How to Get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Avcılar
Istanbul Airport is about 50.8 km north-east of Avcılar on the European side, with no Bosphorus bridge required. Depending on traffic and mode, the journey takes roughly 60 minutes by car to 110 minutes by metro and Metrobus.
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Compare Terminal Car Prices⚠️ Important Local Taxi & Arrival Tips
- Ignore taxi touts inside Arrivals; always use the official taxi rank outside or BiTaksi/İTaksi to book a licensed metered taxi.
- Make sure the meter is running from the official start amount; do not accept a fixed Avcılar price from a taxi driver.
- Pay for Havaist and metro only with Istanbulkart or a contactless bank card; don't buy tickets from people outside machines.
- No Bosphorus bridge toll applies to Avcılar, so refuse any driver who tries to add one.
Frequently Asked Questions
The cheapest route is M11 metro plus Metrobus, costing about €1.30 per person with Istanbulkart. The direct Havaist HVIST-9 coach is a little more at €4.40 but much simpler.
Yes, Havaist HVIST-9 departs from Platform 9 on floor -2 and stops at Avcılar before continuing to Bahçeşehir. The fare is 245 TRY, about €4.40, and luggage goes in the hold.
A metered taxi takes about 60 minutes in normal traffic and costs roughly €45-€65 depending on the car class and traffic. Avcılar is on the European side so there is no Bosphorus bridge toll.
The M11 metro runs about 06:00-00:00 and has no night service. At night use an official taxi or a pre-booked private transfer, which both run on demand.
Havaist coaches and the metro accept contactless bank cards or Istanbulkart. Taxis prefer card but confirm before the ride; private transfers can be paid online when booking.
Yes for families or travellers with lots of luggage; a private transfer meets you in arrivals and takes about 60 minutes door to door, avoiding the metro transfer and local leg.
More transfers from Istanbul Airport (IST)
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