Istanbul Insider

How to Get From Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Taksim or Sultanahmet

The Sabiha Gökçen Istanbul Airport is attracting more and more passengers every year. Unfortunately, Sabiha Gökçen is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, well outside the city center. Unless your hotel has arranged for a free airport pick-up, you will need to find transportation from the airport to your hotel.

Picture of the Sabiha Gökçen (Sabiha Gokcen) International Airport in Istanbul
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport in Istanbul. – © Photo by Bulent Kavakkoru

From the Sabiha Gökçen Airport in Istanbul, you have several options regardless the location of your hotel — Sultanahmet or Beyoğlu (Taksim/Cihangir). I hope this overview helps you make the correct choice based on your destination and/or preferences. You can find new Istanbul International Airport (IST) transportation options here.

General Guidelines

  • Get Turkish Liras – If you don’t have Turkish liras on you, use one of the many ATMs in the airport to withdraw some cash money. None of the transportation options mentioned below will accept credit cards, foreign currencies or big Turkish lira notes. Make sure you have some 5, 10, 20 or maximum 50 notes handy. Also, check out our Istanbul money strategy.
  • Hotel Address – Make sure that you write down or print out the exact address of your hotel, together with its telephone number. Istanbul is a huge city with an uncountable amount of (small) hotels. Even locals don’t know them all by heart. So, if you need help, just hand over the piece of paper. It’s not unusual for taxi drivers to ask for directions at traffic lights or call the hotel. Don’t worry, he’ll get you there.

Taxi

Unless money is no object, stay clear from taking a taxi from the Sabiha Gökçen airport. A ride to Beyoğlu or Sultanahmet may easily take over an hour. Accordingly, you’ll have to pay 125 TL and upwards, depending on your final destination. Always check out the most up-to-date taxi prices.

Havabus Airport Shuttle (and Public Transportation Combination)

Picture of Havataş airport shuttle bus.
Havabus shuttle. © Erlend Geerts

Havabus, a municipality owned reliable airport shuttle service, is your best option to reach your hotel. Depending on your destination, either direct or in combination with public transportation.

To Taksim – This is the most straightforward route. Outside the airport, find the Havabus heading for Taksim. These buses operate daily between 04:00 and 01:00. The current pick-up and drop-off point is the Gezi Park metro exit/entrance, just past Taksim Square. The ride costs 18 TL per person (luggage included) and takes approximately 90 minutes, depending on traffic. You can get off at a few places, but most tourists will want to get off at Beşiktaş or Taksim, depending on your destination.

To Sultanahmet – To reach Sultanhamet, you have two options. Either you take a 17 TL taxi ride after reaching Taksim Square (see option above), or you combine another airport shuttle line with a ferry ride, followed by a small taxi or tram ride as I’ll explain now.

First, hop on the Havabus heading for Kadıköy. The buses operate daily between 04:00 and 01:00. The ride costs 14 TL per person (luggage included) and takes approximately 60 minutes. In Kadıköy, walk to the Şehir Hatları dock and board the ferry to Eminönü. You can find the operating hours here. The ferry ride (with a nice view) takes about 15 minutes and costs 3 TL per person.If your hotel is in Eminönü, you can walk from there. If not you, must either take a small taxi ride (5 minutes maximum) or take the T1 Kabataş/Eminönü-Bağcılar tram in the direction of Bağçılar, and get off only a few stops later in Sultanahmet.

Although very romantic, in my opinion and with all your luggage, the first option (Havabus to Taksim followed by taxi to Sultanahmet) is your best bet outside rush hour.

Private Shuttle

A private shuttle is a great alternative for both the taxi and the standard airport shuttle. They are much more comfortable than taxis, have a fixed rate, hence offer a much more relaxed (and safe) drive to your hotel. Unlike the Havabus Airport shuttle, private shuttles bring you to the hotel’s doorstep. They are also the best option when your party is three or more people (with a lot of luggage) or when you travel with very young children. In case of the latter, ask for a child seat.

I recently booked a shuttle with KiwiTaxi to take me and two friends from the airport to their hotel. The driver was waiting for us in the arrival hall (1 hour waiting is included), holding a plate with my name on it. He was very kind and helped us with our luggage. The car was clean and comfortable, meeting basic expectations. We had quite a bit of traffic, but that didn’t bother us since we were paying a fixed price anyway. He dropped us off nicely in front of the hotel lobby, and again was very helpful with our luggage. No need to say I gave him a nice tip.

