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You can go from Istanbul's
Atatürk
Airport, on
the European side of Istanbul,
to Sabiha
Gökçen Airport,
on the Asian side of the Bosphorus
(or vice-versa) by public transport
in about
three hours for as
little as TL10
per person, and see a good amount
of Istanbul and
the Bosphorus as
you travel.
However, other transfer methods
provide greater ease, speed, comfort
and security at somewhat higher cost.
Havas Airport Buses
There is no non-stop airport bus service
between Istanbul's two airports, but
you can take a Havas airport bus from
either airport to Taksim
Square on
the European side of the Bosphorus,
or to the Kozyatagi Business Center
on the Asian side, and transfer to
another airport bus for the completion
of your journey. The total journey
by Havas bus takes about two
hours minimum
(more if traffic is heavy or if you
must wait for the bus transfer), and
costs about TL22
per person. More...
By Private Transfer Service
Backpackers
Travel will drive you from
one Istanbul
airport to the other in a comfortable Mercedes-Benz minivan
for not all that much more than a regular
Istanbul
taxi, but the ride is far
more pleasant, assured and safe. It's
the fastest way to go, taking about
1-1/4 hours (more if traffic is heavy),
and if you're traveling with others,
it can end up costing about the same
per person as the Havas bus.
Your private transfer begins in the
airport terminal at the Customs-area
exit where you will be met by a Backpackers
Travel staff
person holding a sign with
your name on it, who will assist you
with your luggage. A professional
driver will
take you across the Bosphorus to
the other airport offering snacks and
beverages along the way, and will help
with your luggage when you reach the
other airport. The cost is the same
for one to four persons—it's
not a per-person charge. This is a
great value-for-money service. More...
By
Taxi
There are usually Istanbul
taxis waiting
at the airport to take passengers to
the city center or the other airport.
Most of the time the trip is uneventful.
Sometimes the driver tries to charge
more than the standard fare, or takes
"the long way round." Occasionally the
driver will want to stop and usher you
into a carpet or leather apparel shop
from which he earns a commission. More...
By Metro, Tram, Ferry & Bus
If you travel from one airport to the
other by normal public transport,
it will take substantially longer,
but you'll see and experience more
of the city. It's possible
to travel via public transport from
about 06:00 am until 20:00 (8 pm)
or 21:00 (9 pm). You may not be able
easily to complete your trip by public
transport if you start your trip
after 21:00 (9 pm) until 06:00 am.
You may end up taking a taxi for
part of the way, but in any case this
would be cheaper
than taking a taxi all the way.
From either the domestic or international
terminals at Atatürk
Airport, follow
signs to the Metro "Light
rail system" (Hafif
metro) station beneath
the parking garage. (There is an underground
walkway connecting it with
both the domestic and international
terminals.)
Atatürk
Airport is the starting
point for the Havaalani (Airport)-Aksaray Metro line
(map),
so you have a good chance of getting
a seat. Here's
information about fares and
tickets.
Take the Metro in
the direction of Aksaray to the Zeytinburnu stop
and transfer to the Zeytinburnu-Kabatas
tram on the adjoining platform.
Zeytinburnu is the
tram line's starting point, so you
have a good chance of getting a seat
on a Kabatas tram.
However, some trams go only as far
as Eminönü.
From Eminönü, ferries
depart for Kadiköy, but they
do not sail as late in the evening
as those from the Karaköy dock.
If your tram stops at
Eminönü,
you can wait for a later tram to Kabatas which
will take
you across the Galata
Bridge to the Karaköy ferry
docks, or you can make the 10-minute
walk across the bridge, which gives
you good views of the Golden
Horn and
the city.
From the Karaköy tram
stop, walk east for a few minutes to
the Karaköy
ferry dock.
The ferry dock
(feribot iskelesi) is visible
from the tram stop. You may have
to use the underground pedestrian
passage to
reach it (steps only, no escalator/moving
stairway or elevator).
From the Karaköy ferry
dock, take a ferry (TL1.50,
1 hour, waiting time included) to Kadiköy. Ferries run
from
06:30 am to 00:00 (12 midnight) every
15 or 20 minutes during the morning
and evening rush hours; from 20:00
(8 pm) to 00:00 (12 midnight), ferries
depart every
30 minutes, on the hour and half hour,
with the last ferry departing
at 00:00 (12 midnight).
From Kadiköy, you take an E10
city bus to
Sabiha
Gökçen Airport.
More...
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