Travel guide · Destinations

Istanbul first trip guide: airport to city, Istanbulkart and sights to book ahead

Istanbul's Sultanahmet district at golden hour, the Blue Mosque in front, Hagia Sophia behind it and the Bosphorus beyond
Photo: Hunanuk / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)

By Beyond Points Editorial · Published 2026-11-11 · Last verified 2026-11-11

The short answer: Check which airport you land at first. Istanbul Airport (IST) lists the M11 metro, 11 Havaist bus routes and 5 İETT bus routes; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) lists the M4 metro to Kadıköy, Havabus shuttles to Kadıköy and Taksim, and round-the-clock taxis. Sabiha Gökçen says you need an Istanbul Kart (Istanbulkart) to ride İETT buses and ferries. For sights, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism's museum site lists places such as the Galata Tower Museum with a Buy Ticket option and lists a MuseumPass İstanbul E-Card, while the National Palaces website, which covers Topkapı and Dolmabahçe palaces, points to a mobile app for e-tickets and lists Monday as Dolmabahçe's closed day. Fares, timetables and opening hours change, so check the official pages before you travel.

Sourced statements below link to official guidance. Worked examples are labeled; the remaining planning advice is editorial judgment.

First, check which Istanbul airport you land at

Editorial guidance: The ride into the city is a different decision at Istanbul Airport (IST) and at Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). Look at your ticket before you plan anything else: the airport code (IST or SAW) decides which metro line, bus or shuttle you can use and where you will change. Then decide where you are sleeping on the first night, because the best first ride is the one that ends closest to your hotel with the fewest changes, not the one that looks fastest on a map. If you land late or tired, a simple direct option is worth more than a cheaper route with several connections.

What each Istanbul airport lists for getting into the city (check the official airport pages for current details)
AirportRail option the airport listsBus or shuttle the airport listsCheck on the official page
Istanbul Airport (IST)M11 Gayrettepe – Istanbul Airport metroHavaist (11 routes) and İETT (5 routes), boarding on transportation floor -2Current timetables, stops and payment options
Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)M4 Kadıköy – Sabiha Gökçen Airport metroHavabus shuttles to Kadıköy and TaksimCurrent timetables, fares and onward connections

Istanbul Airport (IST) to the city: metro, Havaist and İETT

Istanbul Airport's official site lists the M11 Gayrettepe – Istanbul Airport metro line among its public transport options. The airport says Havaist offers 11 different routes between the airport and the city center. It says İETT offers 5 different routes between the airport and the city center. The airport lists the boarding point for Havaist and İETT buses as transportation floor -2. (iGA Istanbul Airport)

Editorial guidance: Pick the bus route or metro stop that ends nearest your hotel, then work backwards. Rail is usually the more predictable choice when roads are busy, while a bus route that drops you close to your hotel can be simpler if you have heavy bags. Timetables, fares and payment options change, so check the airport's public transportation page on the day you travel rather than relying on a figure you saw in an older blog post.

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to the city: M4 metro, Havabus and the ferry link

Sabiha Gökçen Airport says its metro is the M4 line running between Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The airport says the M4 connects with ferries and sea-lines from Kadıköy and with Marmaray at Ayrılık Çeşmesi. Sabiha Gökçen says Havabus shuttles provide a direct connection between the airport and Kadıköy and Taksim. For Sultanahmet, the airport suggests going to Taksim or Kadıköy first and changing vehicles there. (Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport; Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport; Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport)

Editorial guidance: If you are staying in the old city, the airport's own suggestion of changing in Kadıköy or Taksim is a sensible way to think about the trip: two shorter legs rather than one long road ride. The ferry crossing from Kadıköy can be a pleasant first look at the city, but only choose it if you are comfortable handling luggage on a boat. Check the airport's transportation pages for current fares and timetables before you go, as the older figures some pages still show may not be current.

Istanbulkart and taxis: paying for your first rides

Sabiha Gökçen says passengers need an Istanbul Kart to ride the İETT public bus and the ferry. Sabiha Gökçen says round-the-clock taxi service is available at the airport. UK government travel advice is to use a registered taxi and make sure the fare is metered. (Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport; Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport; UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK))

Editorial guidance: Treat getting a transit card as your first errand after landing if you plan to use buses, ferries or the metro during your stay. The airport page writes it as "Istanbul Kart"; you will also see it written as Istanbulkart. If you would rather take a taxi on arrival, decide that in advance rather than accepting an offer in the arrivals hall, and use an official taxi rank, an app or a pre-arranged car. Either choice is reasonable; the mistake is improvising when you are tired.

