IST or SAW: Which Istanbul Airport to Choose and How to Connect
Istanbul has two big international airports, and that is the main source of confusion for anyone flying to or through Turkey. A ticket to SAW may be cheaper, but if your hotel is on the other shore or your next flight leaves from IST, the saving can disappear quickly. Here is how they differ.
Two airports on two continents
Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, in the north of the city. It is the main hub of Turkish Airlines and most full-service airlines fly here. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, in Pendik. It is the base of Pegasus and AJet, with many low-cost flights within Turkey, to the CIS and to Europe.
The airports are more than 70 km apart by road, across the Bosphorus. Getting from one to the other takes at least an hour and a half, and much longer at rush hour.
Which one if you are going into the city
- Hotel on the European side (Sultanahmet, Taksim, Beşiktaş, Şişli): IST is more convenient.
- Hotel on the Asian side (Kadıköy, Üsküdar, Ataşehir) or Pendik: SAW is more convenient.
- Count the ride. If a ticket to the less convenient airport is cheaper, add the cost and time of the transfer, especially for late-night arrivals when the metro has stopped.
Both airports have metro lines, shuttle buses and taxis. General tips on choosing transport and avoiding overpriced rides are in how to get from the airport to the city centre.
Connecting in Istanbul: two scenarios
One ticket, one airport
If both flights are on one ticket and at the same airport (usually IST with Turkish Airlines or SAW with Pegasus), this is the easy case. On an international connection you normally follow the transfer signs without passing passport control, and your bag is checked through to the final destination. Confirm this at check-in: the bag tag should show your final city.
Separate tickets or different airports
If you built the trip from two separate tickets, you will need to pass passport control, collect your bag, travel to the other airport if needed and check in again. In that case:
- check in advance that your passport lets you enter Turkey;
- allow at least 3–4 hours at the same airport, and at least 5–6 hours if you have to move between IST and SAW;
- remember that if your first flight is late, the second airline does not have to wait or rebook you for free.
More on risks and minimum connection times in connecting flights: how to choose a layover.
Long layovers
If you have more than 8–10 hours between flights and can enter Turkey, you can go into the city. Leave 3 hours before departure for the ride back and security. Turkish Airlines runs programmes for passengers with long connections; the terms change, so check them on the airline's website.
Where to fly via Istanbul
Istanbul is a convenient hub from Baku, Tashkent and Almaty to Europe and beyond. Check prices for Baku – Istanbul, Tashkent – Istanbul, Almaty – Istanbul and all routes from Istanbul. If your dates are flexible, start with the price calendar.
