Istanbul Airport Guide: IST or SAW, the Metro and Transfers

Istanbul has two airports: Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side and Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, where most trips to Turkey begin. IST is a huge airport, and on a first visit its size can surprise you: long walks, security at the door and a city still an hour away. So here is our Istanbul Airport guide, from which airport you will land at to the easiest ways into the city.

Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen

First, check your ticket. Istanbul Airport, code IST, lies in the Arnavutköy district on the European side, north of the city, near the Black Sea. On 6 April 2019, it replaced the old Atatürk Airport for all scheduled passenger flights. Its control tower, for example, takes the shape of a tulip, the national flower. With a long connection, see what to do on an Istanbul layover.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport, code SAW, lies in Pendik on the Asian side and is the base of Pegasus Airlines and AJet. Because the two airports sit on opposite sides of the Bosphorus, IST or SAW compares them by your hotel and your airline. To stay connected during your trip, we arrange your eSIM; read eSIM and phones in Turkey.

Arriving at Istanbul Airport

Expect long distances on foot, especially from the far gates. Then, after passport control and baggage claim, the arrivals hall opens onto the transport options. On departure, however, plan extra time: you pass a security check at the entrance of the terminal before check-in, and another before your gate. Before you land, read what you can bring into Turkey.

The M11 metro

The simplest rail link into the city is the M11 metro line, which starts under the terminal. Toward the center, it runs to Kağıthane and Gayrettepe, where you change to the M2 line for Levent, Taksim and the old city. In the other direction, it goes to Halkalı for trains along the Marmara shore. For lounges and fast track, read Istanbul Airport VIP services.

Taxis, buses and private transfers

Taxis wait outside arrivals, and Havaist airport buses run on 11 routes to the main districts of the city, from the transportation floor below the terminal. Still, after a long flight with luggage, most of our guests prefer a driver waiting with their name. For that reason, we arrange transfers from IST and Sabiha Gökçen transfers, and a VIP airport assistance service that meets you at the gate.

Leaving From Istanbul Airport

Finally, on the way home, leave the city early, because traffic on the bridges and highways can double the drive. Inside, the duty-free area is vast, with Turkish delight, coffee and tea for last gifts. For the rest of your trip, read our guides to getting around Turkey and where to stay in Istanbul. For a short stop between flights, see our Istanbul layover tour.