Istanbul International Airport (IST) › Transportation › Shuttle & Bus
Shuttles and Buses from and to Istanbul Airport
Currently, buses are the only public transportation option from the new Istanbul Airport. In the future, Metro Line M11 will also connect the new airport to the city center but, for the moment apart from private transfers, the shuttle buses provide the only alternative. Nevertheless, there is a surprisingly wide variety of available bus routes. Havaist and IETT buses carry out frequent itineraries to every corner of Istanbul while Istanbul Seyahat buses handle intercity transfers.
Most popular routes from Istanbul Airport
Your can find the 4 most popular shuttle bus routes connecting the new Istanbul Airport with the major city hubs in the following table:
| Line | From | To | Duration | Frequency & Operating hours | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IST-19 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Taksim Square | 80 min | Every 15 minutes (every 30 min in the early morning hours) | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| IST-20 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sultanahmet | 100 min | Every 30 minutes (every 45 min in the early morning hours) | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| IST-3 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Otogar Bus Station | 75 min | Every 30 minutes (every 60 min in the early morning hours) | 16₺ (2.5€ / 2.8$) |
| IST-8 | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) | 100 min | Every 60 minutes | 30₺ (4.7€ / 5.2$) |
Havaist Shuttle Buses
Havaist Airport Buses provide high-quality and comfortable transfer services from Istanbul Airport to 50 major city hubs. Always on time, each Havaist shuttle can handle up to 46 passengers while all the vehicles are equipped with TV screens, Wi-Fi and USB charging points.
You should always keep in mind that cash can’t be used as a payment method for your bus ticket. Hence, you can use a credit card and pay via the Havaist App or by using a QR code. Book your ticket online, get your QR code and use it to any Havaist line simply by scanning it before entering the bus. Pre-booking your tickets also offers you further bonuses and discounts. Alternatively, you can use an Istanbulkart (also valid for metrobus, metro, tram, nostalgic tram, ferry, some Bosporus cruises etc Each card can be used by up to five persons and it can easily be recharged every time you need it.
Havaist Bus Lines from Istanbul Airport
Havaist Bus Lines operate 24/7 at Istanbul International Airport. 12 different bus routes link the new airport to almost every part of the city. Explicitly, the available Havaist bus lines are:
| Havaist Bus Lines | Duration | Routes Frequency | Stops | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iST 1 | 110 minutes | Every 20 minutes (every 30’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Ayvansaray Ulubatli Aksaray Yenikapi Marmaray Yenikapi IDO (Seabus) Port | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| iST 2 | 90 minutes | Every 20 minutes (every 30’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Catalca Hospital TUYAP-Buyukcekmece Cumhuriyet Mah. Beylikduzu | 21₺ (3.2€ / 3.6$) |
| iST 3 | 59 minutes | Every 30 minutes (every 60’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Otogar Road Otogar (Esenler Intercity Bus Terminal) | 16₺ (2.5€ / 2.8$) |
| iST 4 | 80 minutes | Every 20 minutes (every 30’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Kuleli Sirinevler Atakoy 4. Kisim Bakirköy IDO (Seabus) Port | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| iST 4G | 30 minutes | Every 30-60 minutes (Line iST 4G runs from 6:15-24:00) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Gunesli | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| iST 5 | 90 minutes | Every 30 minutes | Istanbul Airport (IST) 4. Levent Zincirlikuyu Metrobus 2 Besiktas Port | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| iST 7 | 110 minutes | Every 30 minutes (every 60 in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Kavacik Bridge Yenisahra Goztepe Bridge Uzuncayir Metrobus Acibadem Bridge Kadikoy | 25₺ (3.9€ /4.3$) |
| iST 8 | 100 minutes | Every 60 minutes | Istanbul Airport (IST) Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) Tavşantepe Metro Pendik YHT İstasyonu Pendik İDO iskelesi | 30₺ (4.7€ / 5.2$) |
| iST 15 | 100 minutes | Every 30 minutes (every 45’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Ispartakule Blocks Bahçeşehir Istanbul University Avcilar Campus | 16₺ (2.5€ / 2.8$) |
| iST 17 | 100 minutes | Every 20-30 minutes (every 40’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Basaksehir Metrokent Demirciler Sitesi Ataturk Mahallesi Gunespark Homes Halkali Park Halkali Train Station | 16₺ (2.5€ / 2.8$) |
| iST 19 | 80 minutes | Every 15 minutes (every 30’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Nurtepe Viaduct Taksim Abdülhakhamit Street (Taksim Square) | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
| iST 20 | 100 minutes | Every 30 minutes (every 45’ in the early morning hours) | Istanbul Airport (IST) Nurtepe Viaduct Piyalepasa Eminönu Sultanahmet Square | 18₺ (2.8€ / 3.1$) |
Note that the trip duration is subject to the heavy Istanbul traffic so the traveling time may be more during the rush hours.
IETT Shuttle Buses
IETT public buses travel to less touristic parts of the city. Therefore, they are a more popular option among locals while tourists tend to avoid them. In any case, if you search your exact location at the map, you may find a bus to transfer you nearby as 7 IETT lines handle the airport’s connection to Istanbul. What’s more, you should download “Mobiett” app on your phone, you will find it very helpful.
