Istanbul sits in the middle of two worlds. Straddling both Europe and Asia, the city is a hub for international travel. Istanbul’s location makes it an ideal gateway to the rest of the world, with millions of visitors passing through every year to make their way to their final destination. Istanbul New Airport (IST) is the main international airport serving Istanbul. It’s located around 84km from Sabiha Gökçen. A new high-speed train will connect the two airports in the coming years, but for now, there are two transfer options: a taxi or two buses.
Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Istanbul at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.- Nothing Found
How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Nadia AnagnostopoulouMarch 11, 2022
Comparison of the options
| OPTION | PRICE | DURATION | AVAILABILITY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Pickups | €50 | 60min | 24/7 | Book |
| Book | ||||
| Taxi | €50 | 60min | 24/7 | |
| Bus | €10 | 180min | 06:00–22:00 | |
How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen by taxi
As there isn’t a direct route on public transport from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen, taxis are definitely the most comfortable and hassle-free way to travel between the two airports. Taxis are available 24/7 and the ranks are located just outside the terminal. The regular local taxis are yellow, however, you might also spot the more expensive blue and black taxis, which are considered to be a little more luxurious. Depending on traffic and your final destination, your trip should take around 1 hour.
How much will the taxi cost from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?
The local taxis at Istanbul New Airport use a taximeter to charge by distance, so there’s no fixed rate. This means you might be asked to pay more if you hit traffic on the way or pass through any toll roads, so keep this in mind. The cost should be somewhere in the region of €50 (₺465). If you’re looking for a more reliable pricing option, you can pre-book a Welcome Pickups transfer for a fixed rate.
Photos (1)
Cost
€50
Trip Duration
60min
Convenience
Safety
Value for money
Local taxis at Istanbul New Airport are available 24/7 and can be found at the taxi ranks outside the airport.
Where do I get it from?
Make sure you take your taxi from the official taxi rank to avoid being overcharged. The taxi ranks are located outside the Domestic and International Arrivals area, the Departures area, and the Other Arrivals area. If you’ve pre-booked your taxi, the pick-up location will most likely be on floor -2, however, you can confirm this with the company when you book.
Convenience
Taxis or private transfers are by far the most convenient way to travel from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen. You’ll be taken from door-to-door, avoiding the hassle of public transport and the uncomfortably long journey times. However, do keep in mind that rush hour traffic gets particularly bad in Istanbul, which means the metered taxi rates can be unreliable.
Editor’s Note
Istanbul is a huge city and there are plenty of taxi drivers. While most of them make an honest living, unfortunately, there are a few who try to make more money by scamming tourists. It’s important to keep an eye out for this. Try and pay with cash when you can and make sure you have small bank notes and change to hand, so you can pay the exact amount.
Useful Tips
How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen by bus
Istanbul New Airport is a global hub, so there are plenty of buses running daily from the airport to locations across the city. The best option to reach Sabiha Gökçen by bus is to use the Havaist route to Taksim Square, which runs every 30 minutes and takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes. From Taksim Square, you can catch the Havabus, which operates every 35 minutes and takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach Sabiha Gökçen.
How much is the bus from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?
Buses in Istanbul only accept Istanbulkarts as payment, so you’ll need to buy one of these re-loadable cards at the airport. The initial cost for the Istanbulkart is €0.65 (₺6). You can then top up the card with as much as you need for your trip. The card is valid on all public transport in Istanbul, even the public toilets! The cost for the Havaist bus to Taksim Square will be €2 (₺18), while the cost for the Havabus to Sabiha Gökçen will be €3.20 (₺30).
Photos (1)
Cost
€5
Trip Duration
180min
Convenience
Safety
Value for money
The Havaist bus from Istanbul New Airport to Taksim Square runs every 30 minutes and is available from 03:30am to 22:00pm. The Havabus from Taksim Square to Sabiha Gökçen runs every 35 minutes and is available from 06:00am to 01:15am.
Where do I get it from?
You can catch the Havaist bus from the transportation floor (floor -2) at Istanbul New Airport. There should be signs outside the arrivals hall to point you in the right direction. If you’re unsure where to go, an airport staff member should be able to help. Once you get off the Havaist bus at Taksim Square, you should be able to spot the Havabus bus stop.
Convenience
The buses in Istanbul are pretty comfortable, with WiFi and USB chargers fitted in most of the vehicles. However, the total journey time from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen on the bus is around 3 hours, with plenty of stops along the way and the likelihood of traffic delays. This, paired with the change at Taksim Square, can make travelling by bus pretty inconvenient.
Editor’s Note
Buses in Istanbul no longer accept cash as payment, so make sure you purchase an Istanbulkart at the airport and top it up if you plan to use public transport during your stay.
Useful Tips
Welcome Pickups transfer
Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line
If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Istanbul. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.
Read morePrices
DAYTIME
€€50NIGHTTIME
€€50 Same price as a regular taxi from the line
PRICES FOR
Sedan Car
4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage
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.
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20 minute gap between transfers
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Regular Car Sanitisation
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Contactless ride
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Sanitiser in every car
Frequently asked questions
How far is Istanbul New Airport from Sabiha Gökçen?
Istanbul New Airport is located around 84km northwest of Sabiha Gökçen. The city of Istanbul is split into two sides by the Bosporus Strait, with Istanbul New Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gokcen on the Asian side. Your journey between the two locations should take around an hour by taxi or 3 hours by bus, depending on traffic.
How much will a taxi cost from Istanbul New Airport from Sabiha Gökçen?
There’s no fixed rate, as the local taxis in Istanbul use a meter to charge by distance. This means the fare can go up if you run into traffic or travel through toll roads. On average, the cost should be around €50 (₺465), but pre-booking a private transfer might be the best option if you’re looking for a fixed rate.
How long will the bus take from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?
If you plan to travel on public transport from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen, the best option is a combination of the Havaist bus and the Havabus. The Havaist bus will take you from Istanbul New Airport to Taksim Square and from there, the Havabus will take you to Sabiha Gökçen. The total journey time will be around 3 hours and will cost €5 (₺48).
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