Istanbul Airport has multiple travel options for passengers to consider when traveling from the airport to their hotels including public transportation and private transfer services.
You can take a shuttle bus, get a taxi, use the metro, get on a public bus, or book a private transfer service to travel from Istanbul Airport to your hotel.
With this article, I prepared 6 options for you to compare and pick the best one that suits your needs to plan your travel from Istanbul Airport.
The most convenient and comfortable way to travel from Istanbul Airport to the hotel is to book a private transfer service. Private transfer services offer door-to-door service, fixed prices, and professional drivers. You can book a private transfer service online before your flight to Istanbul Airport.
6 Different Ways to Travel from Istanbul Airport
1. Shuttle Bus: Havaist
Havaist is a public bus shuttle service that has a route between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gokcen Airport. The shuttle departs usually every 90 minutes from the airport. The route has stops in most of the main districts in Istanbul city including the popular areas within both Asian and European sides. The cost is usually between 2 to 4 euros per passenger. Some of the popular destinations on this route are; Taksim, Besiktas, and Kadikoy. Feel free to visit their official website for further information.
How Much Does Shuttle Bus Cost in Istanbul Airport?2. Metro Istanbul: M11 Line
There is a metro line that connects the airport to Gayrettepe district which is one of the major districts of Istanbul’s European side. You can easily follow the metro signs at the airport to find the metro station. To use this service you would need to purchase either an Istanbul card or one one-time ticket at the station per passenger which would cost between 1 to 2 euros. You can view the metro lines map of Istanbul via this link.
This is a great option if your hotel is located close to one of the metro stations on the M11 line as this would be the cheapest and quickest way to travel especially during high-traffic times in the city. I would not recommend this option if your hotel is not close to the metro station and you are unfamiliar with the public transportation lines of Istanbul city as it is quite easy to get lost and difficult to find an English-speaking person at the stations to get help.
3. Taxi: Yellow or Turquoise Taxis
You can easily get a taxi to travel to your hotel from Istanbul airport as there is a taxi station in front of the airport with a usual waiting time of 15 minutes. Yellow taxis have the usual fare prices that provide a service in the city and turquoise taxis are more expensive as they have more comfortable vehicle models. The cost of taxis may vary depending on the location of your hotel but they usually cost between 30 to 50 euros to the major districts in Istanbul.
This is a great option if you are in a hurry and not low-budgeted. I would not recommend this option if you want a comfortable and hassle-free journey as the vehicle models and driver behaviors are unpredictable.
4. Bus Lanes: IETT H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, H-8
There are a total of 5 bus lanes that operate between Istanbul Airport and the districts in Istanbul city which are H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, and H-8. You can easily find them by following the bus signs located in the airport and check this website to see each lane’s stops to find the one that can suit your need to travel to your hotel. To use them you would need to have an Istanbul card which can be purchased at the metro station and the cost should be around 1 to 2 euros.
This option is great if your hotel is located close to one of the bus stops that departures from Istanbul airport. I would not recommend it if your destination is not on the lanes’ route as other options that I described above would be faster and more comfortable when compared with this option.
5. Private Airport Transfers: VIP Transfer
It is very common for tourists to book a private transfer service from Istanbul Airport to their hotels as this option enables passengers to book their transfer before their arrival dates, and travel with comfortable vehicles and professional drivers. This option can come with a very reasonable price if there are multiple passengers as the fares are usually charged per vehicle, not per person. It usually costs between 40 to 60 euros to travel from the airport to the major districts in Istanbul with a private airport transfer option.
Feel free to check the IST11 home page to view our fleet and make an online booking for your travel from Istanbul Airport to the hotel.
This option is great if you are either looking for a comfortable and advanced booked option for your travel. Also, this can come with a very reasonable price if there are multiple passengers as this option enables you to book the whole vehicle for your travel needs.
6. Private Transfer: Hotel Pickup Service
Similar to private transfers, hotel pickup service is also very common for tourists to travel to their hotels from Istanbul Airport as most hotels in Istanbul offer pickup service from the airports. Talk to your hotel to see if they offer a service to pick you up from the airport.
This option is the easiest way to travel from Istanbul Airport to the hotel but this is usually the most expensive option as hotels usually book the transfer service through third-party transfer service providers and add their service fees on top of the transfer costs which usually costs between 60 to 100 euros to travel to major districts in Istanbul.
Check out our Main Page to book your Istanbul Airport Transfer now!
The Ultimate Guide to Istanbul Airport Transfers | Everything You Need to Know