Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is the city's second airport, used heavily by low-cost and regional airlines. The first thing to know is where it is: in Pendik/Kurtköy on the Asian side, far from the historic centre. The airport itself gives the distance as about 40 km to Kadıköy and about 50 km to Taksim.
A trip to Sultanahmet or Taksim therefore crosses the Bosphorus, and the crossing decides how long it takes. Kadıköy is on the same side as the airport and is the easiest to reach.
Quick answer by destination
| Destination | Distance / drive | Public transport | Taxi (meter estimate) | Istanbul VIP (Private / VIP Vito) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadıköy | 35 km / 35–55 min | Havabus direct, or M4 metro direct | about 1,750–2,000 TL | $65 / $75 |
| Üsküdar | 40 km / 40–60 min | M4 + Marmaray (one stop) | about 2,000 TL | $65 / $75 |
| Taksim | 48 km / 55–85 min | Havabus direct | about 2,350–2,500 TL | $70 / $80 |
| Galata / Karaköy | 50 km / 60–90 min | M4 to Kadıköy + ferry | about 2,450 TL | $75 / $85 |
| Sultanahmet | 52 km / 60–90 min | M4 + Marmaray to Sirkeci | about 2,550–2,700 TL | $75 / $85 |
Option 1: Havabus airport buses
The airport shuttle buses into the city from SAW are run by Havabus, not Havaist. Havaist does operate from Sabiha Gökçen, but its SAW routes are intercity lines to Bursa and to Balıkesir/Bandırma. Havaist's city lines serve Istanbul Airport (IST), so ignore Havaist if you are heading into central Istanbul from SAW.
- Taksim line: direct to Taksim. Havabus's published timetable shows departures from SAW every 30 minutes between 06:30 and 01:30. In Taksim the bus stops opposite the Taksim Divan hotel and in front of the Point Hotel on Abdülhak Hâmit Caddesi.
- Kadıköy line: to the bus stops beside the Kadıköy waterfront, near the ferry piers, roughly every 45 minutes according to the published timetable. Some buses also call at Yenisahra.
- Where to board: the bus stop is opposite the arrivals exit of the terminal building.
- Delayed flights: Havabus says extra buses run between 01:00 and 04:00 for late flights. Check before relying on this.
Havabus did not publish a readable fare table at the time of writing, and third-party figures disagree with each other, so we do not quote one here. Check the current fare on havabus.com or at the stop. The bus is cheap, but it sits in the same traffic as a car, so the Taksim run can take well over an hour at rush hour.
Option 2: M4 metro, Marmaray and ferries
Since October 2022 the M4 metro line has run from Sabiha Gökçen Airport station straight to Kadıköy. The full line is about 33.5 km with 23 stations and takes roughly 52 minutes end to end. Trains run on a normal daytime timetable, and on the nights of Friday to Saturday and Saturday to Sunday the line is part of Istanbul's night metro service.
You pay with an Istanbulkart. As of October 2026 a full single fare is 46.20 TL (the tariff in force since 20 July 2026); Marmaray is priced by the number of stations travelled. Each change of line means another tap of the card.
To Kadıköy
Stay on the M4 to the last stop, Kadıköy. No changes, and you come up close to the waterfront and the ferry piers.
To Sultanahmet
- Take the M4 towards Kadıköy and get off at Ayrılık Çeşmesi, near the end of the line.
- Change to the Marmaray towards Halkalı. It runs in a tunnel under the Bosphorus.
- Get off at Sirkeci, then walk uphill to Sultanahmet or take the T1 tram for two stops.
A slower, scenic alternative: M4 to Kadıköy, ferry to Eminönü, then walk or take the T1 tram up to Sultanahmet.
To Taksim
Either take the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, the Marmaray to Yenikapı and the M2 metro to Taksim, or take the M4 to Kadıköy, a ferry to Kabataş and the F1 funicular up to Taksim. Both work, but they involve stairs, escalators and crowded carriages, which is hard with large suitcases.
Going to the old city? See the fixed price for Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet before you book.
Option 3: Taxi from Sabiha Gökçen
The airport has a 24-hour taxi service, and taxis use the meter. Since 20 July 2026 the official Istanbul tariff is a 71.94 TL opening fee plus 47.92 TL per kilometre, with a 230 TL minimum fare. The same tariff applies to all Istanbul taxis.
Using that tariff and the road distances above, the meter alone comes to roughly 1,750–2,000 TL for Kadıköy and 2,350–2,700 TL for Taksim or Sultanahmet, as of October 2026. Real fares are usually higher: the meter keeps running in slow traffic, and any bridge or tunnel toll is added on top. Ask for the meter to be switched on, and have Turkish lira ready. For more detail on how the meter works, see our guide to Istanbul airport taxi fares.
Crossing the Bosphorus: bridges vs the Eurasia Tunnel
Road trips from SAW to the European side use one of three crossings, chosen by the traffic at that moment:
- Eurasia Tunnel: a road tunnel under the Bosphorus for cars and minibuses. It comes out on the coastal road below the old city, so it is usually the most direct way to Sultanahmet and Fatih. Its toll is noticeably higher than the bridge tolls.
- 15 July Martyrs Bridge (the first Bosphorus Bridge): the natural route to Taksim, Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı.
- Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge: further north, useful for Levent and Maslak, and an alternative when the first bridge is jammed.
Traffic into the European side is heaviest on weekday mornings, and both directions are slow on weekday evenings. Friday evenings and the start and end of public holidays are often the worst. Late at night and early on weekend mornings, the same trip can take half the time.
Option 4: Private transfer with Istanbul VIP
If you would rather not deal with tickets, changes and meters after a flight, a private transfer takes you from the terminal to your hotel door. Istanbul VIP is operated by Regatta Turizm (TÜRSAB licence 10138). This is how it works from SAW:
- Private Mercedes Vito or VIP Mercedes Vito, for up to 6 passengers and up to 12 suitcases.
- The price is per vehicle, not per person, and it is fixed and shown before you book. It is the same day and night, and tolls, parking and fuel are included.
- No prepayment: pay the driver on arrival in cash, in EUR, USD or TRY.
- Your driver waits in the arrivals hall at the exit of the international baggage area, holding a sign with your name.
- Flight tracking and free waiting time, so a delay does not cost you extra.
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup, and a free child seat on request.
Prices from Sabiha Gökçen, one way: Sultanahmet $75 (VIP $85), Taksim $70 (VIP $80), and Kadıköy $65 (VIP $75). For a family of four going to Sultanahmet, that is under $19 each in the standard Vito.
Which option should you choose?
- Travelling light, daytime, staying in Kadıköy: the M4 metro is simple and avoids traffic.
- Going to Taksim on a budget: Havabus runs direct, with no changes.
- Going to Sultanahmet with luggage: the metro route involves two changes. A taxi or private transfer through the Eurasia Tunnel is much easier.
- Arriving late at night, with children, or as a group of three or more: a fixed-price private transfer is usually the most comfortable choice, and often the best value per person.
Landing at the other airport instead? See our guides from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet and Taksim. If you are joining a cruise, read our Galataport cruise port transfer guide.
You can book online in a couple of minutes, or message us on WhatsApp at +90 507 055 44 36, 24/7.
Fixed price, pay the driver in cash on arrival, free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
