How to Get from Istanbul Airport to the City Center
Istanbul Airport (IST) is Turkey’s main international airport, located 52 km from the city center (Sultanahmet – Old Town). This airport does not have a metro connection, so here we’ll list all the available options to reach the city center from this airport.
From Istanbul Airport (IST) to the City Center
Bus Transfer Service
One convenient way to get to the city center from Istanbul Airport is by bus. These buses operate to various points across the city. Here are the schedules and fares for key tourist destinations.
Bus Transfer from IST Airport to Sultanahmet
Bus Number: HVIST-11
How to Catch It: In the arrivals terminal, take the elevator to the 2nd floor.
Duration: Approximately 100 minutes, depending on traffic and the 52 km distance from IST to Sultanahmet (Old Town).
Price: 26 TL
How to Pay: You can visit the official Havaist website at hava.ist. After registering, click on “Travel Calculator” to calculate the balance you need to load onto your account with a credit card. Once done, you can use the QR CODE for payment on the bus.
Schedule: 05:00, 05:30, 06:00, 06:30, 07:00, 07:30, 08:00, 08:30, 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 12:30, 13:00, 13:30, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 17:00, 17:30, 18:00, 18:30, 19:00, 19:30, 20:00, 20:30, 21:00, 21:30, 22:00, 22:30, 23:00, 23:45, 00:00, 01:30.
Bus Transfer from IST Airport to Taksim Square
Bus Number: HVIST-10
How to Catch It: In the arrivals terminal, take the elevator to the 2nd floor.
Duration: Approximately 80 minutes, depending on traffic and the 40 km distance from IST to Taksim Square.
Price: 25 TL
How to Pay: Visit the official Havaist website here After registering, click “Travel Calculator” to calculate the balance required and load it with a credit card. Use the QR CODE for payment on the bus.
Schedule: 05:10, 05:40, 06:10, 06:40, 07:10, 07:40, 08:10, 08:40, 09:10, 09:40, 10:10, 10:40, 11:10, 11:40, 12:10, 12:40, 13:10, 13:40, 14:10, 14:40, 15:10, 15:40, 16:10, 16:40, 17:10, 17:40, 18:10, 18:40, 19:10, 19:40, 20:10, 20:40, 21:10, 21:40, 22:10, 22:40, 23:10, 23:40, 00:10, 00:40, 01:10, 02:10, 03:10, 04:10.
Taxi Service
Istanbul Airport is quite far from the city center, with distances of approximately 52 km to Sultanahmet and 40 km to Taksim Square, making the trip over an hour.
How much does a taxi from IST Airport to Sultanahmet cost?
A taxi from IST Airport to your hotel in this area costs around 160 to 200 TL and takes over an hour in normal traffic. Prices may vary depending on your hotel location.
How much does a taxi from IST Airport to Taksim Square cost?
A taxi from IST Airport to a hotel in this area costs approximately 140 to 180 TL and takes around 80 minutes in normal traffic. Prices may vary depending on your hotel location.
Private Transfer Service
Given that IST Airport is quite far from the city center, many companies offer private services to Sultanahmet or Taksim. Prices are typically between 25 to 35 euros for a comfortable, safe, clean, and convenient ride over a 52 to 40 km distance (more than an hour). For groups of up to four people, this can be cheaper than a taxi.
How much does a round-trip private transfer from IST to Sultanahmet cost?
The approximate cost for up to 4 people from IST Airport to a hotel in Sultanahmet is 25-35 euros for one way and 50-70 euros for a round trip.
Frequently Asked Questions about Istanbul Airport
How much is a taxi from the new Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet?
A taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet costs around 160-200 TRY and takes at least an hour in normal traffic. Prices may change based on traffic and your hotel’s location. Taxi fares are calculated with an initial fee of 5 TRY, plus 3.10 TRY per km, and additional charges for bridges and waiting time in traffic.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to the city center?
Istanbul is a large city, so the cost varies by destination. For example, the trip to Sultanahmet costs about 160-200 TRY, while to Taksim Square it’s around 140-180 TRY.
Does Istanbul have Uber?
In 2018, penalties for Uber vehicles and passengers increased in Istanbul, leading to the cancellation of UberXL services in Turkey. However, the yellow and turquoise taxi services on the Uber platform are still available for Istanbul residents and travelers.
How far is the new Istanbul Airport from Sultanahmet?
Sultanahmet, the Old Town, is 52 km (32 miles) from the new Istanbul Airport.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Beyoglu?
A taxi from Istanbul Airport to Beyoglu costs around 140-180 TRY and takes at least 40 minutes in normal traffic. The price varies based on traffic and your hotel’s location.
Is Uber available at the new Istanbul Airport?
The UberXL service is no longer available in Istanbul. However, you can find Uber-operated vehicles as yellow and turquoise taxis.
How long does it take to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center?
The city center is at least 40 km (24 miles) from the airport. Travel time from the airport to the city center is at least 40 minutes and can exceed two hours depending on traffic.
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