sultanahmet / hagia sophıa / basilica cistern / topkapı palace
How To Get to Sultanahmet from Istanbul Airport (IST)
Eminonu / Sultanahmet (Historical Peninsula)
Welcome to Istanbul..
Sultanahmet is the historical center of Istanbul. It is called the “Historical Peninsula”.
In the Historical Peninsula there are many historical touristic places such as Topkapi Palace, Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Mosque, Basilica Cistern. These places are visited by millions of tourists from around the world every year.
For this reason, many hotels are located in this area.
We will tell you “how to go to Sultanahmet from Airport”.
Sultanahmet from Airport by HAVAIST Buses
(Istanbul Airport Shuttle Bus)
HAVAIST buses are shuttle buses that carry passengers between the Istanbul Airport (IST) and Emınonu & Sultanahmet.
HAVAIST shuttle buses are served 24 hours a day -every 15 minutes-. Takes you from the airport to Sultanahmet & Emınonu.
It takes about 45 min for HAVAIST buses to get from the Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet Square.
HAVAIST shuttle buses fee is 87 liras (about 5 dollars). You can pay with cash or credit card.
At the end of your Istanbul trip, you can also come to the Istanbul Airport by HAVAIST buses from Sultanahmet Square.
In the process, take the HAVAIST bus to Aksarayt, to go from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet. When you get off the bus in Aksaray, you can use T-1 Tram Line to reach Sultanahmet. (4 stops from Aksaray to Sultanahmet) See the "Istanbul Metro & Tram Line Map" page below for T-1 Tram Stops:
Sultanahmet from Airport by Metro
How to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet & Eminonu by Metro:
How to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet / Grand Bazaar by Metro:
• At first, go to Kagithane Station from Istanbul Airport (IST).
• After, you will be transferring to M7: Mecidiyekoy Metro line at Kagithane Station. And will go to Mecidiyekoy Station.
• At Mecidiyekoy Station, you will be transferring to M2: Taksim Metro line.
• Take the metro to Taksim/Yenikapı direction and get off when you get to the Vezneciler Station.
• After getting off the metro, you can reach Sultanahmet by walking or you can use T1:Sultanahmet Tram Line.
(It takes about 1,5 hour.)
How to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Eminonu / Sirkeci by Metro:
• At first, go to Kagithane Station from Istanbul Airport (IST).
• After, you will be transferring to M7: Mecidiyekoy Metro line at Kagithane Station. And will go to Mecidiyekoy Station.
• At Mecidiyekoy Station, you will be transferring to M2: Taksim Metro line.
• Take the metro to Taksim/Yenikapı direction and get off when you get to the Halic Station.
• After getting off the metro, you can reach Eminonu / Sirkeci by a short walk.
(It takes about 1 hour.)
Sultanahmet from Airport by Taxi
You can also go by taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet & Eminonu (city center).
Taxis are waiting for you at the exit of the terminal.
There are 3 different color taxi services at Istanbul Airport. These are yellow, turquoise and black taxis.
Yellow taxis are the cheapest taxis in the tariff.
Turquoise taxis (VW Passat) are 15% more expensive than yellow taxis.
Black taxis (Mercedes E Class) have 2 times the expensive tariff of yellow taxis.
Taxis can carry up to 4 passengers.
The Taxi fare is determined by the distance travelled and the same fee is paid for how many people ride in the vehicle.
2023 Taxi fare from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sultanahmet/Sirkeci costs about 550 liras. (about 20 dollars)
You can pay with cash or credit card in taxi.
