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Istanbul airport Metro Line M11 now links Istanbul Airport to Istanbul, providing a fast and affordable option to the airport’s ground transportation system. Thus, if you opt for a subway ride from Istanbul Airport to Istanbul city center, you’ll have to head to IST airport subway station, lying right outside Exit 11, on the front side of the car park. After hopping on Metro Line M11, you’ll disembark at Gayrettepe Station and transfer to Line M2 to Vezneciler Station, a 15-20-minute walk from Sultanahmet Square. Overall, the journey with the Istanbul airport metro to Sultanahmet will last around 40 minutes, plus an approximate 10-minute waiting time, as subway routes are frequent. However, please keep in mind that the Istanbul subway operates only from 06:00 am to midnight.
The purchase of a rechargeable Istanbulkart is necessary to pay for your metro tickets. Istanbulkarts are available through the automatic machines of the Istanbul airport metro station, only via cash. After buying your card, you can load it with money and buy your metro ticket to Sultanahmet. The price for the Istanbulkart is 60₺ (2.94€/3.10$), while a one-way subway ticket costs 9.90₺ (0.48€/0.50$). Still, you’ll have to pay for your onward ride with Line M2 as well. However, when the change of lines takes place within 2 hours, a discount is applied at the second metro fare, reducing the fee to 7.09₺ (0.35€/0.40$). Hence, the total cost of the ride from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet will be 16.99₺ (0.83€/0.90$), plus the Istanbulkart cost. Fortunately, Istanbulkarts aren’t personal but can be used by multiple passengers. Thus, you can buy only one card even if you are traveling with a company. Children up to 6 years of age travel for free.
Our Tip: The Istanbul airport Metro Line M11 was put into service on January 2023, heading to Kâğıthane Station. Gayrettepe Station is expected to be added to the line’s itinerary during the next months. Thus, currently, to get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet, you’ll have to take M11 to Kâğıthane Station, change to Bus 41St, and afterward, hop on Tram Line T1 at Topkapi. As a result, the journey time is considerably higher, and the 3-time change of lines adds a big hassle to the airport transfer.