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 to Istanbul Hotels and appartments 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 to/from hotels in Istanbul | find a transfer / taxi | find a taxi / transfer |
| Hotels in the airport |
Transfer from IST to SAW
or vice versa
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 from the New Airport to Istanbul was launched on January 21, 2023.
The metro line from Istanbul Airport (M11) does not go to the center of Istanbul. It will only take you from the airport to the Kağıthane station, where you can transfer to the M7 line. But the M7 does not lead to the center of Istanbul as well. To get to the city center, you need the M2 metro line or T1 tram.
Tip: Book a transfer / taxi to get from the airport to your hotel in Istanbul in the fastest and easiest way.
The duration of the metro ride from Istanbul Airport to Kağıthane Station is 30 minutes. It is planned that trains will run every 8 minutes from 6 am to midnight.
Until February 23, 2023, travel on the M11 line is free. In the future, the fare will be about 13 turkish liras and you will need an Istanbulcart travel card to pay for the fare. But it is quite possible that there will be one-time tickets. It is not clear yet. We'll see at the end of February.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is in the Asian part of Istanbul. Sabiha Gonchen Airport can be reached by:
- Metro - Sabiha Gokcen Airport M4 Metro Line running between Kadıkoy and Sabiha Gokcen Airport has launched in October 2022
- Public buses,
- Havaist Shuttles buses to/from Taxim and Kadıkoy.
- Airport metered taxi, or by transfers/taxi with fixed price.
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 arrives at, just read the name of the destination.
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) or New Istanbul Airport (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.
