Havaist is the airport bus service between Istanbul Airport (IST) and the city. It is the cheapest way into town after the metro, it runs direct to Taksim, Sultanahmet and Kadıköy, and it takes your suitcases in the hold. On the Asian side, a different company, Havabus, runs the buses from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Taksim and Kadıköy.
Online guides disagree wildly about Havaist prices and line numbers, because both changed several times in 2025 and 2026. The fares and timetables below come from Havaist's own timetable page and Havabus's website, checked in October 2026.
Havaist lines visitors use most
Havaist currently uses "HVL" line codes. Older blogs still mention codes such as HVIST-16 or HVIST-11; ignore those and go by the destination shown on the bus and on the platform (peron) sign.
| Line | Main stops after the airport | Platform | Fare | Average time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HVL-9 Taksim | 4. Levent, Zincirlikuyu, Beşiktaş, Taksim (some departures express via Nurtepe and Piyalepaşa) | 16 | ₺470 | 90 min |
| HVL-13 Sultanahmet | Miniatürk, Hasköy, Türabi Baba, Şişhane, Eminönü, Çatladıkapı (Sultanahmet) | 11 | ₺470 | 110 min |
| HVL-1 Aksaray | Nurtepe, Ayvansaray, Ulubatlı, Aksaray Metro | 12 | ₺470 | 90 min |
| HVL-6 Kadıköy | Tepeüstü, Yenisahra, Acıbadem Metro, Kadıköy | 14 | ₺515 | 120 min |
| HVL-4 Bakırköy | Yenibosna, Şirinevler, Ataköy, Bakırköy ferry pier (some via İncirli, Merter) | 10 | ₺420 | 80 min |
| HVL-11 Sabiha Gökçen | Non-stop to Sabiha Gökçen Airport | 13 | ₺515 | 120 min |
To put the fares in context: at the roughly 47–48 lira per US dollar seen in mid-2026, ₺470 is about $10 per person. Exchange rates move, so check today's rate.
Where to catch Havaist at Istanbul Airport
After passport control, baggage claim and customs, follow the bus signs down to the transportation floor (-2) below the arrivals hall. Havaist says its buses are on the arrivals level -2. Each line leaves from its own numbered platform (peron), shown in the table above. If this is your first time through the terminal, our arrival process guide explains what comes before.
Havaist timetable: first and last buses
Times are departures from the airport (or from the city terminus for the return), from Havaist's timetable as of October 2026. Buses can leave early if full, and Havaist says it sends an extra bus when demand is high.
| Line | From the airport | Back to the airport |
|---|---|---|
| Taksim (HVL-9) | 30 departures a day, roughly every 40–45 min from 04:30 to 23:45, plus 00:30, 01:15 and 02:15 | From Taksim 00:30, then 02:45 to 23:30, roughly every 40–45 min |
| Sultanahmet (HVL-13) | 21 departures a day, 05:00 to 23:45, roughly hourly | From Çatladıkapı 03:00 to 22:15, roughly hourly |
| Aksaray (HVL-1) | 00:15 to 23:30, roughly every 45 min | From Aksaray 01:15 to 23:45 |
| Kadıköy (HVL-6) | Round the clock, every 75 min (00:00, 01:15 … 22:45) | From Kadıköy round the clock, 00:15 to 23:00 |
| Sabiha Gökçen (HVL-11) | 00:40 to 23:20, hourly from 10:20 | See the Havaist timetable |
Two practical points stand out. First, the Sultanahmet line has no departures between 23:45 and 05:00, so a late-night arrival bound for the old city needs another plan; see our late-night arrival guide. Second, on days with big football matches Havaist sometimes reroutes the Taksim line, skipping stops such as Beşiktaş. Check the announcements on hava.ist or in the app on the day.
Arriving with family or lots of luggage? Compare a fixed price for the whole vehicle.
