meal.
We took this tour during a long layover on our way to Bali and thought it was absolutely worth it — especially because it’s free. We did the afternoon tour, and dinner was included.
The tour doesn’t replace a real trip to Istanbul – it’s quick and you’ll only see a little of the city. Still, it’s better than staying in the terminal, and it works as a first look at Turkey’s cultural capital.
Keep reading about Istanbul
- 3-day Istanbul itinerary
- How many days to spend in Istanbul
- Best time to visit Istanbul
- Visiting the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul
- Exploring Istanbul’s Asian side
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Turkey, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Turkey on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
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