This article will help you to figure out how many international airports are in Istanbul, where they are on the map, and how to get from the airport to the city. How quickly find out at which of the Istanbul airports your plane does arrive? How to buy tickets exactly to the airport you want to get in?
Contents:
How many airports are in Istanbul
- New Istanbul Airport (IATA code IST) has been the main airport of Istanbul and Turkey since April 2019.
- Sabiha Gokcen Airport (IATA code SAW) is dedicated mainly to low-cost airlines.
- Ataturk Airport was closed on April 7, 2019, because it had become too small to handle the growing number of flights.
At the moment, there are two operating airports in Istanbul - Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Find cheap flights Things to do in Istanbul
Istanbul airports in one table (name, codes, transfers, and hotels)
| Airport | Istanbul Airport | Sabiha Goksen Airport |
|---|---|---|
| Local Name | İstanbul Havalimanı | Sabiha Gökçen Havalimanı |
| Code IATA | IST | SAW |
| Transfers | order a transfer / taxi | order a taxi / transfer |
| Hotels |
All Istanbul airports on the map
Old Ataturk International Airport is within the city area. It was easy and quick to get to the historical city center by public transport from the old airport.
The new Istanbul Airport has grown outside the city, on the Black Sea coast.
Sabiha Gokcen Budget Airport is on the outskirts of the Asian part of Istanbul.
Transport from Istanbul airports to the city center
The new Istanbul Airport can only be described as a huge one. It has been built with a great idea to be named the largest airport in the world. It is really big and impressive. The new Istanbul Airport is approximately 40 km from the historical center of Istanbul.
The metro line to the New Istanbul Airport is promised to be built by the end of 2022. But apparently, construction will delay for another couple of years. At the moment, from the New Istanbul Airport to the city centre can be reached by regular buses, or by airport taxi, or by pre-order transfer.
You can find more details in the articles How to Get from the New Airport to Istanbul and Buses from New Airport to Istanbul or back.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is in the Asian part of Istanbul. A metro line should connect it with the city centre in the coming years. In the meantime, Sabiha Gonchen Airport can be reached by regular buses, or by airport taxi, or by pre-order transfer.
This article you may find useful - How to get from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Hotels in Istanbul airports buildings or nearby
There are two hotels in New Istanbul airport (IST) building:
- YotelAir hotel is in the transit area of the new Istanbul Airport (this hotel is suitable for passengers with international connecting flights),
- Yotel hotel is in the check-in area for those who fly by domestic flights.
Hotels nearby Istanbul airport (IST) on the map:
Sabiha Gökcen Airport hotels:
- the closest hotel to the airport is ISG Sabiha Gökcen Airport Hotel,
- Kepler Club Sabiha Gökçen Airport hotel is in International Transit Area.
How to find out at which Istanbul airport your plane arrives
Since Ataturk Airport was closed, you have no chance to arrive at it. You can safely delete Ataturk from the options.
There are two operating airports in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Airport (IST),
- Sabiha Gonchen Airport (SAW).
To find out which airport your plane flies to, you should examine your flight ticket.
If your destination is Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) or Istanbul (SAW), your flight will arrive at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
If your destination is Istanbul (IST), you will have the opportunity to see the sheer size of Turkey's largest airport and check out the level of service at the New Istanbul Airport. Be sure that your plane will 100% arrive at Istanbul Airport.
You can use Kiwi com to find cheap flights to Istanbul. Pay attention to which Istanbul airport your airplane will arrive at - Sabiha Airport (SAW) or the new Istanbul Airport (IST).
Do you have a flight connection in Istanbul and need to change airport? Plan at least 1,5 hours for the trip from one airport to another, plus the time for all airport procedures at each airport. You can read more in the article How to get from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
