Havaist and Havabüs 2026: Istanbul Airport Bus Lines, Fares and Hours
Istanbul's two airports each have their own airport bus. Havaist runs from Istanbul Airport (IST) to more than ten parts of the city, from 350 to 530 TL. Havabüs runs from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Taksim (485 TL) and Kadıköy (300 TL). Both are cheap and frequent, but they stop at main squares, not at your hotel. Here are the lines, fares, hours and how to pay, checked in October 2026.
Havaist: buses from Istanbul Airport
Havaist buses leave from the transportation floor (−2) of Istanbul Airport, reached by the lifts in front of the arrival and departure gates. Each line has its own numbered platform. The main lines for visitors:
| Line | Goes to | Fare | Platform at IST |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVL-9 | Taksim (some trips via Beşiktaş) | 470 TL | 16 |
| HVL-11 | Sultanahmet, via Eminönü | 420–470 TL | 11 |
| HVL-5 | Levent and Beşiktaş | 405 TL | |
| HVL-6 | Kadıköy, via Yenisahra and Acıbadem | 515 TL | 14 |
| HVL-1 | Aksaray | 470 TL | 12 |
| HVL-12 | Beyazıt Square | 370 TL | |
| HVL-10 | Sabiha Gökçen Airport | 530 TL | 13 |
Other lines go to Bakırköy, Halkalı, Avcılar–Beylikdüzü, Başakşehir and the main bus station (Esenler). Fares are from the city's fare list published on 17 September 2026; for Sultanahmet, Havaist's own page showed 470 TL in July, so we give both. The Taksim line runs about 30 times a day in each direction, day and night, and takes about 90 minutes.
How to pay on Havaist
On board you can pay with an İstanbulkart, a credit or bank card, or a QR code; you can also buy a ticket online on hava.ist. There are no transfer or discounted fares on these lines.
Havabüs: buses from Sabiha Gökçen
At Sabiha Gökçen, the white Havabüs buses wait in front of the terminal exits on the arrivals floor.
| Line | Fare | From SAW | To SAW | Journey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taksim | 485 TL | 06:30–01:30, every 30 min | 03:00–22:00 | About 1½ h |
| Kadıköy | 300 TL | 05:45–01:30 | 03:15–23:15 | About 1 h |
| Yenikapı | 07:00–19:00, every 90 min | |||
Havabüs also runs to Yenisahra and to Sakarya. For flights that land late, there are extra buses between 01:00 and 04:00. Tickets are sold online on havabus.com. In Taksim the bus stops at the Gezi Park metro exit; in Kadıköy at the İETT stops on the waterfront (Rıhtım).
The metro: the cheapest way
- From Istanbul Airport: the M11 runs to Gayrettepe in about 30–45 minutes; change there to the M2 for Taksim. The M11 also runs to Halkalı for the Marmaray.
- From Sabiha Gökçen: the M4 runs to Kadıköy in about 52 minutes, 06:00–midnight, and all night at weekends.
- The M4 costs the standard İstanbulkart fare, 46.20 TL since July 2026; the M11 has its own fare, by distance.
Bus, metro or a transfer?
The bus is a good choice if you travel light and your hotel is close to a stop. It is harder with large suitcases, children or after midnight, when you still have to get from the square to your hotel. A taxi on the meter to Taksim costs roughly 2,000–2,500 TL from Istanbul Airport, more in traffic.
A Transfer3E driver meets you in the arrivals hall with your name and takes you to your hotel's door. The price is fixed per vehicle, so for a family or a group it can cost about the same per person as the bus. Waiting is free for 90 minutes after landing. See the prices on the Istanbul Airport transfer and Sabiha Gökçen transfer pages.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Havaist to Taksim?
470 TL per person on the fare list of September 2026. The bus leaves from platform 16 on floor −2 and takes about 90 minutes.
Does Havaist run at night?
Yes. The Taksim line runs day and night, about 30 times a day in each direction. Other lines run less often at night; check the timetable on hava.ist before you fly.
Can I pay for Havaist or Havabüs in cash?
On Havaist buses you pay by İstanbulkart, card or QR code, not in cash on board. Havabüs sells tickets online on havabus.com.
Is there a bus from Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet?
Havabüs does not go there. Take Havabüs to Kadıköy and the ferry to Eminönü, or the M4 and the Marmaray.
