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How to get from Ankara Airport to the City Centre

Ankara is the capital of Turkey and has an array of historical and cultural riches to share with its visitors. Explore this vibrant city and discover Ankara Castle, the landmark and museum of Anıtkabir, a 15th-century mosque, Roman ruins, and many other museums, parks, and markets!

There are two ways to get from Ankara Esenboga International Airport (ESB) to the city centre; by taxi or private transfer, and by bus. The fastest and most comfortable way to reach your hotel in the city is a cab or private transfer, which takes 30-40 minutes and costs around €10 (TRY 180). You can also reach Ankara from the airport by taking the 442-3 bus service, which costs only €0.44 (TRY 8) per ticket but is far slower, getting you to the centre in 110 minutes.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Ankara at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Taxi €10 35min 24/7
Bus €0.88 110min 01:15–22:15

How to get from Ankara Airport to the city centre by taxi

A taxi or private transfer is the fastest and easiest way to get from Ankara Airport to the city centre. The cab ride usually takes 30-40 minutes depending on traffic, and costs around €10 (TRY 180).

Taxi fare from Ankara airport to city centre

From Ankara airport to city centre locations, the average transfer with a local taxi should take about 35 minutes depending on traffic and cost around €10 (TRY 180).

Having said that, taxis in Ankara do not offer fixed fares for airport transfers so the cost is calculated by a taximeter, based on the distance and duration of the trip. As taxis are not well-regulated in Ankara, the cost and quality of a cab ride may vary considerably between the different providers. Travellers are therefore advised to avoid flagging down taxis in the street or at the airport and instead opt for booking their Ankara airport to city transfer in advance with a reliable company like Welcome Pickups, securing a fair set fare.

Should you use a local taxi, we recommend that you do some research beforehand on the average fare for the trip, and ask the driver for a cost estimate before beginning your journey. You should also keep your eye on the taximeter in the rear-view mirror by checking that it is on, has been reset to the initial fare, and increases at a normal rate. You can also use a GPS app to show the driver the route that you want to take to your destination to avoid being taken on a longer route. 

Cost

€10

Trip Duration

35 Min.

*Prices may vary unless booked in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis are available 24/7 at Ankara airport.

Where do I get the taxi from?

At Ankara airport, you can find the official taxi ranks outside both the Arrivals and Departures terminals.

Convenience

Getting a taxi or private transfer from Ankara Airport is by far the most convenient, fast, and direct way to reach your destination in the city centre. With a taxi, you won’t have the hassle of trying to figure out the transportation system in a foreign country, find the closest stop to your hotel or wait around for the next bus. For an easy, fast, and convenient transfer from Ankara airport to your hotel in the city, we recommend that you book a reliable private transfer that will drop you off right outside your hotel.

Editor’s Note

Unless you book a ride with a reputable company, pay close attention to the taxi’s taximeter and ask for a cost estimate before getting in the vehicle to avoid surprises!

Useful Tips

It is not customary to tip in Ankara, but should you wish to do so, you can simply round up the fare.
If your route has tolls, the fee will be added to your total fare.

How to get from Ankara airport to Ankara by bus

The 442-3 bus service is a very budget-friendly way to get to Ankara city centre from the airport, with a single ticket costing only €0.44 (TRY 8) which you can get from the bus driver. However, as the bus takes 110 minutes to get to the city centre, it is considerably slower than going by taxi or private transfer which takes about 35 minutes. 

How much is the bus from Ankara airport to the city centre?

A single ticket for the 442-3 bus service from Ankara Airport to the city costs €0.44 (TRY 8). You can purchase your tickets from the driver, but make sure you have cash in hand as it is not certain whether they’d accept card payments or not.

Cost

€0.44

Trip Duration

110 Min.

There's a waiting time of 30 minutes from 06:15 until 22:15, and up to 2 hours during the hours of 01:15-06:00.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The 442-3 bus service runs from 01:15-22:15.

Where do I get the bus from?

The bus stop at Ankara Airport is on the street outside Domestic and International Arrivals.

Convenience

The bus is a very budget-friendly option and can be convenient for you depending on what time your flight gets in. For the majority of the day, the bus service from the airport to Ankara is quite frequent, departing every 30 minutes from around 6 am to 10 pm but can have long waiting periods of up to 2 hours between 1 and 6 am and only runs until 22:15. It is also the slowest option available, taking 110 minutes to reach the centre when by cab you only need about 35 minutes. However, you should also check the bus stops beforehand as you might need to arrange another form of transport to get to your hotel once you arrive at the centre of Ankara.

Editor’s Note

The waiting times for the bus vary greatly depending on the time of day, from 30 minutes between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm to over 2 hours between 1 and 6 am.

Useful Tips

You can use the local public transportation app "Ego" for information on routes and timetables on the go.
You can only buy a ticket on the bus from the driver and it’s recommended to have the exact cash on you to pay for your fare.
The 442-3 bus service is circular, so the destination might read the same as the departure location.

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Ankara airport to the city centre?

You can get from Ankara airport to the city centre by bus, or by cab. A taxi or private transfer is the fastest and easiest option, dropping you off right outside your hotel in 30-40 minutes for an estimated cost of €10 (TRY 180). The 442-3 bus service is a more budget-friendly option as a ticket costs only €0.44 (TRY 8), but it is much slower, taking 110 minutes to reach the centre. The wait times range from 30 minutes to up to 2 hours depending on the time of day. 

What’s the cost of a taxi from Ankara airport to the city centre?

Taxis in Ankara use a taximeter to calculate their fares based on the distance and duration of the trip. On average, a cab from Ankara airport to a city centre location takes 35 minutes and costs €10 (TRY 180). However, taxis are not well-regulated and are known to overcharge tourists, so the price and quality of a ride can vary. We recommend booking your Ankara airport to city transfer with a trusted company so that you can secure a guaranteed fixed rate with no hidden costs.

How far is Ankara airport from the city?

Ankara Airport (ESB) is 28 km northeast of Ankara. The fastest way to get to the city centre is by taxi or private transfer which usually takes 35 minutes, but you can also get there in 110 minutes by taking the 442-3 bus service.

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