Istanbul Airport (IST) to the city centre

Istanbul Airport (IST) sits on the European side, close to the Black Sea coast. To reach Sultanahmet, Taksim or Beşiktaş you travel a fair distance back into the city.

By road, the time depends mostly on traffic. Late at night and early in the morning the roads move freely; on a weekday evening the same drive can take much longer. For Sultanahmet, allow roughly 45–90 minutes depending on traffic, and keep that margin in mind when you plan your check-⁠in.

The M11 metro line leaves from the airport’s own station. Change to the M2 at Gayrettepe for Taksim and Şişli. Sultanahmet or Kadıköy need one or two more changes.

Public transport runs on the Istanbulkart, which you can buy and top up at machines in the airport. The big advantage of the metro is that it is not affected by traffic. The trade-⁠off is stairs, crowds and walking at every change. If you travel with a cabin bag and a backpack and your hotel is near a station, the metro is a sensible choice.

Havaist runs bus lines from the airport to many districts, including Taksim and the area around Sultanahmet. The buses leave from outside the terminal, and suitcases go in the hold.

Havaist needs fewer changes than the metro; often one bus takes you to a stop near your hotel’s district. The bus does sit in traffic, though, and from the last stop you may still have to walk or find a taxi. Check current lines, times and fares on Havaist’s own website.

There are taxi ranks at the arrivals exit, and you can also call a taxi through an app. A taxi takes you door to door with no booking in advance.

A few things help: make sure the meter is running, and have your hotel’s address written down in Turkish. At busy times there may be a queue. A standard taxi can feel cramped for a family or a group with a lot of luggage, and you may have to split into two cars.

With a private transfer the car and the chauffeur are there for you alone. You know the price before you travel, and you do not have to look for anyone when you land. It makes a clear difference when:

• you have more than one large suitcase
• you travel with children or an older relative
• your flight lands late at night or very early in the morning
• it is your first time in Istanbul and you do not speak Turkish
• you use a wheelchair

If you travel alone, light and in daylight, the metro or Havaist will get you into the city comfortably.

In your request, give us your flight number, your hotel’s address and the number of passengers and suitcases. We track your flight and are at the exit in time for your landing. Your chauffeur waits with a sign bearing your name and helps carry your suitcases to the car. If your flight is late, we wait, and there is no waiting charge for delays.

We meet you with a London Taxi: six people sit facing each other in the rear cabin, suitcases travel in a separate luggage area, and there is a wheelchair ramp. If you would rather have a Mercedes V-⁠Class or S-⁠Class, just say so in your request. The price depends on the airport, your destination and the number of passengers and suitcases; we reply to your request with the exact price. We do not take card details on the website. Send your request through the form or on WhatsApp, in Turkish, English or Russian.