How to get from Istanbul Airport to the City Centre
Find out more about the different options available and pick the right one for you.
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Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Jr. Due, Oklahoma
June 21, 2020
My wife and I traveled to Istanbul for the first time in November. We were a little intimidated, having not been there, and during Covid. It was great to exit the terminal, and immediately see the sign for our transportation....
Elenadey, Florida
January 15, 2021
The companies employees go above and beyond to deliver excellent service! The drivers are very polite and professional. The prices are the lowest that I found for private taxi in Istanbul and trust me I have done an extensive research...
Erudite Journey, California
January 22, 2021
As a female arriving in the dead of night, I just wanted some safe transport to my hotel. I got that it's so much more with that taxi. honestly I felt like I was writing like a Rockstar. This is...
Arriving in the beautiful city of Istanbul, the second thing to come to your mind would be to get from Istanbul Airport to the city centre which happens to be just an hour away, the first being awestricken by the mesmerising beauty of the Istanbul Airport itself. The main terminal of the new Istanbul Airport started operations as recently as October 2018 post-completion, although it fully took over the operations of the old Ataturk Airport only in April 2019. Since then, it is one of the busiest and most important airports in Istanbul.
While the main terminal was completed in 2018, the full airport is expected to be completed towards the end of this decade. Even so, the main terminal alone handles approximately 90 million passengers a year (pre-covid19); and with a 15.5 million square feet span, it happens to be the largest such terminal in the world. But its area and capacity are not the only features helping it top the airport charts, the mesmerising world-class modern interiors with a touch of traditional Turkish design breaking the monotony every now and then make it one of the most gorgeous airports you can travel to.
Located in the northern region of Arnavutköy, the Istanbul Airport to Taksim city distance happens to be around 43 kilometres which can take anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour to cover by road. The Istanbul Airport to Besiktas city distance is also 43 kilometres and takes about the same time to cover depending upon prevailing traffic conditions. Istanbul Airport to City Centre transport options includes taxis, buses, and metro — the most convenient being a taxi as it avoids the hassle of buying multiple bus tickets or standing in long queues for a metro pass or having to change the bus and look for last-mile connectivity options.
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Our standard minivan will hold up to 8 adults as well as 4 large suitcases and 4 carry-ons.
All our vehicles come with free bottled water for each passenger when possible.
Need to be online while you’re on the move? You can work, surf, and check your email via our free Wi-Fi.
Free child and booster seats can be arranged upon request. Please contact us prior to your journey.
Getting from Istanbul Airport to the city by taxi is the most convenient airport transfer option. The moment you step foot outside the airport, you are greeted with numerous taxi options ranging from the conventional yellow taxis to private and luxurious options to suit your need. The on-road Istanbul Airport to city distance to both Taksim Square and Besiktas happens to be close to 43 kilometres and the journey takes between 45 minutes to an hour depending on the prevailing traffic conditions. The fare is decided by the taximeter which has a base rate of 0.5 Euro and a per-kilometre rate of 0.3 Euro with additional waiting and night charges, costing an approximate total of 25-35 Euros.
One of the surest ways of skipping all the hassle in the commute from Istanbul Airport to the city centre by taxi is to book with us. We offer a wide fleet of vehicles to choose from, we charge per vehicle and bookings as well as payments can be made online, there are no hidden or additional costs above what is shown at the beginning of your commute, our staff is verified, warm and well-versed in English, and we are pet-friendly!
| Options | Price | Duration | Availability | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Taxi | €24 | 40 Min | 24/7 | |
| Book now | ||||
 Bus | €3.50 | 110 Min | 06.30-03.00 | |
 Metro | N/A | N/A | ||
There are two major bus operators to help you travel from Istanbul Airport to Taksim square and Besiktas city by bus, these include the municipal bus operator IETT and the HAVAIST airport shuttle service. Bus commutes take longer than other modes of transportation from Istanbul Airport to Taksim city and Besiktas city due to multiple stops and prevailing traffic conditions as it gets difficult to manoeuvre a bus in heavy traffic.
The buses under IETT operate via 7 different lines, mostly to non-tourist destinations with tickets priced just under a Euro. On the other hand, the HAVAIST Airport Shuttle buses operate on 9 different lines to both popular and non-touristy destinations via fixed routes to and from the airport. The HAVAIST bus payments are to be made via the IstanbulKart (a travel credit card resembling a pass) or any regular credit cards, the average cost of a single journey is less than a Euro per person. One of the biggest issues with taking a bus from Istanbul Airport to the city centre either to Taksim or Besiktas is the absence of bus stations near the arrival of the airport terminal.
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The commute service from Istanbul Airport to the city by metro is yet to begin, with the M11 metro line which has a stop at every terminal of the airport. It will provide a quick and easy transport option as the metro line connects the airport to Levent which is a commercial centre of the city. The M11 metro line will also connect with the M2 metro line making it convenient to reach Taksim. However, you may have to switch to a high-speed tram to reach the inner city centres which may tale twice as long owing to prevailing traffic. The average duration of the trip would be around 30 minutes thanks to the rapid transit system. But since the service has not started yet, the metro would not be a viable option for current travellers.
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The Istanbul New Airport is located on the European side of the city in Northern Arnavutköy. Two major city centres of Taksim Square and Besiktas City are both located on the European side as well. Taksim Square and Besiktas City Centre are respectively 43.5 kilometres and 43 kilometres from the Istanbul New Airport.
Airport transfer options from the New Istanbul Airport to anywhere in the city include taxis, buses, metros, and trams; with taxis being the most convenient means of transportation. You can even hire car rentals if you wish to drive around town by yourself.
The taxi system in Istanbul runs on a metred paywall. The base fare is fixed at 0.5 Euro and thereafter the per-kilometre rate is 0.3 Euro. Wait time is charged extra. In view of this, standard taxi fare from New Istanbul Airport to Taksim Square would amount to 30 Euros, which can vary depending on prevailing traffic and number of passengers.
Fat Taxi
