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Is the metro to Istanbul Airport (IST) closed for repairs? How to get there without metro?

Based on 1 discussion with 8 participants · Last activity: 4 days ago

TL;DR

In mid-June 2026, the metro line to Istanbul Airport (IST) was closed for maintenance. The main alternative is the Havaist airport bus.

What the community said

One traveler reported the metro fare from the new airport is actually 60 lira, not the 42 lira often cited online — that info may be outdated.

4 days ago Metro — 60 lira (updated)

The airport metro runs until midnight (00:00). One traveler also encountered a closed station when trying to transfer to the M2 line.

4 days ago Metro until 00:00, M2 transfer

During the metro closure, Havaist airport buses serve multiple stops across the city, not just Taksim — check the Havaist website for the stop nearest to your location.

4 days ago Havaist — city-wide stops

As of June 15, Google Maps was showing ongoing maintenance on the metro line to Istanbul Airport (IST). Always check the current status before traveling.

4 days ago IST metro — maintenance closure

Paying by bank card directly on the metro doesn't work at Istanbul Airport (IST) or on the Marmaray line. Top up your Istanbulkart in advance to avoid issues.

4 days ago Istanbulkart — top up in advance

When the IST metro is closed, the main alternative is the Havaist airport bus. Check the official Havaist website for current schedules and frequency.

4 days ago Havaist — airport bus to IST

Around June 14, reports indicated the IST metro closure was expected to last until approximately June 19. During this period, reaching the new airport by metro was not possible.

4 days ago Closure until ~June 19

From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Taksim, the Havaist bus is the most popular public transport option. Taxis are available but considerably more expensive.

4 days ago Havaist: IST → Taksim

On June 13, some travelers reported the metro was still running, with a journey to Aksaray station taking about one hour. However, information about the start of maintenance was conflicting that day.

4 days ago Aksaray — ~1 hour from IST by metro