Going on weekend getaways is one of the perks of living in Istanbul. The Mediterranean sun is just a hop, skip and a jump away. A beach weekend in Ceşme, visiting the fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, trekking through Butterfly Valley. Yet as much as Turkey has to offer in a wide range of getaways, it isn’t always so easy to get yourself to the airport on a Friday afternoon – it often involves a hop on a bus, a skip on a tram, and a jump on the man next to you on the extremely crowded metrobus. I’ve tried almost every route to the airport. Depending on how much baggage, time and money I have, I vary my course to get there either the fastest, easiest, or cheapest way. Unless you live in Taksim or Kadiköy, your trek to the airport will most likely be longer than your flight. And who knows what the traffic will be like, most likely bad or worse. I much prefer to stay out of unpredictable traffic and take public transport when possible. You may even ride up to four of five different forms of transportation in one day! Here are a few alternate routes, other than the Havataş bus, to the Sabiha Gökçen International airport.
Sabiha Gökçen:
1. Getting to Sabiha Gökçen airport is the bane of my existence. All of the cheap flights are out of this airport yet it takes so long to get there. Sometimes double the time of my flight! Last weekend I went to Cappadocia and tried a new route. It only took me one and a half hours from my door to the airport! New world record! For a one hour flight. Womp womp. Again this one requires the use of the all mighty metrobus, serious life saver. From Zincirlikuyu take the metrobus over the bridge towards Söğütlüçeşme. Get off at Uzunçayır. Take the exit which says IETT Duraği. Wait under the overpass for the E-11 express bus to Sabiha Gökçen airport. If you are able to time this right, you can make it to the airport in one hour.
Total cost: 15 TL
Total time: 1-2 hours depending on traffic
2. This one is pretty easy but you have to take into account the bridge traffic. I usually take the most stress-free ways to the airport if I can. Sometimes the stress comes from having to carry all of my bags up and down stairs and sometimes it’s the traffic and time of day. If I know there won’t be too much bridge traffic and I don’t have more than a small rolling bag or backpack, and the stars are aligned, I take this route. Take the bus or metro to 4.Levent and find the bus stop. Hop on the E-3 express bus to Sabiha Gökçen. Easy-peasy.
Total cost: 23 TL
Total time: 1.5-3 hours.
Word on the street is that they are extending the M1 red metro line to connect to the Mamaray and the M2 green metro line at Yenikapı. This will make getting to Atatürk airport easier from almost everywhere! Keep your ears open!
Website for the metrobus, express bus and regular bus: http://www.iett.gov.tr/en
Website for metro: https://ulasim.istanbul/
Do you prefer a different route to the airport? Let us know in the comments!
Liz Liberatore is a contributor to Yabangee
What about using Havatas? One bus, maybe a bit slow during times of high traffic, but always seems to get you to the airport on time.
why don’t you use M4-Anatolian side metro?