Arrival & Transport
Arrival by Plane
Istanbul Airport (IST) — European Side
The Istanbul Airport (since 2019) is located 35 km north of the city center and is one of the largest airports in the world. All major airlines (Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian) fly here. Impressive terminal, but far out.
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) — Asian Side
The second airport on the Asian side, 40 km southeast. Cheaper airlines (Pegasus, SunExpress, Ryanair). Usually cheaper, but the journey to the center takes longer.
Flight Connections from Germany
- Turkish Airlines — From Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hanover. Most direct flights. Flight time: 2.5–3 hours. From 100€ round trip.
- Lufthansa / Swiss — From Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich. Direct flights.
- Pegasus Airlines — Turkish low-cost carrier. From many German cities, mostly to SAW. From 40€ one-way.
- SunExpress — Good connections from Germany, some directly to IST.
From the Airport to the Center
| Airport | Option | Price | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| IST | Havaist Bus | 3–5€ | 60–90 Min. |
| Metro (M11) | 0.50€ | 60 Min. to Sultanahmet (Transfer) | |
| Taxi | 30–50€ | 45–90 Min. (Traffic!) | |
| SAW | Havabus | 3–4€ | 60–120 Min. |
| Marmaray Connection | 1–2€ | 90+ Min. (Transfer) | |
| Taxi | 30–50€ | 60–120 Min. (Traffic!) |
Tipp
Istanbul's traffic is legendary — taxis can take twice as long during rush hour (7–10 AM, 5–8 PM). The metro (line M11 from IST) is the most reliable option: no traffic, fixed price. At night (after midnight), only taxis or the Havaist bus are available.
Local Transport
Istanbulkart
The Istanbulkart is your most important purchase: A rechargeable chip card valid for all public transport (metro, bus, tram, ferry, Marmaray). Price: about 3€ for the card + credit. Single ride: about 0.50€ (instead of 1€ single ticket). Available at machines in all metro stations and many kiosks. Without Istanbulkart, Istanbul is expensive and cumbersome.
Metro & Tram
Istanbul's metro is rapidly growing — the most important lines for tourists:
- T1 (Tram): Kabataş → Sultanahmet → Eminönü → Aksaray. The tourist line — connects all major attractions.
- M2 (Metro): Taksim → Şişhane (Galata) → Vezneciler (Grand Bazaar). The main north-south connection.
- Marmaray: The underwater connection under the Bosporus — from Europe to Asia in 4 minutes. Stop at Üsküdar (Asian side).
- F1 (Tünel): The oldest subway in continental Europe (1875!) — a funicular from Karaköy to Beyoğlu. 90 seconds, a historical experience.
Ferries (Vapur)
The Bosphorus ferries are Istanbul's most beautiful means of transport: The public Vapur (İDO / Şehir Hatları) connect Europe and Asia for about 0.50€ with Istanbulkart. Main routes:
- Eminönü → Kadıköy: 20 Min. — the most popular tourist route.
- Eminönü → Üsküdar: 15 Min. — even shorter, with a view of the Maiden's Tower.
- Kabataş → Kadıköy: 25 Min. — the most modern route.
Taxi
Istanbul's yellow taxis are cheap but notorious: Base fare 1€, then about 0.50€/km. A ride across the city rarely costs more than 5–10€. However: Some taxi drivers try to scam tourists — detours, manipulated meters, or charging the "night rate" during the day. Use the app BiTaksi (Istanbul's Uber alternative) — fixed route and price, no scams.
Tipp
Buy the Istanbulkart immediately at the airport or at the first metro station. You save 50% on each ride compared to a single ticket. Transfers are also cheaper: within 2 hours, only a reduced surcharge is charged.
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