The distance from Istanbul Airport to the city centre is approximately 40 km, and it takes around an hour to get there. In this article, you'll learn about the quickest and most affordable ways to get from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul or the city centre, the costs of different modes of transportation, and the duration of the journey. By following these guidelines, you'll be able to choose the best transport option to get from Istanbul Airport to the city centre or your hotel.
From this article, you will get to know:
- The fastest way to get from Istanbul Airport to your hotel
- How much does a transfer from Istanbul Airport cost
- What taxis are available at Istanbul Airport: prices and payment options
- Metro from Istanbul Airport
- The bus is the cheapest way to get from the new Istanbul Airport to the city
- Compare all means of transport from Istanbul Airport on one table
- How to get from Istanbul Airport at night
book a taxi from the airport to your hotel find interesting tours in Istanbul
Please note that this article is specifically about the main Istanbul Airport (IATA code - IST). For information about all Istanbul airports, including their names, locations on the map, and airport hotels, please check out our article All Istanbul airports.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul Airport to your hotel
A taxi or transfer from Istanbul Airport is undoubtedly the fastest and most convenient way to get to your hotel anywhere in Istanbul.
- Transfer prices are fixed and cannot increase during the trip.
- A driver will meet you near the arrivals area exit, saving you time looking for a taxi.
- You can pay for the transfer online, eliminating the need to change money at the airport at an unfavourable rate.
- You can add a child seat for a small passenger while booking your taxi transfer.
To book a taxi or transfer from Istanbul New Airport to your hotel, click here.
If you're traveling with a big group or family, you can find some great options here.
How much does a transfer from Istanbul Airport cost
The cost of a private transfer (taxi) from the airport to the hotel starts from 36 EUR per car and depends on the distance from the airport to the hotel, the class and size of the car.
- You can check the price and book a transfer on KiwiTaxi, a convenient and reliable website.
- If you need a minibus or other large vehicle, I recommend checking the prices on the Intui Travel website.
- Welcom Pickups offers an easy booking process and reasonable prices.
- GetYourGuide transfers are a great addition to the wide range of interesting tours in Istanbul.
What taxis are available at Istanbul Airport: prices and payment options
You can take a metered taxi at the airport:
- Black cars - premium class, comfortable cars, more expensive fare.
- Blue cars - relatively new type of taxi in Istanbul, very rare.
- Yellow taxis - economy class, simpler and cheaper, technical condition is usually poor.
How to pay for an airport taxi:
- Cash - Turkish Liras,
- Mastercard bank card with 6% commission.
Istanbul taxi drivers have a very bad reputation for constantly cheating and extorting tourists, to the point of dumping passengers on the side of the road.
There are information screens near the taxi rank at Istanbul airport that show the approximate cost of a taxi ride. But it's worth bearing in mind:
- at the bottom of the screen is a note saying that the price is "approximate",
- the cost of using toll roads and bridges is not included (the passenger pays),
- taxi drivers are particularly fond of taking tourists around in circles, adding up the kilometres on the meter in the process.
Metro from Istanbul Airport
The metro from the new airport to Istanbul Airport was opened on 21 January 2023.
To gather information for this article, I took the metro from the airport to my hotel. The journey took about 2 hours, the weather was hot and I arrived at my hotel exhausted.
I do NOT recommend the metro for families with children or tourists with large suitcases. Book a transfer - save yourself the hassle of walking around Istanbul.
To get from Istanbul airport to your hotel in Istanbul, you need to:
- Get some liras in cash to pay for the fare. Istanbul airport has a very poor exchange rate, so don't change much.
- Follow the METRO signs out of the airport building and walk down the street for about 12 minutes. There are plenty of signs. You will not get lost.
- Take the lift down to the metro station,
- Buy a metro ticket or an Istanbul Kart from the machine. The article How to pay for public transport in Istanbul will help you with this.
- When you get down to the metro, find out where the Gayrettepe platform is so you don't accidentally go the wrong way.
- The journey from the airport to Gayrettepe station takes about 40 minutes.
- When you arrive at Gayrettepe station, you'll have to make a transfer - up 7 escalators and about a 10-minute walk through an underground passage to the M2 metro station. At this point there is a risk that one of the escalators will not work and you will have to carry your luggage.
Tip: If you decide to take the metro from the airport to your hotel, book your hotel close to the M2 metro stations: Taksim Square, Halic Bridge or Laleli Station.
The metro fare from the airport to Gayrettepe station is 25.80 liras. Plus 20 Liras for the M2 metro fare.
Due to constant inflation, prices increase 2-3 times a year. Remember that the price may be higher by the time you arrive in Istanbul.
You may find this article useful - Istanbul: public transport tickets and fares
At the airport metro station, there are posters with the current fare. The posters hang above the ticket machines.
The bus is the cheapest way to get from the new Istanbul Airport to the city
The bus is, of course, cheaper, but it is also the most unpredictable option to get from the airport to a hotel in Istanbul. Because even the information on the official websites of transport companies does not always correspond to reality.
Bus routes have been added and cancelled since the launch of the Istanbul Airport. At first there were 8 of them, then 23, then 19. The bus numbers and the trip routes themselves were changed and redrawn at least 4 times.
For more details you can find the article Buses from New Airport to Istanbul.
The fare on the bus ranges from 54 to 380 TL. The method of payment for the fare depends on the transport company.
The duration of the bus ride from the airport to the final stop is from 1 to 2.5 hours.
Compare all means of transport from Istanbul Airport on one table
Overall, it's important to consider your priorities and needs when deciding which mode of transport to take from the Istanbul Airport to the city.
While a taxi transfer may be more expensive, they offer convenience and reliability, especially for those with large luggage or travelling in a group.
On the other hand, bus and metro are the cheapest options, but they can be unpredictable with route changes, necessary transfers and stops.
When taking an airport taxi, it's recommended to have Turkish lira in cash for payment, and be aware that there are no clear tariffs, so the cost may vary.
| Transport | Features |
|---|---|
| Metro |
|
| Buses |
|
| Airport Taxi |
|
| Transfer |
|
Pre-ordering a taxi transfer online can be a great option, as the price is fixed and can be paid in advance, saving time and hassle upon arrival.
Ultimately, starting your visit to Istanbul with a positive mood and stress-free transportation can make all the difference in enjoying your trip.
How to get from Istanbul Airport at night
The following modes of transport are available from Istanbul Airport to the city at night:
- buses - read more in the article Buses from New Airport to Istanbul or vice versa,
- taxis at the airport,
- ordered in advance taxi transfer.
The article 5 best budget hotels in Istanbul tourist city centre may be useful to you.