Which major sights to plan and book ahead

GoTürkiye describes Istanbul's Historic Peninsula as enclosed by the ancient city walls on one side. Its Historic Peninsula guide includes Hagia Sophia, the Hippodrome, the Blue Mosque, the Basilica Cistern and Topkapı Palace. (Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (GoTürkiye))

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's museum site lists the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, the Galata Tower Museum and the Istanbul Archaeological Museums with a Buy Ticket option. The ministry's MuseumPass page lists a MuseumPass İstanbul E-Card. (Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism; Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Culture and Tourism)

The National Palaces website lists Topkapı Palace and Dolmabahçe Palace among its palaces. It lists Monday as Dolmabahçe Palace's closed day. The National Palaces mobile app lets visitors buy e-tickets and keep them on their phone. (Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, Directorate of National Palaces)

Editorial guidance: Group your sightseeing by area so you are not crossing the city twice in one day. The Historic Peninsula sights cluster together, so many first-time visitors give them a full day of their own. Buy tickets through the official ministry or National Palaces channels rather than resellers, and check each site's own page for opening hours and closed days before you set the day's order. Whether a MuseumPass is worth it depends on how many included sites you will actually visit, so count them before you buy. Read ticket listings carefully: the ministry's site names the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, so check exactly which site a ticket covers before you buy.

Before you go: entry rules and staying alert

For people travelling on a full British citizen passport, UK government advice says you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The same advice says your passport must have an expiry date at least 150 days after the date you arrive. (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK))

UK government travel advice says street robbery and pickpocketing are common in the major tourist areas of Istanbul. It advises dressing modestly when visiting a mosque or a religious shrine. (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (GOV.UK))

Editorial guidance: The entry rules quoted here are the UK government's guidance for British citizen passport holders. If you travel on another passport, check your own government's travel advice and the Turkish authorities before you book; US travelers, for example, should check the State Department's country page. Pack something that covers your shoulders and knees for mosque visits, and keep your phone and wallet zipped away in crowded areas.

When cash makes more sense

Editorial guidance: this guide is about arriving and getting around, not about how to pay for the flight. If you are deciding between cash and points to get to Istanbul, read the Turkey on Points guide and the Turkish Miles&Smiles guide, then run the 30-second points-or-cash check. For your hotel, compare the cash rate against the points price with points vs. cash for hotels before you redeem.

Your next step

Editorial guidance: Check which airport your ticket uses, pick the ride that ends nearest your first hotel, plan to get an Istanbulkart early, and buy tickets for your must-see sights through the official channels before you go.

Sources and verification

Prepared with AI assistance and checked against the cited sources. Recommendations are editorial judgment. No live price or award availability is implied.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to the city?

Istanbul Airport lists the M11 Gayrettepe – Istanbul Airport metro, 11 Havaist bus routes and 5 İETT bus routes to the city center. The buses board on transportation floor -2. Check the airport's public transportation page for current timetables and fares.

How do I get from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to the old city?

Sabiha Gökçen lists the M4 metro to Kadıköy and Havabus shuttles to Kadıköy and Taksim. For Sultanahmet, the airport suggests going to Taksim or Kadıköy first and changing vehicles there; from Kadıköy, the M4 connects with ferries.

Do I need an Istanbulkart?

Sabiha Gökçen Airport says passengers need an Istanbul Kart to ride the İETT public bus and the ferry. If you plan to use public transport during your stay, getting one early saves friction.

Can I take a taxi from the airport?

Sabiha Gökçen says round-the-clock taxi service is available at the airport. UK government travel advice is to use a registered taxi and make sure the fare is metered.

Which Istanbul sights should I book ahead?

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism's museum site lists the Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum, the Galata Tower Museum and the Istanbul Archaeological Museums with a Buy Ticket option. The National Palaces website, which lists Topkapı and Dolmabahçe palaces, says its mobile app lets visitors buy e-tickets. Check each site's official page for hours and closed days.

Do British visitors need a visa for Turkey?

For people travelling on a full British citizen passport, UK government advice says you can visit Turkey without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and your passport must have an expiry date at least 150 days after you arrive. Travelers on other passports should check their own government's advice.