Istanbul Airport Metro Line M11
The long-awaited Metro Line M11 finally started its routes on January 22nd, 2023. Giving Istanbul airport’s passengers the possibility to travel super-fast and comfortably to the city of Istanbul, the fully underground airport subway is perhaps the most popular transportation mode among IST passengers. The driverless M11 covered a 34-km distance from Istanbul Airport to Kâğıthane. That being said, on January 29, 2024, the line extended to Gayrettepe Station, while a few months later (March 19, 2024), two more stations were added in the direction of Arnavutköy, increasing the total number of stations served by Metro Line M11 to 10.
Metro Line M11 Stations
- Gayrettepe
- Kağıthane
- Üniversite-Hasdal
- Kemerburgaz
- Göktürk
- İhsaniye
- İstanbul Havalimanı
- Kargo Terminali
- Taşoluk
- Arnavutköy
Metro Line M11 is the fastest subway line in Turkey, traveling at 120km/h. Estimated to be able to handle up to 800.000 passengers per day, it combines speed with low prices. On the other hand, comfort is among its advantages as well. Trains are brand-new, equipped with all the latest tech systems, and designed to offer a pleasant transfer experience.
Our Tip: At Kâğıthane, passengers can hop on Metro Line M7. Moreover, at Gayrettepe Station, connections are available to Metro Line M2 and the Metrobüs network (Zincirlikuyu Metrobüs Station).
The Time Schedule of the Istanbul Airport Metro Line
Metro Line M11 leaves the airport every 20 minutes, heading toward Arnavutköy and, in the opposite direction, toward Gayrettepe, providing frequent transfer services from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul. The line runs from around 06:00 am to midnight. Hence, unfortunately, the Istanbul airport metro doesn’t run at night. In detail, Metro Line M11 operates from 06:14 am to 00:14 am toward Gayrettepe and from 06:44 am to 01:24 am toward Arnavutköy.
The subway journey from Istanbul International Airport to Gayrettepe lasts 30 minutes, while the Istanbul airport metro line needs only 13 minutes to get to Arnavutköy.
The Istanbul Airport Metro Station
The new subway station of Istanbul International Airport lies opposite Exit 11, on the front side of the car park. Being within a 300-meter distance from the terminal’s entrance, it is easy to be located. In fact, it can be found a 6-minute walk from the terminal’s exit doors. Nevertheless, as the IST terminal is vast, reaching the metro station can be tedious and time-consuming. In the future, a second station is expected to be added to the airport’s complex. However, no further info is to be found about the exact timeline of this project.
The Istanbul airport metro station offers several amenities. Thus, a baby care, a health room, separate prayer rooms for male and female passengers, an exchange office, restrooms, and a lost and found office can be found within its premises. In addition, some dining and drinking facilities are also available.
Subway Fares & Prices from and to Istanbul Airport
While single tickets are available, most travelers arriving at IST Airport choose to buy a rechargeable smart card (Istanbulkart) or an Istanbul City Card, especially if they plan to use Istanbul’s public transit network during their stay. Both cards are valid for rides on the metro, buses, metrobuses, ferries, and trams.
Istanbulkarts cost 130₺ (2.77€/3.22$) and can be purchased and loaded at the automatic machines lying at the airport subway station, in Turkish liras or via bank cards. The price for a one-way ticket is 27₺ (0.57€/0.66$) for journeys of 1 to 3 stops, while tickets cost 34.83₺ (0.74€/0.86$) for the maximum number of stops on Line M11 (8 stops from Istanbul Airport to Gayrettepe). Please note that you’ll be charged the maximum fare when you first use the card and refunded the difference if you get off at an earlier stop. Children under the age of 6 travel for free. Moreover, the anonymous Istanbulkart isn’t a personal pass. The same Istanbulkart can be used to buy tickets for multiple passengers. Therefore, if traveling with a company, you can buy only one card and use it for both your transfers.
On the other hand, Istanbul City Cards offer unlimited rides for 1, 3, 5, 7, or even 15 days on all means of public transport. They can be bought at the airport or online. In the last case, the card will be delivered to your hotel within a 24-hour time frame of the purchase. It’s important to remember that these cards are personal, meaning that they can only be used by the person who purchased them.
Lastly, passengers can buy single tickets for their metro ride from Istanbul Airport, using the Biletmatik automatic machines. Additionally, there are reusable tickets valid for up to 10 rides. Hence, although a one-way single ticket is more expensive than fares loaded into Istanbulkarts, costing 40₺ (0.85€/0.99$), a pass for 10 journeys is priced at 305₺ (6.50€/7.56$).
Our Tip: Please keep in mind that not all vending machines provide change. Therefore, it’s advisable to check the machine’s features in advance and, if necessary, pay with the exact amount.
FAQs
Is there a metro line from Istanbul Airport?
In 2023, the long-anticipated Istanbul Airport Metro Line M11 began operations. Running from the airport to Gayrettepe, it provides fast and comfortable transfer services. Moreover, since March 2024, the metro line has also extended toward Arnavutköy.
How do you pay for the metro in Istanbul?
Tickets for the Istanbul airport metro line are available via the rechargeable Istanbulkart or Istanbul City Cards, which allow unlimited rides for a specific period. Alternatively, single tickets are also available, though they are more expensive than the fares charged when using an Istanbulkart.