Istanbul Airport: Cheap Flights, Transport and Terminal

Istanbul Airport lies in Arnavutköy on the European side of the city, about 40 kilometres from Taksim. Fully operational since 2019, when all flights moved over from Atatürk Airport, it is run by İGA, has one of the largest terminal buildings in the world and is Turkey's busiest airport. All flights are handled in a single main terminal with separate domestic and international areas.

The airport is the hub of Turkish Airlines, which flies from here to more than 300 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas and connects passengers from Germany on one ticket to every Anatolian city. From Germany, Turkish Airlines flies from Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Cologne, Hanover, Nuremberg, Leipzig and Bremen, Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Munich, and most major European and Middle Eastern carriers also serve Istanbul Airport.

For the cheapest flights to Istanbul, compare both airports: low-cost services mostly land at Sabiha Gökçen, while Istanbul Airport wins on connecting journeys and Turkish Airlines' EcoFly bundles. Early booking, midweek dates and the off-season lower the price, and because tickets are priced one way, try outbound and return separately. The prices on this page are the current lowest Istanbul Airport fares found by our searches.

Metro line M11 links the airport with Kağıthane and Gayrettepe, where you change to line M2 for Taksim and Şişhane. Havaist airport buses run to Taksim, Sultanahmet, Beşiktaş and Kadıköy among others, and İETT buses serve various districts. Timetables and fares change, so check the airport website for current details.

• Taxi: ranks are in front of the arrivals level; the ride to the centre can take up to an hour in traffic.
• Car and car hire: the Northern Marmara Motorway and the airport link roads connect it with the city; car-hire desks are in arrivals.
• Night flights: Havaist buses keep running at night, while the metro does not operate all night.

The terminal is open around the clock and offers a vast duty-free area, hundreds of shops and restaurants, currency exchange, ATMs, a pharmacy, prayer rooms and children's play areas; Wi-Fi is free throughout. The Turkish Airlines lounges and the İGA Lounge can be used for a fee or with airline status. The YOTEL inside the terminal has rooms both before passport control and on the transit side.

Multi-storey covered car parks and open-air areas lie next to the terminal, with separate sections for short stays, pick-ups and long-term parking. Spaces can be booked online in advance; as rates change, check current prices on the airport website.