I can really recommend KiwiTaxi. They have no less than 12 car classes, ranging from Micro for 3 passengers to Minibuses for 19 passengers. Just pick the most comfortable car for your needs. If you are traveling with children, don’t forget to order a child seat.

Istanbul Shuttles & Transfers
SultanhametSultanh. ↔ Sabiha €37, Ataturk €20
Taksim ↔ Sabiha €37, Ataturk €26
Sabhia ↔ Ataturk €50 — more prices

Hotel Airport Pick-Up

Most hotels will offer (upon request) an airport pick-up. These pick-ups are rarely free of charge, and often much more expensive than the options mentioned above. It’s up to you to calculate the difference and decide which option best suits your needs or preference.

Further Recommended Reading

  1. How to Get Your Turkish Electronic Visa Online and Avoid the Queue
  2. Tips To Prevent Popular Istanbul Taxi Scams
  3. Use Public Transportation in Istanbul to Reach Most Places of Interest

Comments

  1. Awesome guide. Saved me a lot of time and money. FYI I paid 14 TR for my Havabus to Kadikoy and 5 for the ferry. Looks like prices changes slightly since you published the article.

    Reply

        • Hi Hasan,

          You should have no problem finding a taxi. You can also ask your hotel to have one ready by 4 am in the morning, so they’ll call one they work with and trust.

          Have a nice trip back.

          Reply

  2. Brilliant website!!!!

    We are arriving at Sabiha Gökçen and we have to reach our hotel (Ahmet Efendi Konagi
    Ordekli Bakkal Sokak).
    We want to take the ferry. Which ist the best way to reach our hotel once we arrive at Eminönü?

    Many thanks in advance

    Reply

    • Hi Fiore,

      Thanks a lot. I would just take a taxi and tell him to take the seaside road. This should take you there in about 10 minutes.

      Enjoy the views.

      Reply

  3. How much should we pay for the taxi? For 10 min ride? Googlemap calculates ca 6 km and 25 min if we take the seaside road?

    I’m kind of perplexed…at that point isn’t it better and more convinient (time/money) to take the airport shuttle (25€ for 2 px) and arrive direcrly at the hotel doorstep. On the otherside I read that the ferryride is picturesque and totally awesome.
    What would be your advice, dear Erlend?

    Reply

    • Hi Fiore,

      The taxi ride from Eminönü to your hotel, via the seaside road, is about 5 km. This should cost you the minimum fare of 10 liras. The Havataş busride from the airport to Kadıköy costs 14 liras per person, and the ferry around 3. So, in total, it should cost around 50 liras for the two of you. That’s less than the shuttle quote, of course. As I mentioned in the article: an airport shuttle is convenience (airport to hotel lobby), the Havataş shuttle-ferry-taxi combination is more picturesque but requires some travelling/walking with your luggage, too.

      I hope it is clear now.

      Reply

  4. Hi, i’m going to visit turkey next week, is there any public transportation from new istanbul airport to taksim area?
    if i stay at Taksim area which airport should i choose (new istanbul airport or sabiha gocken airport) that you recommend in term distance and public transport easiness?
    Thank you…

    Reply

  5. Hi this is Jayanta Mukherjee from India. Well I and my wife have our Nevsehir to SAW airport flight at night by Turkish airlines and we reach SAW at 23:15 hrs. Collecting our luggage will probably be 45 mins. So either we can catch the 12:30AM or 1AM Havabus to reach Taskim square at around 2:30 to 2:45 AM. We would have to walk a bit for our hostel ftom Taskim square. Is it safe. Or should we wait till morning in the airport or should we take a hotel close to Airport. Our hotrl budget will be around 30 to 35 € . Would highly appreciate your recommendation. I have really high esteem for you going through your pades.
    Regards

    Reply

    • Hi Jayanta,

      I don’t know where your hostel is, but generally speaking Istanbul is safe. Unless the hotel is really close and within walking distance, I would take a taxi, just for convenience alone.

      Best of luck.

      Reply

  6. Hi
    We r traveling to turkey and our hotel is at Taksim Square.i m lil bit confused about Hava bus.
    I want to know that from sabiha gokcen to Taksim we take only 1 bus i mean direct bus from SAW to Taksim or we have to change any other shuttle or something??

