How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport

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: an airport 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.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS

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, airport 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 an airport taxi with Welcome Pickups 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

You might come across some taxi drivers inside the airport terminal. Avoid them. Walk to the official taxi ranks outside the terminal instead, as this is where the licensed local drivers will be waiting.

When you get into the taxi, always ask your driver to switch on the meter.

To make sure you pay the right amount, it’s best to pay your driver in cash. You can exchange a small amount at the airport to cover the cost of the taxi, however do keep in mind that the commission rate will be high.

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.

Timetables

Havaist Bus

Istanbul New Airport to Taksim Square

Havabus

Taksim Square to Sabiha Gökçen

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

Make sure you keep an eye out for your stop when using the bus in Istanbul, as many of the buses don’t have maps onboard and the drivers don’t always announce the stops.

Alongside the bus, the Istanbulkart can also be used to pay for all of the other public transport options in the city, including the trains, ferries, cable cars and seabuses.

You can monitor how much credit you have left on the card when you touch it on the electronic reader, as the remaining allowance will show up on the screen.

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.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

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DAYTIME

€€50

NIGHTTIME

€€50

Same price as a regular taxi from the line

PRICES FOR

Sedan Car

4 pax, 4 pieces of luggage

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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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How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen by taxi

How much will the taxi cost from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?

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?

Convenience

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

How to get from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen by bus

How much is the bus from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?

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?

Convenience

Timetables

Havaist Bus

Istanbul New Airport to Taksim Square

Havabus

Taksim Square to Sabiha Gökçen

Editor’s Note

Useful Tips

Welcome Pickups transfer

Best drivers

Flight monitoring

Quality support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Prices

DAYTIME

NIGHTTIME

Sedan Car

Frequently asked questions

How far is Istanbul New Airport from Sabiha Gökçen?

How much will a taxi cost from Istanbul New Airport from Sabiha Gökçen?

How long will the bus take from Istanbul New Airport to Sabiha Gökçen?

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The best way to arrive in Istanbul

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