Istanbul has two airports on opposite continents and getting the wrong one costs you two hours. The M11 metro is cheap and the taxi queue is where the scams start.
- Istanbul has two airports 70 km apart on opposite sides of the Bosphorus - IST on the European side, Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian. Check the code on the ticket, not the city name, because getting it wrong on the return leg is expensive.
- From IST the M11 metro is the cheapest and most reliable route, about 53 lira plus an onward leg, every 8 to 10 minutes from about 06:00 to midnight, 60 to 75 minutes to Taksim.
- You need an Istanbulkart for the metro, about 165 lira from a Biletmatik machine at the station, then loaded with credit. The Havaist shuttle does not take it - tap a contactless bank card instead.
- Insist on the meter. A driver who says it is broken or quotes a flat price is overcharging, and this is the most common tourist complaint in Istanbul - BiTaksi or Uber removes the argument.
- Have small notes. The classic trick is taking a 200 lira note, palming it and claiming you handed over 20.
Check which airport you are flying into
Istanbul has two, and they are 70 km apart on opposite sides of the Bosphorus.
- Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, north of the city. Turkish Airlines and most long-haul.
- Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, far to the southeast. Pegasus and most budget flights.
- Getting this wrong on the return leg is a two-hour, expensive mistake. Check the airport code on the ticket, not the city name.
From Istanbul Airport (IST)
| Option | Rough cost, August 2026 | Time |
|---|---|---|
| M11 metro to Gayrettepe | about 53 lira, plus about 35 lira per onward leg | 60 to 75 min to Taksim |
| Havaist shuttle bus to Sultanahmet | about 470 lira | 90 to 120 min |
| Taxi to Sultanahmet | considerably more, and metered | 45 to 90 min |
- The M11 is the cheapest and most reliable option, running every 8 to 10 minutes from about 06:00 to midnight.
- You need an Istanbulkart for the metro, bought from a Biletmatik machine at the station. The card itself costs about 165 lira and then you load credit.
- Havaist does not take Istanbulkart. You tap a contactless bank card instead, which is convenient if you have just landed.
- All these prices move with inflation. Treat them as a scale rather than a quote.
From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
- The M4 metro runs to Kadıköy in about 50 minutes on the Asian side, and you then take a ferry or continue by metro.
- Havabüs shuttles run to Taksim and Kadıköy.
- Allow a lot longer than you think to reach the European side, especially in traffic. Two hours is not unusual.
Taxis, and the part everyone gets wrong
- Insist on the meter. A driver who says the meter is broken or quotes a flat price is overcharging, and this is the most common tourist complaint in Istanbul.
- Use BiTaksi or Uber, both of which dispatch licensed taxis and record the fare. This removes the argument entirely.
- Refusing a short fare is illegal and common. Ordering through an app fixes it.
- The FCDO specifically warns against unofficial taxis. Take the marked, licensed ones from the rank or an app.
- Have small notes. The classic trick is taking a 200 lira note, palming it and claiming you handed over 20.
Other airports
- Antalya (AYT), Izmir (ADB), Dalaman (DLM) and Bodrum (BJV) serve the coast and are where most package holidays land.
- Hotel transfers are usually included in package bookings and much simpler than working it out on arrival.
- Havas shuttle buses connect most Turkish airports to their city centres cheaply.
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