Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)? Which One Is Closer to Your Hotel or Clinic

When you search for flights to Istanbul you will see two codes: IST and SAW. They are different airports, far apart, and the right choice depends on where you will spend your time.

Istanbul Airport (IST) – the European side

Istanbul Airport lies on the Black Sea side of the European half of the city. Most long-haul and many European flights arrive here. It is the natural choice if you are staying or being treated in:

• the old city: Sultanahmet, Sirkeci, Aksaray, Laleli, Fatih;
• Taksim, Beyoğlu, Şişli, Levent and Maslak;
• the western districts such as Bakırköy, Avcılar or Başakşehir.

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) – the Asian side

Sabiha Gökçen sits on the Asian side, near Pendik and Kurtköy. Many low-cost and regional flights use it. It is usually the shorter ride if your hotel or clinic is in:

• Kadıköy, Ataşehir, Üsküdar or Bostancı;
• Kartal, Maltepe, Pendik or Tuzla;
• Gebze, İzmit or Sapanca, further east.

What about crossing the city?

Landing at SAW and staying in Sultanahmet, or landing at IST and staying in Kadıköy, is perfectly possible – we drive these routes every day – but the ride crosses the Bosphorus and is longer, especially in evening traffic. If the ticket price is similar, choosing the airport on your side of the city saves time.

One price, either airport

Whichever airport you choose, the fare is fixed when you book and includes tolls and bridge crossings. Enter your airport and destination in the booking form at the top of this page to see the price, or read more about our airport transfers.