Private transfer
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Galataport transfer
Private transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Galataport at a fixed price per vehicle. Your driver meets you with a name sign, helps with your luggage and takes you straight to your address.
- Distanceabout 45 km
- Driving time45–75 min
- Free waiting90 min
- PaymentCash: TL, € or $
Prices for this route
Prices are per vehicle, not per person, and stay the same in traffic.
What's included
- Fixed price, no meter
- Meet & greet with a name sign
- Free waiting time
- Help with your luggage
- Child seats on request
- Pay cash to the driver
- Free cancellation and full refund up to 24 hours before pickup
What our guests say
Overall rating
4.9 (90 reviews)
- Spyros Kousi · Google
★★★★★
Ercan Erbay organised everything exactly how we wanted. Enis Erbay was our driver. He was very professional and very friendly. He helped us with everything and gave us some info about the city. Exceptional people and amazing service. We will definitely choose them again next time.
Read on Google → - Mario Ivanov · Google
★★★★★
Самая лучшая компания для трансферам. Машины люкс, каждым раз приезжают во время. Водители очень любезные. И цены тоже хорошие. Рекомендую .
Read on Google → - Nur Sahin · Google
★★★★★
Enis Erbay ile gerçekleştirdiğimiz transfer oldukça keyifli ve konforluydu. Kendisi son derece nazik, samimi ve profesyonel bir yaklaşım sergiledi. Yol boyunca geçtiğimiz yerler hakkında bilgilendirici paylaşımlarda bulundu ve İstanbul’da yapılabilecek aktiviteler konusunda değerli öneriler sundu. İlgi ve nezaketi için kendisine tekrar teşekkür ederiz.
Read on Google → - Angela Tudor · Trustpilot
★★★★★
Thanks a lot for providing during a business trip to Istanbul
Thanks a lot for providing during a very short time a very comfortable and clean car. Driver arrived in advance and was waiting in front of the hotel. I did the car reservation just few hours before the flight, so appreciate that owner has texted me on Whatsupp to receive my details. My husband and son appreciate the car comfort and the stars on the car ceiling. I would definitely recommend this car service.
Read on Trustpilot → - Denada Latifi · Trustpilot
★★★★★
Excellent
The taxi service from the airport to the hotel was excellent and very smooth. The driver arrived on time, was friendly, and helped us with our luggage without any issues. The car was clean and comfortable, which made the ride really relaxing after a long flight. The journey was quick and stress-free, and everything was exactly as expected.
Read on Trustpilot → - Arlinda Lekaj Jusufi · Trustpilot
★★★★★
In my case they went above and beyond on providing a service
Read on Trustpilot → - Villa Fjorentin Berat · Google
★★★★★
Enis was our personal Vito driver who picked us up directly from the airport, and from the very first moment everything was perfectly organized. He arrived on time with a clean and comfortable Mercedes Vito, making our transfer smooth and stress-free. Beyond just the ride, Enis went the extra mile and organized a beautiful evening for us on a cruise ship, creating an unforgettable experience. Everything was arranged professionally and with great attention to detail.
Read on Google → - Hannes Van Velden · Trustpilot
★★★★★
Enis was not only efficient but so welcoming and friendly. He made our transfers very enjoyable and was full of handy hints for our trip. It was very smooth and we would recommend him to anyone
Read on Trustpilot → - Bujar Jakupi · Trustpilot
★★★★★
During my stay in Istanbul, I had the opportunity to travel from the hotel to the airport. The company was very professional, the vehicle was ultra-modern, and the driver was very polite. Erxhani was also very cooperative. Everything was simply perfect. I travel to Istanbul often, and I will not change this service anymore.
Read on Trustpilot → - Karthik M · Google
★★★★★
Very smooth experience. Will recommend to others. I booked a minivan for my family. We had small kids. I got quick replies via email. Once I landed in Istanbul, I was reached out via whatsapp. The WhatsApp responses were in English and prompt. I booked them again for my return to the airport. Strongly recommend this company for your travel needs.
Read on Google → - ArmyNurseElPaso_TX · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Highly recommend this company.
The company picked us up at 0425 with a last minute booking due to our other booking falling through. The driver was on time, helpful, a good driver, and the car was very nice. I highly recommend them.
Read on Tripadvisor → - Pasquale C · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Qualità/price _ highly recommend
Our transfer from the airport to the hotel was very comfortable and the driver advised us what to see in Istanbul and very helpful was the advice for the tour with dinner on the Bosphorus. We highly recommend
Read on Tripadvisor → - Venture45463812071 · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Istanbul Transfer
Before the pickup they shared a tutorial video which made pickup process very swift. Also the car was clean and has good chauffeur. It was a good experience.
Read on Tripadvisor → - Carlitos Kanas · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Fast, reliable, stress free
Reliable, hospitable, good driving. Show up on time for pickup, found a way to smoothly avoid all congregations in Istanbul traffic.
Read on Tripadvisor → - Vanessa · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Great service, made everything easy
Really great transfer service. Easy communication, pick ups on time, clean, comfy cars, everything went smoothly, even accomodating change to flight schedule. I was travelling solo to a part of Istanbul I hadnt been before, so this service was perfect. Good value too.
