Two Airports, Two Continents
Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, north of the city, and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Flights to both are often similar in price — but the drive to your hotel can differ by an hour. Choosing the right airport is the easiest way to save time.
Quick Answer by District
| Where you stay | Better airport | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Taksim, Galata, Karaköy, Cihangir | IST | Same side, no bridge crossing |
| Şişli, Nişantaşı, Levent, Maslak | IST | Business districts on the direct motorway |
| Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Eminönü | Either | Similar times; SAW via the Eurasia Tunnel |
| Beşiktaş, Ortaköy, Bebek | IST | European Bosphorus shore |
| Kadıköy, Moda, Üsküdar, Ataşehir | SAW | Same side, about 35–55 minutes |
Things the Map Doesn’t Tell You
- Rush hour matters more than distance. Weekday evenings, crossing the Bosphorus can double the drive time.
- Low-cost airlines often use SAW. Their cheaper ticket can cost you an extra hour if your hotel is on the European side.
- Connecting between the two airports takes about 75–100 minutes by road. Leave at least 4 hours between flights.
- Night arrivals are the fastest drives of the day from either airport.
Fixed Prices From Both Airports
We drive from both airports at a fixed price per vehicle, tolls included — the price does not change with traffic.
Popular routes: IST → Taksim · SAW → Taksim · SAW → Kadıköy · SAW → Sultanahmet · IST ↔ SAW.
Book in 1 minute or compare all fixed fares.