Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): Havaist, Havabüs or Private Transfer?

Short answer: Istanbul has two airports on opposite sides of the Bosphorus. The Havaist (IST) and Havabüs (SAW) buses are cheap but end at central squares, so most hotels still need a taxi or a walk with your luggage. A private transfer goes door to door and is often about twice as fast: to Taksim, roughly 90 minutes by Havaist against about 45 by car.

Istanbul Airport (IST) lies on the European side, north of the city; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side. Which one is closer depends on where you stay: for Kadıköy, Üsküdar or Ataşehir, SAW is about 15–30 km closer, while IST is better for Sarıyer and Şişli. For Sultanahmet and Taksim the two airports are almost equally far.

Your options on arrival

• Havaist (from IST) — buses leave from the arrivals level and run 24 hours; payment by İstanbulkart or credit card. Lines include Taksim (about 90 minutes, roughly every 40–45 minutes by day), Aksaray (about 90 minutes), Kadıköy (about 2 hours), the Esenler bus terminal, Sultanahmet and Beylikdüzü.
• Havabüs (from SAW) — buses leave from the Havabüs stand in front of the terminal; tickets at the Havabüs desk or online. The main lines go to Taksim and Kadıköy.
• Private transfer — a vehicle only for your group, priced per vehicle. The driver follows your flight and takes you straight to the door, with no transfers and no other passengers.
• Taxi — available at both airports, metered. Traffic on the bridges and the coastal roads makes the final price hard to predict at rush hour.

Current bus fares are listed, with sources, on our Istanbul Airport transfer page.

How far is it by private transfer?

When the airport bus works

• You travel light and your hotel is within walking distance of Taksim, Aksaray or Kadıköy.
• You land outside rush hour and are not in a hurry.

When a private transfer is the better choice

• Your hotel is in Sultanahmet's old town: the narrow streets are hard to reach with luggage from any bus stop.
• You arrive at night or with children: IST buses run 24 hours, but a door-to-door ride is simpler after a long flight.
• You land at one airport and stay on the other side of the Bosphorus: a direct transfer avoids a second trip across the city.

Where to meet your driver

At IST, domestic and international flights share one terminal building: after baggage claim and customs, your driver waits at the exit on the arrivals level with a Vixride name sign. At SAW, domestic and international arrivals are in the same terminal; your driver waits at the arrivals exit of your flight.

Frequently asked questions

Which airport is closer to Sultanahmet?

They are almost equally far: about 46 km from IST and 48 km from SAW, both roughly 50 minutes by car without heavy traffic.

Does the Havaist bus go to Sultanahmet?

Yes, there is a Sultanahmet line, but most old-town hotels are in pedestrianised streets, so expect to walk the last stretch with your luggage.

For the general pros and cons of shared and private transfers, see our shared vs private transfer guide.

Compare the fixed price for your group on the Istanbul Airport transfer page.