Istanbul Airport (IST) Guide 2026: Transport, Transfers & Costs

Quick Answer: Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, about 45 km northwest of Sultanahmet . Allow 60–90 minutes to the old city, up to two hours at rush hour. Your options are the M11 metro (cheapest, two changes, about 75–110 minutes door to door), the Havaist bus (≈ $8–10, fixed hubs only), a metered taxi ($45–70) or a pre-booked private transfer ($80–100 per vehicle, flight tracked, meet-and-greet). The old Atatürk Airport (ISL) has had no scheduled passenger flights since 2019. Which Istanbul Airport Are You Landing At? Istanbul Airport (IST) Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) Continent European side Asian side To Sultanahmet ≈ 45 km / 60–90 min ≈ 50 km / 60–120 min Airlines Turkish Airlines and most full-service carriers Pegasus and low-cost carriers Metro M11 to Gayrettepe, then M2 M4 to Kadıköy, then Marmaray Connecting between them Allow at least 4 hours — they are separate airports on separate continents Detailed arrival pages for both, plus Antalya, İzmir, Ankara, Dalaman, Bodrum, Kayseri and Trabzon, are in our Türkiye airport guides . Deciding before you buy a ticket? Read which airport to fly into in Türkiye . What Happens After You Land at IST Passport control is the longest step, typically 15–45 minutes; e-gates are open to some nationalities. Baggage reclaim is a long walk from immigration — the terminal is one of the largest in the world, so budget 10 minutes just to cross it. Arrivals hall is on the ground floor. Drivers with name boards wait at the exit gates. Free Wi-Fi requires a passport scan at a kiosk. A local eSIM bought before you fly is faster. ATMs from Ziraat, VakıfBank and İş Bankası give better value than the exchange booths. Decline the machine''s own currency conversion. Getting From IST Into Istanbul: All Options Compared Option Time to Sultanahmet Cost Best for Private transfer (Vito up to 4 pax / Sprinter up to 12) 60–90 min $80–100 per vehicle Families, late arrivals, luggage, first-time visitors M11 metro + M2 + T1 tram 75–110 min ≈ $