How do I get from Istanbul airport to Taksim?

Q: How do I get from Istanbul airport to Taksim?

M11 metro to Gayrettepe: TRY 42.34 for one traveler, 30 min. It leaves you at Gayrettepe, on the M2, three stops from Taksim; Kağıthane three minutes earlier. Take the M11 to Gayrettepe, then M2 three stops — Şişli-Mecidiyeköy, Osmanbey, Taksim — on the same İstanbulkart at the TRY 34.40 transfer rate: TRY 76.74 in about 45 minutes. The Havaist coach, which stops in the square itself, is TRY 470 and 90 minutes. The M2 runs 06:00 to midnight, so the last M11 (00:17) connects only on Friday and Saturday nights; otherwise take the coach or the H-2 bus to Mecidiyeköy.

Home / Istanbul / Istanbul Airport / Taksim

Istanbul airporttoTaksim

Airport to destination · One way · All prices are totals for 1 adult · All service hours

2 ways to Taksim

Recommended

The cheapest way in. Nothing listed is quicker.

M11 metro to Gayrettepe

M11 · TCDD Taşımacılık, on İBB's fare tariff

30 min rideEvery 15 min06:03–00:17

Istanbul Airport metro stationGayrettepe

Non-stopLuggage space

TRY 42.34total for 1 adultTRY 42.34 eachBuy ticketOn TCDD Taşımacılık, on İBB's fare tariff

Pickup, hours & luggage

Boards at. Istanbul Airport metro station, signposted from arrivals. Buy or top up the İstanbulkart before the gates

TRY 42.34 on an İstanbulkart for the six-station ride to Gayrettepe, or five to Kağıthane — the gate takes TRY 47.89 and refunds TRY 5.55 when you tap out. A bank card or single-use ticket costs TRY 185 for the same ride. Children age seven and up pay full fare, and there is no group ticket. Onward to the M2 at Gayrettepe is a TRY 34.40 transfer, not a second full fare.

Luggage. TCDD's rule for the line: nothing over 30 kg or larger than 120 x 50 x 60 cm, and no goods trolleys. Ordinary metro cars without racks.

Hours. First train 06:03, last 00:17, arriving at Gayrettepe at 00:47 — the same every day of the week.

Price for every party size · Fare source

Shuttle

Havaist coach to Taksim

Havaist · Havaist (İBB), fare set by İBB — line HVL-9

90 min rideEvery 40 minRuns all night

Transportation floor -2Taksim Square. Some departures run via 4. Levent

Non-stop24-hour service

TRY 470total for 1 adultTRY 470 eachBuy ticketOn Havaist, fare set by İBB

Pickup, hours & luggage

Boards at. Transportation floor -2, Peron 16; the Havaist counters are on the same floor

TRY 470 per person, flat. Card, online ticket or İstanbulkart only — no cash, and no transfer, concession, season or single-use tickets. Children under six ride free on a lap; from six they pay full fare. A return bought online is 40% off the return leg and valid for three days.

Luggage. Two bags of no more than medium size free per passenger; TRY 120 for each bag beyond that. Tell the crew your stop when you hand a bag over — it is unloaded only there.

Price for every party size · Fare source

Take the M11 to Gayrettepe, then M2 three stops — Şişli-Mecidiyeköy, Osmanbey, Taksim — on the same İstanbulkart at the TRY 34.40 transfer rate: TRY 76.74 in about 45 minutes. The Havaist coach, which stops in the square itself, is TRY 470 and 90 minutes. The M2 runs 06:00 to midnight, so the last M11 (00:17) connects only on Friday and Saturday nights; otherwise take the coach or the H-2 bus to Mecidiyeköy.

Ride times exclude walking and waiting. Every way from Istanbul Airport into Istanbul

Your destination

Straight there.

The square most visitors mean by "the center", on the M2 three stops from where the airport metro ends.

Istanbul Airport

Follow the signs

Istanbul Airport metro station

M11 metro to Gayrettepe · 30 min

Taksim

M11 metro to Gayrettepe serves Taksim. İETT bus H-2 to Mecidiyeköy (night only) does not.

Arriving late?

Not everything runs around the clock: the M11 metro to Gayrettepe runs 06:03–00:17. Outside those hours, the Havaist coach to Taksim is what remains. and the board keeps only what is running.

From arrivals to Taksim

Find the stop

Istanbul Airport metro station. Follow the signs from arrivals.

Choose M11 metro to Gayrettepe

Check the destination and departure board before boarding.

Arrive at Taksim

30 min. Continue to your accommodation or follow signs for onward transport.

Rather go door to door?

A private car into Istanbul: TRY 3,900 for four

Four pay TRY 169.36 on the cheapest way to Taksim on this page. The car meets you in arrivals and drives to your door. TRY 3,900 is what Welcome Pickups charges to the centre of Istanbul; it quotes the fare for your own address when you book ahead.

A partner link: Welcome Pickups pays us a commission on a booking. It has no say in how the options are ranked.

Book transfer The car in detail

A few things for the rest of your trip

Partner offers

Not transport options · Affiliate links

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Bags in IstanbulBounce

Bounce keeps bags in shops and hotels around Istanbul: 87 places by its own count, booked by the day for the hours before check-in.

Find a bag drop

A late flight?AirHelp

A flight three or more hours late, or cancelled at short notice, can be owed up to €600 a passenger under EU and UK rules, depending on the flight. AirHelp charges only if the claim succeeds.

Check your flight

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Continuing by public transport?

Follow the station signs for your onward connection.

Walking to your stay?

Check the address and choose the nearest exit.

Before you travel

Does the İETT bus H-2 to Mecidiyeköy (night only) stop at Taksim?

No. It runs to Mecidiyeköy Metrobüs.

What if my flight arrives late?

Not everything runs around the clock: the M11 metro to Gayrettepe runs 06:03–00:17. Outside those hours, the Havaist coach to Taksim is what remains.

How far is Taksim from the centre?