    Reply

    • Hi Shaz,

      That’s correct, there is a shuttle with final destination Taksim. There you must get off and either walk to your hotel or take a taxi.

      Have a nice stay.

      Reply

  7. Thanks for the clear info. Its been a few years since I’ve been to Turkey and assumed I could rock up and get a visa stamp on arrival. Fantastic that you included the eVisa website link. I did it in less than 5mins while on the train to the airport! Great transport info for getting from new Airport to city too. Thanks a lot!

    Reply

  8. Hi . I arrive at SAW at 13.45 Pm so thinking of taking the Hava bus. Since it will go to Taksim , I will have to take a taxi to my hotel in Sultan Ahmet. How do I identify a registered taxi with meter from one that is not?. I have been to Turkey before and had a problem with taxi drivers trying to cheat us.
    Since I am travelling from an international destination, I have carry on and Checked in bags , do u rather then feel a booked shuttle direct to the hotel is better? We are a party of 2.

    Reply

    • Hi Zahiera,

      Whether or not to take a private shuttle is a choice you should make based on budget and convenience. If you decide to take the Havataş option, then you can recognize official taxis by the logo of their rank on the door, a taxi meter should be visible either at the bottom of the dashboard or embedded in the mirror, and on the inside of the back door(s) there should be a metal plate with the taxi license and license plate. Normally taxis also have a number painted on the roof. You can of course take a look at these approximate taxi fees.

      Have a nice stay.

      Reply

  9. Hello,

    It seems the Havabus airport shuttle website is not online anymore. Do you know if the service from Taksim to Sabiha Gokcen is still running?

    Reply

  10. Hi
    Can you suggest the ways as to how to reach Instanbul Technical University, Macka campus?I will be travelling from India.

    Reply

  11. Hi,

    Thanks for the insightful post. I will be taking the Havabus shuttle from SAW to Taksim. Could you please confirm whether they accept Istanbulkart? If yes, does it offer any discount on the 18 TL ticket price?

    Reply

  12. Hello there, would really be grateful for your help. I am arriving to Sabiha Gokcen Airport at 9:00 in the morning. I need to get to Taksim (preferably the cheapest option). I see that Havaist is not operating this direction, but Havabus does. However, on the Havabus site it basically says that they operare buses on this route every 4 hours! Do you maybe know whether this is this true? So the first shuttle I can take is at 12:00, in 3 hours from arrival! I have been to Istanbul before, and via this airport, and I do not remember such a problem with airport shuttles (i.e. such big interval). Could you please confirm my understanding is correct about this? Thank you very much for your help in advance!

    Reply

    • Hi Anastasiia,

      I think you read it wrong on their site. Read vertically instead of horizontally, and you’ll see that there is a bus approximately every half hour.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply

  13. Hi Awesome article, very good information!
    I am arriving at SAW with my wife in a few days landing around 7pm. We will have a suitcase and hand luggage each. would taking public transport to Fatih. Çemberlitaş would be our stop on the T1. But also has the metro started directly from SAW yet?

    Thanks
    Ali

    Reply

  14. Hi

    Please advise best way and costs to travel from

    Conrad Istanbul Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey5-star
    Cihannuma Mahallesi, Saray Caddesi No:5, Besiktas, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34353, Turkey

    TO

    Doubletree By Hilton Istanbul Old Town, Istanbul, Turkey5-star
    Ordu Cad No:31, Beyazit, Istanbul, Istanbul, 34130, Turkey

    thanks
    AK

    Reply

  15. Hi there

    We arrive at SAW and then need to get to Istanbul International – IST to catch a flight. Do any of the Hava busses go this route?

    Thank you for this very useful article

    Reply

  16. Hello,

    I’ll be arriving Sabiha Gökçen Airport in the coming days at about 6pm. Would you advise I take the Havabus at this time of the evening if I’m going to Hotel Alilass, Cankuratan Mah. Akbyk, Istanbul, 34122? And should I take a taxi from Taksim to the hotel assuming I take the Havabus.

    Reply

    • Hi JoJo,

      Yes, that’s one option. Another option is to just walk to your hotel, because it’s literally only 250 meters from the drop off point. Taxi drivers will not be amused with such a short trip and you’ll have to pay the minimum fare of 13 TL.

      Have a nice stay.

      Reply

    • Hi Maria,

      No, you need an Istanbul kart to board the ferry. Since it’s only for one trip, you could ask a local to use his card to open the gates for you and hand him 3 TL, but not everybody may be willing or understand you, certainly if you don’t speak Turkish.