How to pay for Havaist
According to Havaist, on its city lines (including Taksim, Sultanahmet, Aksaray, Bakırköy, Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen) you can pay by credit or debit card, online ticket or Istanbulkart. Cash is listed only for its Silivri and Arnavutköy lines, so don't count on paying in cash on the bus into town.
- Bank card: tap a contactless card on the reader when you board. Havaist lists Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express and others.
- Online ticket (QR code): buy on hava.ist or in the Havaist app and scan the QR code when boarding. A ticket is valid for 3 days (72 hours) on the line you chose, can be used in either direction of that line, and works once. Havaist says unused tickets are not refunded.
- Return-ticket offer: buying a return online gives 40% off the return leg; the outward ticket is valid 3 days and the return 30 days, both on the same line, with no refunds.
- Istanbulkart: if you already have one with credit. If you don't, you don't need to buy one just for the bus; a bank card is simpler. Our public transport guide covers the card.
Luggage, children and other rules
- Luggage: each passenger can take 2 medium-sized suitcases free in the hold. Extra or oversized bags cost ₺120 each (as of October 2026).
- Tell the attendant your stop when you hand over your suitcase. Havaist says that for safety a bag is only unloaded at the stop you name.
- Children: under-6s travel free on a parent's lap (or in a free seat if there is one); from age 6 a seat ticket is required. Children under 12 cannot sit in seats 1–4.
- On board: Havaist advertises free Wi-Fi. Food is allowed if it is not messy or strong-smelling. Bicycles are not accepted.
- Lost something? Havaist's lost property line is 0212 944 50 75.
Havabus from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
At Sabiha Gökçen, the city buses are run by Havabus, not Havaist. Sabiha Gökçen Airport says the Havabus departure point is opposite the arrivals floor exit of the terminal. Havaist only runs its HVL-11 line to Istanbul Airport and intercity coaches from SAW.
| Havabus line | Fare | Journey time | From SAW | To SAW |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAW ↔ Taksim | ₺485 | about 1.5 hours | Every 30 min, 06:30–01:30 | From Taksim every 30 min, 03:00–22:00 |
| SAW ↔ Kadıköy | ₺300 | about 60 min | 05:45–01:30, roughly every 45 min | From Kadıköy 03:15–23:15 |
In Taksim, Havabus gives its stop as the Gezi Park metro exit on Cumhuriyet Caddesi; in Kadıköy, the İETT bus stops on the waterfront (Rıhtım). Havabus's website does not say which payment methods are accepted on board; you can buy tickets online on its site. For the M4 metro and other routes from SAW, read our Sabiha Gökçen to the city centre guide.
Is Havaist a good choice for you?
For one or two people with normal luggage, arriving in the daytime and staying near a stop, Havaist is good value: a comfortable coach, a seat, and your bags in the hold. It becomes less convenient when:
- Your hotel is not near a stop. Çatladıkapı is on the coast road below Sultanahmet, so most old-city hotels are an uphill walk with luggage; Taksim leaves you on the square.
- You are a family or group. At ₺470 each, four people pay about ₺1,880 one way, and you still need to get from the stop to the hotel.
- You arrive at night. Some lines thin out or stop after midnight.
- You are short of time. Average journeys are 90–120 minutes, longer at rush hour.
In those cases a pre-booked transfer is often simpler. Istanbul VIP (Regatta Turizm, TÜRSAB licence 10138) charges a fixed price per vehicle for up to 6 passengers and up to 12 suitcases, with tolls and waiting included: from Istanbul Airport, $70 to Sultanahmet and $65 to Taksim (Private Mercedes Vito), or $80 and $75 in the VIP Vito; from Sabiha Gökçen, $70 to Taksim and $65 to Kadıköy. The driver waits inside arrivals with your name, and you pay on arrival in cash (EUR, USD or TRY). See all our prices, or compare every option in our Istanbul Airport to Taksim and Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet guides.
Thinking about the metro instead? Our M11 metro guide explains the route and changes. Questions? WhatsApp us 24/7 at +90 507 055 44 36.
Door to door, fixed price per vehicle, pay the driver on arrival.
