Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport: Cheap Flights and Transport

Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport lies in Pendik on the Asian side of the city, about 35 kilometres from the historic centre. Opened in 2001 and named after Turkey's first female combat pilot, it is operated by ISG and is the metropolis's second-largest airport after Istanbul Airport. Domestic and international flights are handled in one terminal building, in separate areas.

The airport is the home base of Pegasus Airlines and a hub for AJet, while Turkish Airlines serves selected routes. From Germany there are non-stop flights from almost every major city, above all Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, Hanover, Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich and Hamburg, plus busy links to Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, the UK and the Middle East. Within Turkey, dozens of daily flights connect it with Antalya, Izmir, Ankara, Trabzon, Bodrum and many more Anatolian cities.

The cheapest flights between Germany and Istanbul are usually Pegasus and AJet services into Sabiha Gökçen, and comparing them with flights into Istanbul Airport often makes a clear difference. Midweek and off-season dates, early booking and the lowest bundle with hand luggage only bring the best price; as tickets are priced one way, try outbound and return separately. The prices on this page are the current lowest Sabiha Gökçen fares found by our searches.

The airport has had its own metro since 2022: line M4 runs via Kartal and Bostancı to Kadıköy, with a change at Ayrılık Çeşmesi to the Marmaray railway that crosses under the Bosphorus to the European side. Havabüs shuttles serve Taksim and Kadıköy, and İETT buses run to various districts. Timetables and fares change, so check the airport website for current details.

• Taxi: ranks are in front of the terminal; journey times vary a lot with Istanbul traffic.
• Car and car hire: the TEM and Northern Marmara motorways connect the airport with the city; car-hire desks are in arrivals.
• Night flights: metro and buses do not run all night, so late at night a taxi or pre-booked transfer is more practical.

Domestic and international flights share one terminal building with short distances between check-in, security and the gates, and the terminal is open around the clock. The departure and arrival areas offer duty-free shops, restaurants and cafés, ATMs, currency exchange and car-hire desks; lounges can be entered for a fee or with airline status. Wi-Fi is available throughout the terminal.

Multi-storey car parks and open-air areas for short- and long-term parking are located right next to the terminal, and some spaces can be reserved online in advance. As rates and capacity change, check current prices on the airport website.