      Best of luck.

      Reply

  18. Hi! First of all, let me tell you I love your guide!! I’ve been researching for my trip to Istanbul for a while and this is the best site I’ve found.

    I have a question for you: I am traveling to Istanbul soon and I will be arriving at the new airport (already red your guide for getting to the hotel BTW, thank you for that!) but I will be departing from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

    Do you have any recommendation on how to get there from the city? I’ll be staying in Sultanahmet, a couple of blocks from the Blue Mosque.

    Thank you in advance!

    Reply

  19. Hello,

    My wife and I are flying into SAW Airport at about 1700hrs on 22/09/19. This will be out first visit to Turkey.

    We will be staying at the Cevahir Hotel Istanbul Asia in Maltepe. We are on a budget, so would you happen to have any idea how best we can get from the airport to our hotel please?

    Thank you:-)

    Reply

    • Hi Nick,

      You could take public transportation, but since those are regular buses and you would have to walk quite a bit, I would stay clear of that option. Just taking a taxi would be your best bet I guess and would set you back for something between 80-120 TL.

      Have a nice stay.

      Reply

  20. Thank you so much Erland for your kind reply. We are walking people so do not mind that at all. If we took the bus, which number would be correct and at what stop should we disembark please? This kind of information is always good to have at hand – just in case;-)

    Best Wishes,

    Reply

    • Hi Nick,

      Take the E-10 bus to Kadıköy, but get off at the Taşlıbayır stop. Walk to the M4 metro station of Pencil, take the metro again in the direction of Kadıköy and get off in Maltese. From there it’s still a 20 min walk. Do buy your Istanbul Kart at the airport first.

      Enjoy!

      Reply

  21. Thank you so much, this is really helpful..
    btw i have a question, are Havaist busses operate in Sabiha Gocken Airport too?
    I saw that on their timetables they have route fromm sabiha gocken to Istanbul new airport.
    if i land on SAW airport at 11pm and try to catch flight to belgrade via IST airport at 8am the next morning. Do you think its posibble?

    Reply

    • Hi Julia,

      Correct, Havaist only operates from the new Istanbul Airport, but has one line running between both airports. Of course it’s possible to transfer between the two airports in 9 hours, but you’ll miss some sleep time.

      Have great time.

      Reply

  22. Hello , we are going to travel in Turkey 31 of January 2020 , we’re going to stay there for 6 months , Erasmus programme , we are 3 students but don’t know which is the best and cheapest way to go in Taksim ?! Thank you anyway

    Reply

  24. Hi Erlend

    Many thanks for your very informative thread. We are travelling from Saw arriving 7pm and then hope to get the Havabus to Taxsim. We are staying at Cambazoglu Sk and was wondering how far that is from where bus stops. Many thanks for your help.

    Reply

  25. Hello Erlend,

    If everything goes to plan I will be arriving at Sabiha Gokcen airport at 5pm with my wife for 3 nights stay. We will have two small luggages and our hotel is in sultanahmet. How do you recommend we get to our hotel from the airport? Taxi or hava bus shuttle? Also how much will each one cost and how long will it take. Also if I take bus how can I get ticket for this. Thank you

    Reply

    • Hi Jack,

      It basically boils down to how much do you want to drag your luggage around. If not at all, take a Kiwi Taxi right from the airport to your hotel’s doorstep. If a little bit, than take the Havabus shuttle to Taksim and take a taxi from there. If you don’t mind at all, take the shuttle to Taksim, enter the Taksim metro station and locate the funicular to Kabataş. From there, go to ground level and step on the tramway T1 until the Sultanahmet stop (or a bit later depending on the exact location of your hotel). If you plan to use public transportation, make sure you buy and load an Istanbul Kart at the airport.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply

      • thanks for your reply it is very helpful.

        if i get taxi do you know how much it will cost and how long it will take approximately.

        also can i buy the shuttle bus ticket on the bus using the istanbulkart? and how long will the shuttle bus take to get to taksim do you know?

        thank you

        Reply

        • Hi Jack,

          The prices are written in the post, or follow the links for taxi and pretend to book, it will show the price. I think you can pay with the Istanbul Card, if not than cash or credit card options will be available. The shuttle takes about 1,5 hours, taxi may be a bit shorter. All depends on traffic and you’ll be there in rush hour.

          Reply

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