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A train at the platform of the M11 metro that links Istanbul Airport to the city.
Layover guideIstanbul · IST

Getting out of the airport in Istanbul

Metered taxis run 24 hours from the arrivals floor, the airport metro station is inside the terminal, and the city publishes every fare on the line.

Kayra / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0
All of Istanbul

Taxi ranks are on the arrivals floor at exit gates 9 and 13, with the main stands at the domestic and international passenger exit doors in the Plaza section and further vehicles on the departure floor (2nd floor). The service runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Three colours, three tariffs, all on the taximeter: orange or yellow (C segment), turquoise (D segment, 15 per cent higher than orange) and black luxury (E segment, 70 per cent higher). iGA states that airport taxis follow the taximeter tariff set by UKOME.

The city publishes the meter figures. From 16 February 2026 a yellow taxi is 65.40 TL flagfall, 43.56 TL per kilometre, with a minimum of 210.00 TL per journey. Turquoise is 75.21 TL, 50.09 TL/km, minimum 240.00 TL. Black is 111.18 TL, 74.05 TL/km, minimum 360.00 TL.

The same tariff carries a time rate that takes over below 12.50 km/h (544.45 TL per hour on a yellow taxi), so a crawl into the city is charged by the clock, not the distance. Bridge tolls, coach-station exit fees and motorway charges are added on top and collected from you.

  1. iGA Istanbul Airport: taxis and other urban transport · checked 2026-08-17
  2. iGA Istanbul Airport: public transport from the terminal · checked 2026-08-17
  3. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB): taxi transport segments and fare tariff, effective 16 February 2026 · checked 2026-08-17
  4. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB): İstanbulkart fare tariff, effective 16 February 2026 · checked 2026-08-17
  5. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB): taxis and taxi segments · checked 2026-08-17

The rest of Istanbul

The whole guide
Ride-hailingiTaksi is the city council's own app, it dispatches taxis registered to the system, and the only pickup points the airport publishes are the taxi ranks.Local laws that catch crew outCarry photo ID at all times, keep opinions about Turkey off your phone, and treat antiquities and cheap spirits as the two quiet ways to ruin a trip.Staying connectedA handset brought from abroad works on a Turkish network for 120 days from your date of entry, then the regulator cuts it off unless the device is registered.WeatherMild marine climate: warm dry summers (~25C), cool wet winters (~7C) with occasional snow; December is the wettest month.Eating near the crew hotelsWaterfront street food at Eminonu/Karakoy and Ortakoy, late-night eats around Taksim, and Kadikoy across the water; lokantas are the cheap fixed-price feed.What to buyGrand Bazaar for jewelry, carpets and leather (haggle, always), Spice Bazaar for edibles; VAT refund at Tax Free shops, claimed at IST or SAW before departure.TippingNot obligatory but appreciated; around 10-15% in restaurants, round up taxis, and tip in cash since cards usually cannot carry the tip.