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IST Istanbul Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Istanbul Airport (IST) serves Istanbul, about 35 km northwest 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.

IATAIST
ICAOLTFM
ServesIstanbul
From centre34 km
Non-stop227
Airlines68
Elevation99 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

Istanbul Airport — facts & history

We pulled Istanbul Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 84M passengers in 2025.

Opened
2018
8 years ago
Passengers / year
84M
as of 2025
Elevation
99 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
General Directorate of State Airports (Turkey)
Passengers per year, 2018–2025

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Official links

Istanbul Airport — official sites

Airport to city

Getting from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul

Istanbul Airport (IST) opened in 2019 and is one of the world's largest. HAVAIST buses reach the centre (Taksim, Sultanahmet) in one to one and a half hours depending on traffic. The M11 metro line connects the airport to the city network.

IST is vast, and from passport control to the gate can be a 20-minute walk. For a layover, plan generously, especially if you need to clear passport control.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~33 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~47 min₺652–₺1035
Private transfer~47 minfixed upfront
Car rental~47 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From IST 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.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Bursa123 km129 min₺2326–₺3694
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Istanbul Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~₺652–₺1035 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.

Route network

Where you can fly from Istanbul Airport

Non-stop flights to about 227 destinations, operated by 68 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Turkish Airlines · Onur Air · Atlasjet · US Airways · Scandinavian Airlines System · Asiana Airlines · Egyptair · Ukraine International Airlines · Aeroflot Russian Airlines · Air Astana

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Istanbul 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.

Sailing from here?

Istanbul Airport is the airport nearest Istanbul's cruise terminal. Cruises from Istanbul — which lines and where ›

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Istanbul 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 — Istanbul Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Istanbul

Same country

Other airports in Turkey

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Istanbul Airport to the centre of Istanbul?
Istanbul (IST): M11 metro + HAVAIST buses to the centre. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 metro + Havabüs. Antalya, İzmir have a tram/light rail. The airport is about 35 km northwest of Istanbul, about 47 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul?
Roughly ₺652–₺1035 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from Istanbul Airport?
Insist the driver runs the meter ('taksimetre'). BiTaksi and Uber (which dispatches a yellow taxi) avoid a price argument.
What's the cheapest way from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Istanbul (IST): M11 metro + HAVAIST buses to the centre. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 metro + Havabüs. Antalya, İzmir have a tram/light rail.
Can I get from Istanbul Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Istanbul (IST): M11 metro + HAVAIST buses to the centre. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): M4 metro + Havabüs. Antalya, İzmir have a tram/light rail. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Istanbul Airport?
About 227 destinations, including Tehran, Odessa, Izmir, Kiev. 68 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Istanbul Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Istanbul Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Istanbul Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Istanbul city guide← Turkey travel guideAll airports

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

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