How to get from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul city center by metro?

A new option: metro plus Marmaray with two transfers, total travel time about 2 hours 13 minutes.

The express bus takes about 2 hours; the metro takes roughly the same time but requires transfers, which is less convenient.

Detailed route: from the airport, exit 13, turn left, follow METRO signs to line M11 (purple) to its last stop, Gayrettepe. Transfer there to M2 (green line), direction Yenikapı–Hacıosman, ride to Taksim station. Buy an Istanbulkart at the airport (165 lira card + 200 lira top-up). Total trip time is about 1 hour 40 minutes, including a 9-minute transfer between lines.

The Havaist airport bus averages 90 minutes — comparable to the metro, and sometimes longer. The metro is more reliable since it avoids traffic jams.

To reach the beach, take the metro to Haciosman station and then call a Yandex Taxi — about 30 minutes by car. On the return trip, taxis may not be available at the beach itself, so walk ~20 minutes to the nearest bus stop.

Navigation in the Istanbul metro is excellent and easy to follow. The key tip: get an Istanbul Kart before your trip to avoid wasting time at ticket machines in the morning.

The metro station is not directly at the terminal — it's about a 7-minute walk. Exit the airport, turn left, and follow the signs to the metro.

Route to the city center: take the metro to the last station, then transfer to a ferry or bus. Works well for groups of 2–3 people.

The metro ride to the city center takes about 1.5 hours. Taxis are faster but unpredictable in traffic. If you have a tight connection or need to be back for check-in in 2 hours, the metro is the safer choice.

A metro trip from Sabiha Gokcen to the city center with one transfer costs around 90 lira per person and takes approximately one hour.