Istanbul Airport - Flight Information and Guide (IST)

How to get to Istanbul Airport

Istanbul city centre is about 40 km from the airport: transfer takes approximately 40-50 minutes by subway (M11+M2 to Taksim).

By Car

Travelers arriving by car reach Istanbul city center in approximately 45-60 minutes, traffic permitting.

By Train

The M11 metro reaches Gayrettepe in about 30 minutes, with trains roughly every 20 minutes from 6:00 to midnight; from there continue with M2 towards Taksim.

By Bus

Havaist bus connects the airport directly to Taksim, Sultanahmet, Kadıköy and over 50 other areas of the city, operating 24 hours.

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Tips If your flight arrives after midnight, the Havaist (active 24/7) is the only public transport option, since the last M11 metro leaves the airport around midnight.

Average travel time to IST

Train40-50 minutes (M11+M2, approx 42 TL)

Shuttle busAvailable service (Havaist, 24/7)

Taxi / Private hire45-60 minutes (850-1,550 TL)

Parking near Istanbul Airport

Adjacent to the terminal is a multi-level parking lot.

Rates are in line with major international hub standards.

How to get to Istanbul from IST

By Train

The M11 metro line reaches Gayrettepe in approximately 30 minutes, from which you can continue on the M2 to the city center.

By Bus

The Havaist bus connects the airport to Taksim, Sultanahmet, Kadıköy and over 50 other areas, operating 24/7; fare to Taksim approximately 400–450 TL.

By Taxi

The meter (rate in effect as of 16/02/2026: 64.40 TL departure plus 43.56 TL/km, minimum fare 210 TL, valid 24 hours a day with no night surcharge) applies approximately 1,500–2,100 TL to Taksim, including highway and bridge tolls; an alternative fixed rate is sometimes offered at approximately 2,100 TL.

Airport transfers you can book in advance

Shuttles and private transfers you can book online, picked from the best rated by travelers.

From IST to the most sought-after destinations

If you want to...	Choose	Estimated cost
Spend the minimum possible	Metro M11 + M2 (transfer ticket)	~45-50 TL
Reach Taksim without changing transport	Metro M11 + M2 (the M2 stops right at Taksim)	~45-50 TL
Reach the Levent-Maslak financial district	Metro M11 + M2 (a few stops after Gayrettepe, without entering the old town)	~45-50 TL
Heavy luggage, group or night flight	Metered taxi	~1,500-2,100 TL

Istanbul Airport → Taksim and Beyoğlu

Unlike many other parts of the city, Taksim is reached by metro without any change of transport: the same M2 line that departs from Gayrettepe (the M11 terminus) passes through Osmanbey and Şişli and stops directly at Taksim, the heart of Beyoğlu and the starting point for the pedestrian İstiklal Caddesi. Havaist buses arrive in the same area but take longer in traffic and cost more.

Istanbul Airport → Sultanahmet (Old City)

For Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Grand Bazaar, the direct bus line is currently suspended (early 2026): the most practical alternative is the Havaist to Aksaray plus the T1 tram to Sultanahmet, or the metro M11+M2 to Vezneciler with a short walk or brief taxi. The meter taxi, while convenient with luggage, is subject here to longer times due to bridge tolls and old town traffic.

Istanbul Airport → Kadıköy (Asian side)

Since the airport is far from the Bosphorus bridges, the most direct connection is the dedicated Havaist bus line to Kadıköy, but this takes 80-100 minutes and a higher fare than other city lines; alternatively you can get off with the metro at Yenikapı and complete the journey by ferry to the Asian side. The taxi, which must cross one of the toll bridges, remains the most expensive option and not necessarily the fastest during rush hours.

Istanbul Airport → Levent-Maslak (business district)

For business travelers, the M2 offers a little-known advantage: from Gayrettepe it takes just a few minutes to reach Levent, 4.Levent and the Maslak area, home to most of the office towers and bank headquarters in the city, without needing to go all the way to Taksim or the old town.

Car rental at Istanbul Airport

Near arrivals you will find counters for major car rental companies.

License, passport, credit card and, almost always, the International Driving Permit: these are the required documents.

Hotels near Istanbul Airport

At about 40 km from the center, Istanbul Airport makes the transfer a heavy item: the M11 metro plus the M2 take 40-50 minutes to Taksim, and the first train leaves around 6. That is why anyone with a dawn flight or a night layover does well to sleep inside the terminal, where rooms can be booked by the hour. Those staying a few days have three choices instead: the Gayrettepe area, on the M11 route, the Beyoğlu district or the Old City, farther away but with the historic sites within reach by tram. The recommended margin for international flights is three hours.

At the airport

YOTEL Istanbul Airport is on the departures level, before security, near entrance 7 and check-in desk R; YOTELAIR is in the duty free area, after security.

Best for: One-night layovers and flights before dawn, even for a few hours of rest before check-in.

Pros

You can sleep for as little as four hours, with check-in and gate a few minutes' walk away
Two locations: before security, or after it with an international boarding pass

Cons

The cabins are compact and the bathrooms are shared at YOTELAIR
Nothing outside the terminal: seeing Istanbul takes 40-50 minutes each way

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

Airport area

Arnavutköy, near the airport

The Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Arnavutkoy offers no airport shuttle: you arrive by taxi, rideshare or rental car.

