Istanbul is Turkey's most populated metropolis and has served as the capital of numerous empires throughout history. It is also one of the most populated cities in the world, with a population of roughly 16 million. It serves as the economic and cultural hub of Turkey. On the Black Sea and the Marmara Sea coasts is the city of Istanbul. The Bosphorus flows through the center of the city. Additionally, the Bosphorus divides the continents of Asia and Europe. The Rumeli side and the Anatolian side are the names of the portions of Istanbul that are located in Europe and Asia, respectively. The metropolis is the only one in the world that was constructed on two continents.

In terms of public transportation, Istanbul may be among the world's most varied cities. There are different kinds of transportation options available in the city, which are spread across two continents, including buses, minibusses, the subway, ferries, cable cars, funiculars, trams, motor boats, and sea taxis. When visiting the city, you can make use of any of these options. In particular, we advise taking a ferry to view the city from the water and traveling between two continents by underwater tube. A distinctive trip experience is guaranteed by all of these transportation choices. The knowledgeable guides at istanbul.com can help you learn about every element of the airport in Istanbul.

Airports of Istanbul

Istanbul is a popular tourist destination worldwide. In Istanbul, there are two airports. The first, Istanbul International Airport, opened in 2019 and is situated in the city's north. The second, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, is a much smaller airport and is situated in the east of the city.

You should not fear if it is your first time in Istanbul. Istanbul's public transportation system is very advanced. There are numerous other ways to get from both airports to your hotel or other desired location.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

Sabiha Gökçen is an international airport in İstanbul. Located on the Asian Side of Istanbul, the airport is the second busiest airport in Turkey. There are flights to many different destinations both in Turkey and around the world via Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Opened in January 2001, the airport was named after Sabiha Gökçen, the world's first female war pilot. Compared to the New Istanbul Airport, it provides an advantage in terms of being closer to the city center and being a smaller and more practical airport.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which is situated in the southeast of the city, is Istanbul's second airport. From this rather tiny airport, it is also fairly simple to get to the city center. In contrast to Istanbul Airport, this airport does not offer a metro alternative.

Utilizing public transit at Sabiha Gokcen Airport is the first and best option. Public buses are operated by the Istanbul Municipality (IETT) and HAVABUS for travelers who wish to travel to the airport using public transportation. You can plan your transfer to the city center by going to the websites of both service providers before your flight. The IETT website can also be used to plan a journey inside the city.

Getting to the various city cores from Istanbul's airports is quite safe. There are a few considerations to keep in mind about this city, just as there are in any other metropolis. Always keep your possessions under control and keep an eye out for cars, especially when walking across the street. If you would rather take a cab, we advise you to find out how much it would likely cost to get there. Naturally, you should be aware that traffic in a large city like Istanbul can be extremely congested during certain times of the day and taxi costs may be slightly higher during these periods.

Where is Sabiha Gökçen Airport and How to Get There?

Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located in the Kurtköy district. is located 50 kilometers from Taksim, 40 kilometers from Kadıköy, and 12 kilometers from Pendik.

For those coming from the Anatolian Side, you can reach Sabiha Gökçen Airport y taking the Kadıköy-Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro line, which starts from Kadıköy and reaches the airport by passing through many districts on the E5 such as Göztepe and Bostancı.

If you are in Bostancı, you can reach Sabiha Gökçen Airport by bus number E-9 departing from Bostancı Pier.

From Beykoz, you can reach Sabiha Gökçen Airport by taking the E-3 bus, which passes through Kavacık Bridge.

E10 and E11 bus lines are the most preferred ones for transportation at Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The first stop of these two bus lines is Kadıköy Rıhtım stop. The fastest bus line is E11. In cases where there is no traffic, you can reach the airport in a maximum of 45 minutes.

To reach Sabiha Gökçen from the European Side by metro, you can take the closest Metrobus or Marmaray to the Anatolian side. On the Anatolian side, you can get off at the Uzunçayır Metrobus stop or the Ayrılık Çeşmesi Marmaray stop, then take the metro from the Ünalan stop and get off at the Sabiha Gökçen Airport stop.

Who is Sabiha Gökçen?

Sabiha Gökçen, who was born in 1913, was adopted by Atatürk after losing her family. Having completed her education at Istanbul Üsküdar Girls' College, Gökçen entered the Turkish Bird Civil Aviation School in 1935, owned by the Turkish Aeronautical Association. After completing her gliding certificates in Ankara, she was sent to Crimea/Russia and completed her higher glider training. After completing her military pilot training, she flew with fighters and bombers. Thanks to Sabiha Gökçen, who went to America in 1953 and 1959 upon an invitation from the USA, the talents of Turkish women and Turkish society were introduced.
Sabiha Gökçen became the first and only female aviator in the list of "20 Most Important Aviators in World History". She made her last flight with the French pilot Daniel Acton in 1996, at the age of 83, on the Falcon 2000 plane.
 

Frequently Asked Question

How do you get from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul?
Shuttle service is going to be your best bet for getting from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul as quickly as possible. Choosing this course of action will require 31 minutes of your time and cost between 230 and 470.
Is there a metro station at Sabiha Gokcen Airport?
Unfortunately, no. There is no direct line from SAW to downtown.
What is the best way to get from one airport to another in Istanbul?
To go from one airport to the other at present, your options are to take an airport bus, book an Istanbul airport taxi or private transport, or take a private transfer between the two airports. In the meanwhile, it is anticipated that in the not-too-distant future, a high-speed rail will link the two landing fields.