Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (IST)
Travel and Ground Transport

(Istanbul, Turkey)

Getting to Istanbul and city hotels from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport is straightforward, owing to the public bus, hotel shuttle bus and light rail services as well as taxis, which are readily available.

Buses

Apart from taking a free hotel shuttle, the cheapest option for getting to Istanbul is to take a Havas airport bus, which runs to Taksim Square in central Istanbul and the bus terminal. These on-demand buses take about 30 minutes to reach the city from the airport and also run to Akmerkez.

Hotel Shuttle Buses

Most of Istanbul's major hotel establishments provide their guests with courtesy transfers from Ataturk International Airport to their hotel and back. You can enquire at the information desks or beforehand when booking your hotel as to whether your hotel provides this service.

Trains

One of the best options for getting to the city and back and out to Esenler is to make use of the light railway system, which runs right past Istanbul Ataturk International Airport at regular intervals throughout the day.

Taxi Cabs

Those who prefer to take a taxi have the choice of sharing with other passengers. Taxis are a good option for those on a tight budget or those in need of a fast transfer to their hotel or Istanbul. Shared taxis are known as dolmus and run from outside the Arrivals area of the International Terminal.