Read on Tripadvisor → - Anna · Tripadvisor
★★★★★
Your safe and comfortable transfer 😇
We ordered transfer from Bodrum hotel to Efes town. The driver arrived on time and was polite, intelligent and took us to the place very safe. The car itself (Mercedes Vito) was clean and modern and comfortable. We highly recommend this company for your travels.
Read on Tripadvisor →
The drive from Istanbul Airport to Galataport
Istanbul Airport and Galataport are both on the European side of the city, so this transfer does not cross the Bosphorus. The road runs about 45 km south through Göktürk and Kağıthane, then down to the shore at Karaköy. Late at night the drive takes about 45 minutes; on weekday mornings and evenings, allow up to 75.
Galataport is Istanbul's cruise port: a waterfront of shops, restaurants and museums between Karaköy and Tophane, with the passenger terminal underground, below the promenade. Many cruise passengers spend a night or two in the city before they sail, in Karaköy, Galata or Cihangir, a short walk from the port; we drive to these hotels too.
How you meet your driver
Five steps from the plane to the car.
- We follow your flightWith the flight number in your booking we watch your arrival time. If you land early or late, the driver adjusts; delays of up to 6 hours cost nothing extra.
- You get the meeting detailsBefore you arrive we confirm the meeting details on WhatsApp. Switch your phone on after landing so the driver can reach you.
- Passport control and baggageGo through passport control, collect your bags and walk through customs. Your 90 minutes of free waiting are counted from the moment your plane lands.
- Look for your nameYour driver waits in the arrivals hall on the ground floor with a sign showing your name or the 3E logo.
- To the carThe driver helps with your luggage and walks you to the car. You pay at the end of the ride, in cash, in Turkish lira, euros or dollars.
Can't see your driver, or still waiting for a bag? Stay where you are and message us on WhatsApp at +90 541 334 2102. We answer around the clock and will guide you to each other.
Istanbul Airport to Galataport: your options
No bus or train runs from Istanbul Airport to the port itself. This is how the options compare.
| Option | Price | Time | Door to door | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | Fixed per vehicle, see prices above | 45–75 min | Yes | Driver meets you in arrivals and drives to the port entrance |
| Taxi | Meter: about 2,200 TL | 45–75 min | Yes | Price rises in slow traffic; queue at the rank |
| Havaist bus | 470 TL per person | Longer, with stops | No | Sultanahmet line: get off at Eminönü, then the tram |
| Metro M11 + M2 | Lowest, İstanbulkart fares | About 1¼ hours | No | Change at Gayrettepe; from Şişhane a 20-minute walk downhill |
Fares checked in October 2026: taxi tariff of 20 July 2026, Havaist fare on hava.ist, İstanbulkart fare of July 2026. They change during the year.
The nearest bus is Havaist's Sultanahmet line, which stops at Şişhane and at Eminönü, by the Galata Bridge; from Eminönü the T1 tram runs one stop to Karaköy or two to Tophane, next to the port. By metro, you change at Gayrettepe and walk down from Şişhane. With cruise luggage every change is hard work, while a car takes you from the arrivals hall to the port entrance with no stops.
Arriving at Galataport
Galataport's cruise terminal is underground: check-in, passport control and the luggage drop for your ship are all below the waterfront promenade. The driver takes you to the port entrance closest to the terminal and helps you with your bags. When several ships are in port, the roads around Galataport are busy, so allow a little extra time.
Arrived early? The Galataport Visitor Center at the D Block terminal entrance has a left-luggage service, so you can explore Karaköy before you board. Staying in the city first? Karaköy, Galata and Tophane are right next to the port, but many of their streets are steep, narrow or closed to cars; where a car cannot reach the door, the driver stops at the nearest point and helps you with your bags.
Questions about this transfer
How long does the transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Galataport take?
About 45–75 minutes for roughly 45 km, depending on traffic.
Is the price per person?
No. The price is per vehicle and fixed when you book, so traffic does not change it.
Where does the driver meet me?
In the arrivals hall, holding a sign with your name. We follow your flight, so the driver is there even if you land late.
How much time should I leave between my flight and my cruise?
Cruise lines usually advise flying in the day before. If you fly in on the day you sail, choose a flight that lands at least 5 hours before the ship leaves: getting from the plane to the arrivals hall takes 30 to 60 minutes, the drive 45 to 75, and check-in at the port closes well before departure.
How much is a taxi from Istanbul Airport to Galataport?
On the Istanbul meter, 71.94 TL to start plus 47.92 TL per kilometre since July 2026, the 45 km come to roughly 2,200 TL in normal traffic, more in a jam. Our price is fixed per vehicle and shown before you book.
Is there a bus from Istanbul Airport to Galataport?
Not to the port itself. Havaist's Sultanahmet line (470 TL) leaves from platform 11 on the transportation floor (-2) and stops at Şişhane and Eminönü; from Eminönü the T1 tram runs to Karaköy and Tophane, a short walk from the port.
Will the driver help with our luggage at the port?
Yes. The driver unloads your bags at the port entrance closest to the terminal and helps you with them. Check-in for the ship and the luggage drop are inside the underground terminal.
Can you also take us from Galataport to the airport after the cruise?
Yes. Book the return with your ship's name and the time you expect to leave it; see our Galataport to Istanbul Airport transfer.
Guides for this trip
- Istanbul Airport Transfer for Cruise Passengers – IST to Galataport
- Istanbul Airport to Galataport Transfer – Private Cruise Port Transfer