İstanbul Airport ground transport
İstanbul Airport handles over 84 million passengers a year from a single vast terminal on the city's European side, roughly 40 km from the centre. There's no single train straight downtown: the M11 metro runs to Gayrettepe (change to the M2 or M7), the HavaİST premium coaches fan out across the city, and taxis and pre-booked transfers add bridge and motorway tolls. Crucially, neither the metro nor most services run around the clock, so late arrivals lean on the 24/7 HavaİST coach, a taxi or a transfer. This guide compares price, time and frequency for every popular destination.
Where are you heading?
Other airports in Türkiye
Flying into a different gateway? These hubs are covered too.
Step-free access in İstanbul
The metro built for the airport is the accessible spine, and the airport coach does run accessible vehicles — but only if you ask in advance.
- M11 metro runs from the airport to Gayrettepe with step-free access, and the interchange at Gayrettepe onto the M2 (for Taksim and Sisli) is step-free too. No booking needed.
- Station lifts are easiest to reach from the main station halls rather than the side entrances, so head for the main hall with a wheelchair or pushchair.
- HAVAIST coaches operate accessible midibuses, but they must be requested ahead: at least 1 hour in advance for airport-to-city, and 6 hours in advance for city-to-airport, through HAVAIST's contact channels or the counters on the transport floor.
- IETT city buses serving the airport are wheelchair accessible, and accessible taxis can be requested.
If you have not booked anything, the metro is the option that works on arrival without notice.
Plan your arrival with confidence
Every option compared
Bus, tram, taxi, private transfer and car hire — side by side, not just the ones that pay us.
Real prices & times
Indicative fares, journey times and how often each service runs — so there are no surprises at arrivals.
No sales pitch
We tell you when the bus is the smart choice — and when a transfer is worth it. Honest guidance first.