Istanbul Airport (İGA) — M11 Metro (Airport to Kağıthane)
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Istanbul — Updated 2026
Istanbul Airport (IST) — the new mega-airport 50 km northwest of central Istanbul — got its own Metro line, the M11, in January 2023. It runs from IST Airport station (directly connected to the terminal) to Kağıthane in 35 minutes, where you transfer to the M7 line for central İstanbul (Mecidiyeköy for Taksim, or continue for Şişli / Levent / Bosphorus areas). Fare TRY 27 (~$0.85) with an IstanbulKart contactless card, sold from vending machines at the airport station (TRY 70 deposit + fare loaded on top). Trains every 10 minutes from 06:00 to 24:00. The M11 was designed to be an alternative to the Havaist bus (which takes 90-120 min via TEM highway and costs TRY 90-150) — for luggage-light travellers with time, Metro is dramatically cheaper. For Sultanahmet + Grand Bazaar (Old City), continue from Kağıthane via M7 → Mecidiyeköy transfer → M2 line to Vezneciler, or take a T1 tram from Kabataş. Total Metro trip IST to Sultanahmet: ~75-90 min for TRY 40-50 combined.
M11 Metro (Airport to Kağıthane) stops
| Station / Stop | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| IST Airport (M11 terminus) | 0 min | Directly connected to arrivals level -2 |
| Terminal Zone | 2 min | Airport periphery |
| Göktürk | ~15 min | Northwest Istanbul suburb |
| Kemerburgaz | ~22 min | North Istanbul, Beykoz district |
| Kağıthane (transfer) | ~35 min | Transfer to M7 for central Istanbul |
| Mecidiyeköy (via M7) | +15 min | Taksim area, hotels, Şişli district |
| Sultanahmet (via M7 + M2 + T1) | +45-55 min | Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Grand Bazaar |
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M11 Metro (Airport to Kağıthane) vs alternatives
| Option | Cost | Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| M11 Metro | TRY 27 (~$0.85) | 35 min to Kağıthane | Cheapest reliable option. |
| Havaist bus to Taksim | TRY 90-150 (~$3-5) | 90-120 min | Direct + luggage-friendly, but slow in traffic. |
| BiTaksi/iTaksi (metered) | TRY 800-1500 (~$25-45) | 60-90 min | Traffic-dependent. Late arrivals. |
| Private transfer | TRY 1500-2800 (~$45-85) | 60-90 min | Pre-booked meet-greet. |
FAQ
How to get from IST Airport to Sultanahmet by Metro?+
M11 from IST Airport → Kağıthane (35 min), then M7 → Mecidiyeköy (~15 min), then M2 → Vezneciler (~15 min), then T1 tram → Sultanahmet (~10 min). Total 75-90 min, TRY 40-50. Requires 2-3 transfers with luggage — Havaist bus is often simpler if you have big suitcases.
M11 Metro fare + IstanbulKart?+
Single fare TRY 27 (~$0.85). You need an IstanbulKart contactless card — vending machines at the airport station accept credit cards. Card costs TRY 70 (deposit) + you load fare balance on top. Same card works on Metro, tram, ferry, bus, and Marmaray across Istanbul.
M11 hours + how often does it run?+
Every 10 minutes from 06:00 to 24:00. Last train from IST Airport at 24:00 to Kağıthane. Overnight (00:00-06:00): use Havaist night buses (24/7) or BiTaksi/iTaksi. IST Airport is open 24/7 with taxi + Havaist bus continuous.
Metro vs Havaist bus from IST Airport?+
Metro (TRY 27, 35 min + transfers) is cheaper. Havaist bus direct to Taksim (TRY 90-150, 90-120 min in traffic) is more comfortable with luggage but slow. Rule of thumb: solo + light luggage = Metro, family/heavy luggage = Havaist. Metro also avoids the TEM highway traffic which can turn 90 min into 3 hours during rush hour.
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