IETT bus tickets may cost less than Havaist, but the trip can take much more time as theses buses do many stops along the way. A trip from Istanbul Airport to city center costs 5.20₺ (0.8€ / 0.9$).
You must buy an Istanbulkart in order to pay for your IETT bus transfer. You will find automatic vending machines near the bus station. Buy your card, top it up and you are ready to go!
IETT Shuttle Bus Lines from Istanbul Airport
| IETT Bus Lines | Duration | Routes Frequency | Stops | Operating Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IETT H-1 Istanbul Airport- Mahmutbey Metro | 60 minutes | Approximately every 60 minutes | Istanbul Airport (IST) Ikitelli Bridge Sanayi Mahallesi 15 Temmuz Mah Piri Reis Halkalı Caddesi İnönü Caddesi Karacaoğlan Primary School Mahmutbey Metro | 00:00-21:40 |
| IETT H-2 Istanbul Airport- Mecidiyeköy | 60 minutes | Every 15-30 minutes | Istanbul Airport (IST) Kıyı Emniyeti Orman Yolu Kemer Yolu Hasdal Karayolları 1. Bölge Müd. Nurtepe Viyadük Çağlayan Yolu Mecidiyeköy Metrobüs | 24/7 |
| IETT H-3 Istanbul Airport- Halkalı | 45-50 minutes | Every 1.5 hour | Istanbul Airport (IST) Demirciler Sites MASKO 1 MASKO 2 İkitelli Garage Atatürk Quarter İkitelli Street Halkalı Yolu Güneşpark Houses Koca Ali Sokak Halkalı Park Halkalı Police Station European Houses 3 M. Akif Ersoy Hospita Sakarya Sokak İstasyon Mah. Muhr. Bezirganbahçe TOKİ Göl Konutları Gültepe Mahallesi Halkalı İstasyon Gümrük | 6:00-19:10 |
| IETT H-4 Istanbul Airport-Ataturk Airport | 40-45 minutes | Every 2.5 hours | Istanbul Airport (IST) Ataturk Airport | 7:10-19:30 |
| IETT H-6 Istanbul Airport- Masjid al-Salam / Arnavutkoy | 35-40 minutes | Every 30-60 minutes | Istanbul Airport (IST) Mesire Yeri Çamlıktepe Terkos Yolu Çamlık Mahallesi Çangalçeşme Yolu Taşoluk Belediyesi Arnavutköy Yolu Esen Bahçe Tepeüstü Habipler Habipler Mahallesi İsfalt Mescid-i Selam Camii Mescid-i Selam | 24/7 |
| IETT H-7 Istanbul Airport- Alibeyköy Cep Otogarı | 35-40 minutes | Every 1.5-2 hours | Istanbul Airport (IST) Göktürk Emn. Amr. İstanbul Caddesi Hisar Eğitim Okulları Kartal Çeşme Sur Kemer Yolu Hasdal Nato Evleri Bayramoğlu FSM Bulvarı Alibeyköy Cep Otogarı | 00:40-23:00 |
| IETT H-8 Istanbul Airport- Hacıosman Metro / Sarıyer | 25-30 minutes | Every 1.5-2 hours | Istanbul Airport (IST) Kilyos Mezarlığı Aslan Fidanlığı Şehitlik Uskumruköy Yolu Sarıyer Hacıosman Bayırı Hacıosman Hacıosman Metro | 01:40-23:15 |
| IETT H-9 Istanbul Airport- Cevizlibağ | 45-50 minutes | Every 2-2.5 hours | Istanbul Airport (IST) Kültür Üniversitesi Kuleli Şirinevler Ataköy Geçit Çocuk Sitesi Bahçelievler İncirli (E-5) Kocatepe Tınaztepe Nakliyeciler Sitesi Cevizlibağ | 6:00-19:30 |
Note that the trip duration is subject to the heavy Istanbul traffic so the traveling time may be more during the rush hours.
Seyahat Intercity Buses from Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Seyahat provides intercity transfers, connecting Istanbul to Çorlu-Tekirdağ. The Seyahat buses operate 12 routes daily and reach Corlu in about 1.5 hour and Tekirdag in 2.5 hours. The ticket costs 50₺ (7.8€ / 8.7$).
Seyahat Customer Support: 0850 222 59 59
Where is the Bus Station at Istanbul International Airport
The Bus Station is located on the -2 floor of the Istanbul Airport Terminal. The station is easily accessible by elevators and escalators both from the departures and from the arrivals level. Plenty of helpful signage all over the airport will guide you to the designated bus area.
FAQs
How can I get from Istanbul airport to Istanbul city center by bus?
For your transfer from Istanbul International Airport to the city center by bus, you can choose between the Havaist buses and the IETT public buses. Havaist buses travel to the most popular destinations in the city and have a more spacious luggage storage space while their in-between stops are minimal reducing the total travel time but on the other hand, IETT buses are cheaper.
How much does the bus ticket from Istanbul airport to Istanbul city center cost?
Havaist shuttle buses cost from 16₺-30₺ (2.5€-4.7€ / 2.8-5.2$) while a one-way ticket for IETT buses from Istanbul airport to the city center is priced at 5.2₺ (0.8€ / 0.9$).