Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to your hotel

Istanbul spreads across two sides. Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side; Sultanahmet, Taksim, Galata and Beşiktaş are on the European side. Which side your hotel is on decides how long the journey takes and which way of travelling makes sense.

If you are staying in an Asian-⁠side district such as Kadıköy, Üsküdar or Ataşehir, the trip is shorter and you do not cross the Bosphorus at all. For the European side, allow roughly 60–120 minutes by road depending on traffic: less late at night, more on a weekday evening.

By road you reach the European side over one of the suspension bridges or through the Eurasia Tunnel, which runs under the Bosphorus. The tunnel is often handy for the Historic Peninsula; for Taksim and Beşiktaş the bridges give a more direct route. Which is quicker depends on the traffic at the time.

You can also cross by rail: Marmaray runs under the Bosphorus and links the Asian side with Sirkeci and Yenikapı. And there is the ferry. Boats from Kadıköy or Üsküdar to Eminönü and Karaköy are a way of getting across and a pleasant first look at the city from the water.

The M4 metro line starts at Sabiha Gökçen and runs towards Kadıköy. Change at Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Marmaray to cross under the Bosphorus to Sirkeci, which is close to Sultanahmet. Another option is to ride on to Kadıköy and take a ferry from there.

This route avoids traffic and costs little; you pay with an Istanbulkart. You do have changes, stairs and crowds to deal with. It works well with light luggage, in daylight and when you are not in a hurry. With two large suitcases it can be tiring.

Havabus coaches run from Sabiha Gökçen to Taksim and Kadıköy. Your suitcase goes in the hold and you travel without changes; from the last stop you may need a short taxi ride or a walk to your hotel. Check current lines and times on Havabus’s own website.

Taxis wait at the ranks outside arrivals and take you door to door. The drive to the European side is long, so make sure the meter is running, and have your hotel’s address written down in Turkish. A large family or a group with plenty of luggage may not fit into one taxi.

If your flight lands late at night or very early in the morning, public transport thins out, and a long journey is harder to start when you are tired. A private transfer makes a clear difference when:

• your hotel is on the European side and you land late
• you have more than one large suitcase
• you travel with children or an older relative
• it is your first time in the city and you do not speak Turkish
• you use a wheelchair

If you are staying on the Asian side and travelling light, a taxi or the metro is a quick, practical option.

At Sabiha Gökçen the meet-⁠and-⁠greet works just as it does at Istanbul Airport. You give us your flight number, we track your flight and we 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 extra charge.

We meet you with a London Taxi: six people sit facing each other in the rear cabin, and the suitcases ride in a separate luggage area. On a long drive across the Bosphorus, you notice the extra space. 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. You can send your request through the form or on WhatsApp at any hour of the day.