Best for: Those who want a chain hotel at a lower price than the terminals and don't mind taking a taxi.

Pros

Chain hotel cheaper than the terminal, a short distance from the airport
No change of vehicle: one taxi takes you from the hotel door to check-in

Cons

Without a shuttle you pay for the taxi each way
Outlying district, with few places and no tourist sights around

Recommended hotels

Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Arnavutkoy Chain hotel in the airport area, useful for a night before a flight; there is no shuttle, so factor in the taxi. View availability

See more hotels in this area

Near the airport link

Gayrettepe and Şişli

The M11 reaches Gayrettepe in about 38 minutes, with trains every 6 minutes from 6:00 until around midnight; from there the M2 continues to Taksim and Levent.

Best for: Business travelers, or anyone who wants to get off the train and reach the hotel right away, with no luggage-laden changes.

Pros

M11 terminus: a single train from the airport, then a few minutes' walk
Levent and Maslak, with offices and banks, are a few M2 stops away

Cons

Area of towers and traffic, with little historic or evening atmosphere
The train doesn't run overnight: between midnight and 6 you need Havaist or a taxi

Recommended hotels

DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Gayrettepe About 250-500 metres from Gayrettepe station, with an indoor pool and a gym; convenient for arriving by train and continuing on the M2 to Taksim. View availability

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Neighbourhood

Taksim and Beyoğlu

M11 to Gayrettepe, then M2 to Taksim: 40-50 minutes in all; alternatively the Havaist buses, running 24 hours a day, or a metered taxi.

Best for: Those who want restaurants, bars and evening strolls on foot, with İstiklal Caddesi a few minutes away.

Pros

The M2 takes you to Taksim with a single change, at Gayrettepe
Dinner and nightlife on foot, with no other transport

Cons

Traffic and crowds around İstiklal until late in the evening
Steep climbs towards Galata and Cihangir, awkward with suitcases

Recommended hotels

See more hotels in this area

City centre

Old City, Sirkeci and Sultanahmet

The direct Havaist line to Sultanahmet has been suspended since the start of 2026: take the Havaist to Aksaray and then the T1 tram, or M11+M2 to Vezneciler with a stretch on foot or by taxi.

Best for: Those who want to see Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and Topkapı on foot and don't plan to go out in the evening.

Pros

The historic sites are reached on foot or by the T1 tram
Quiet area in the evening, once the tour groups leave

Cons

Long transfer with a change, awkward with a lot of luggage
Few places in the evening, and almost none beyond the tourist restaurants

Recommended hotels

Sirkeci Mansion A few steps from the Gülhane tram stop, near Topkapı Park; reviews praise the quiet location and the breakfast. View availability

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Airport services

The airport is Turkey's primary hub, home to Turkish Airlines, with connections to virtually every continent.

Shopping & Duty Free

The duty-free area ranks among the world's largest, featuring carpets, Turkish sweets (lokum, baklava), and luxury products.

Lounges & relaxation

Two operators share the lounges of Istanbul. The Turkish Airlines lounges, in the international and domestic areas, are reserved for business passengers and holders of Star Alliance Gold or Miles&Smiles status, and entry cannot be bought. The airport's lounges, the iGA, open instead with Priority Pass, DragonPass or by paying; the international iGA Lounge also has an outdoor terrace. The SkyTeam Lounge is temporarily closed.

lounges: 7
with Priority Pass: 3
open 24 hours: 7

Which lounge to choose: full comparison

Connectivity & Wi-Fi

Free Wi-Fi reaches every corner of the terminal.

Families & Children

The terminal provides families with generous play areas plus standard assistance services.

Terminal guide

The terminal, among the world's largest by capacity, is Turkey's primary hub and home base of Turkish Airlines.

Those traveling on international flights should plan 3 hours of buffer time.

Map of Istanbul Airport

Frequently asked questions

Q. Is Atatürk Airport still active?

No, it closed to commercial passenger traffic on April 6, 2019; the IST code was transferred to the new Istanbul Airport, opened on the European side of the city.

Q. How do you get from the airport to central Istanbul?

By the M11 metro line to Gayrettepe (30 minutes, 42 TL), continuing on the M2, or by the Havaist bus, running 24/7, direct to Taksim, Sultanahmet and other areas.

Q. How much does a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet cost?

Approximately 2,500-2,800 TL on the meter (some operators charge a fixed rate of about 2,600 TL), plus a 15% night surcharge; the figures have risen considerably compared to a few years ago due to inflation.

Q. Is a visa required for Turkey?

EU, US, Canadian and UK citizens enter without a visa for up to 90 days; those who need one must apply online at evisa.gov.tr, the only official portal.

Q. Which lounges accept Priority Pass?

iGA Lounge Domestic (Domestic), iGA Lounge (International) and iGA Pop Up Lounge (International).

Q. Are any lounges open 24 hours?

Yes, 7, including iGA Lounge Domestic (Domestic), Revolve by YOTELAIR (International), iGA Lounge (International), iGA Pop Up Lounge (International), Turkish Airlines Lounge Domestic (Domestic) and Turkish Airlines Lounge Business (International).