Istanbul’s new airport started service on 29th of October.
The new airport of Istanbul, Istanbul airport, was commissioned and started commercial service on 29th of October, 2018. Some of the flights transferred to new airport. On 6th of April 2019, all flights to/from Yesilkoy Ataturk airport will be transferred to new airport.
Istanbul airport is 50 km away from Old City (Sirkeci) and 65 km from Kadikoy (Asian side).
Currently, 2 metro connections to Istanbul airport are under construction. First is Mecidiyekoy-Airport metro. The metro line is expected to be ready in 2020.
The other metro line is Halkali-Airport metro, which will start from the main Marmaray station on west. The target commission date for this metro is 2021.
Istanbul Airport will also be connected to Halkali and Sabiha Gokcen (the other airport in Asian side) by a new high speed line in the future. The construction has not started yet.
Yet, only public transport to Istanbul Airport is by bus.
Public buses give service in 5 routes in European site (August 2019).
Airport shuttles are departing from/calling at 47 points in 12 routes (August 2019).
All buses depart from the -2nd floor at the airport. Istanbulkart and debit/credit cards can be used for payment. You can buy Istanbulkart at same floor through ticket machines (yellow or blue). For public buses, only Istanbulkart can be used, debit/credit cards cannot.
The departure points, timetables and public transport connections of airport shuttles are as follows:
Airport shuttles from European side
- Ist-1S Sultanahmet-Eminonu-Piyalepasa
- Ist-1Y Yenikapi-Aksaray-Ulubatli-Ayvansaray
- Ist-2 Beylikduzu-Cumhuriyet-Tuyap-B.Cekmece-Catalca
- Ist-3 Esenler Otogari (main bus station)
- Ist-4 Bakirkoy-Atakoy-Sirinevler-Kuleli
- Ist-4G Gunesli
- Ist-5 Besiktas-Zincirlikuyu-4.Levent
- Ist-15 Avcilar-Bahcesehir-Ispartakule
- Ist-17 Halkali-Ataturk-Demirciler-Basaksehir
- Ist-19 Taksim-Nurtepe
Public buses from European side
Airport shuttles from Asian side
Categories: Urban Transport
Rail Turkey En 
We will arrive to Istanbul on the first day of November, and after 12 hours the flight will continue. How can you best get into the city center from the new airport?
Uskudar is like the “ugly girl” of Istanbul. Even though it is a high population area, whenever it comes to airport connections, they are always pathetic. The private Havas Bus line goes to Taksim and Kadikoy, forgeting Uskudar, the regular bus line also goes from Kadikoy to the Sabahinden, again forgetting Uskudar (it would be very easy to start from Uskudar, stop in Kadikoy, and continue) and now the new airport again they forget Uskudar. I have the feeling either Uskudar people don’t travel, or as I suspect they are used to take crap and swallow all of it without complain. They have been constructing the metro area for nearly 6 years, having chaos everyday in the port area, and no one seems to mind. They are content with it as long as you construct a huge unnecessary humongous square.
On the other hand, 2 of 3 metros of Asian side, Marmaray and M5 call at Uskudar. 🙂
How i can get from Sabiha airport into the new airport?
Good question. Fastest way is to get to Kozyatagi by airport shuttle, get back to Yenisahra (1 station) by metro and get to Havabus (Sabiha Gokcen shuttle). By next year, it’ll be possible to get to Sabiha Gokcen by metro from Kozyatagi.
Are there any hotels close to the new airport? What towns?
How to hget to kadikoy from the new airport
Use Kozyatagi shuttle. Take M4 to Kadikoy.
I intend to visit turkey in august19. Can anybody guide me suitable transport from new airport to Sabiha airport .
Sabiha Gokcen Airport is on the list above.. 🙂
How long does the bus take from Kadiköy to arrive at the airport? That’s not listed or explained in the timetable above.
That very much depends on traffic, hard to guess. I think min 1.5 hrs.
Which bus number goes from Sultanahmet to Istanbul New Airport? As there are lots of buses in Sultanahmet outside Blue Mosque
Check havaist label on any side of bus. That’ll be enough.
The Beşiktaş airport shuttle only appears to be half-hourly now according to Havaist.
Yes, you are right, thanks. I guess it’s updated based on the demand.. Will update asap..
how much does yellow taxis charge from Istanbul Airport to Umraniye approximately?. Can I pay the taxi driver a fixed price or do they run on meters in which case they could cheat and take me to unnecessary longer route. Please advise.
Around 150 TL + toll. They run on meters. Check shuttles, they are running well. Much cheaper.
Hi.
1- Where is this bus station in the airport and how can i find them??
2- what is the timetable for the new airport to taksim square station?
The bus station is in dowstairs, close to gate 16. Timetable for Taksim is within this article. 🙂
how much cost to take shuttle from new airport to taksim ?
reported to be around 120 TL
Is the service for Madenler, Çekmeköy metro working?
Yes
Hello!
Thanks for the summary.
Where can I see the duration of the rides? Nothing here and nothing even on the official website (( So i.e. Airport – Yenikapi? I understand that bus ride depends on traffic but there must be some estimation?
1-1.5 hrs I guess.
do I need the Istanbul Card for the bus/ where would I get the card?
-2nd floor via machines. Or you can pay by card.
can I get the metro from SG to Sultanhmet?
Get to Kadikoy by bus. Then to Eminonu by ferry. Then to Sultanahmet by tram.
Onor, thank you! I now believe I’m flying into the new airport- is there a direct train or metro from there into the city centre?
Not yet. Only bus. In many routes ins Sultanahmet. Details in this post. 🙂
Thank you Onur!
its really good to see this site that response to public queries. I wrote about passenger train from istanbul to Cappadocia? Is there any? Thank you
No there’s not.
which fast train station is near to Istanbul Airport to catch train from Istanbul to Ankara, what is suitable way to reach nearest railway station from Istanbul Airport. Thanks in advance
There is no rail connection to airport yet. You can take airport shuttle for HST to Ankara
Many thanks ONUR, well acknowledged. Would you mind to assist which shuttle number shall I take from Istanbul Airport to reach Söğütlüçeşme railway station for getting fast train from Istanbul to Ankara
Temporarily, trains are not crossing to European side only way to reach train is via Sogutlucesme station. Closest shuttle stop is Kadikoy, bus no 14 or 19. 1.5 km away, 20 min by walk.
Many thanks ONUR, appreciated for quick response, this is very useful.
Enjoy