ISL Atatürk International Airport
Atatürk International Airport (ISL) serves Istanbul, about 12 km west of Istanbul. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.
Atatürk International Airport — facts & history
We pulled Atatürk International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 16M passengers in 2019, against a peak of 68M in 2018.
Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia
Getting from Atatürk International Airport to Istanbul
The airport is about 12 km west of Istanbul, about 25 minutes by road in normal traffic.
Train & bus: Istanbul (IST): M11 metro + HAVAIST buses to the centre. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 metro + Havabüs. Antalya, İzmir have a tram/light rail.
Taxi & apps: Insist the driver runs the meter ('taksimetre'). BiTaksi and Uber (which dispatches a yellow taxi) avoid a price argument. Estimated fare to the centre: ₺252–₺400.
Tipping: Round up.
| Way in | Time to centre | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train / bus | ~18 min | cheapest | CHEAPEST |
| Taxi | ~25 min | ₺252–₺400 | |
| Private transfer | ~25 min | fixed upfront | |
| Car rental | ~25 min + חניה | from the terminal |
From ISL to nearby cities
Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.
| Destination | Distance | Drive | Taxi (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bursa | 89 km | 94 min | ₺1690–₺2684 |
Which way suits you from Atatürk International Airport
Taxi
Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~₺252–₺400 to the centre.
Private transfer
Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.
Car rental
If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.
Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.
Book your airport transfer in Istanbul ahead, no terminal surprises.
Left luggage & lost and found at Atatürk International Airport
Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.
Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.
Hotels near Atatürk International Airport
For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.
Rates in Istanbul shift daily. See what your night costs now.
Reviews — Atatürk International Airport
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Other options near Istanbul
Answers to your questions
How do I get from Atatürk International Airport to the centre of Istanbul?
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Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Where is Atatürk International Airport's lost and found?
About this page
Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.
Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026