Istanbul · Airport
Getting to Istanbul
Istanbul has two main airports on opposite sides of the city. Confirm the three-letter code on your ticket before you book a transfer — they are not interchangeable.
Airports
IST — Istanbul Airport, European side
Most long-haul and Turkish Airlines flights. Roughly 90 minutes to Sultanahmet by metro, or about an hour by road outside rush hour.
SAW — Sabiha Gökçen, Asian side
More low-cost carriers. M4 metro runs from Kadıköy. Better if you stay on the Asian side — considerably worse from Sultanahmet.
Into the centre
Typical door-to-door options — verify fares locally before you travel.
- İstanbulkart
- One rechargeable card covers tram, metro, ferry, funicular and most buses. Buy at any airport or station machine, load enough for several rides, tap on entry. One card can be shared by a couple by tapping twice.
- card ~€2 plus fares
- T1 tram
- The tourist spine. Runs from Kabataş through Karaköy and across the Galata Bridge to Sultanahmet and on to the old city walls. If you are based centrally this covers most of your sightseeing.
- ~€0.60 per ride
- Ferries
- Commuter transport, not tours. Eminönü and Karaköy to Kadıköy and Üsküdar run constantly. The Bosphorus lines head north to Beşiktaş, Ortaköy and beyond. Cheapest sightseeing in the city.
- ~€0.60–1 per crossing
- Metro
- Modern, clean and mostly useful for getting to the airports and the newer districts rather than between sights. M2 connects Taksim and Şişhane to the north.
- ~€0.60 per ride
- Taxis
- Fine for late nights and short hops, but insist on the meter and expect it to be slower than the tram in traffic. Use a ride-hailing app where possible so the route and fare are recorded.
- metered, varies
Worth knowing
- Buy an İstanbulkart at the airport machine — one card covers metro, tram, ferry and most buses.
- A cheap SAW ticket plus a cross-city transfer is often a false economy if you are staying in Sultanahmet.
- Do not change money at airport exchange desks — withdraw in the city or pay by card.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into?+
IST for most long-haul and if you stay on the European side. SAW if you stay in Kadıköy and your fare is significantly cheaper — not otherwise.
How do I get from IST to Sultanahmet?+
M11 metro to Kağıthane, transfer to M7/M2, then tram T1 — roughly 90 minutes. Taxi or Havaist bus faster off-peak.
Costs are research-based estimates, not live prices — verify before booking.