Flights to İstanbul
Plan Your Trip
İstanbul
| Airport of arrival: | Sabiha Gokcen International Airport |
| Flight time from London to Istanbul: | 3 hours 50 minutes |
| Flight time from Amsterdam to Istanbul: | 3 hours 25 minutes |
| Flight time from Berlin to Istanbul: | 2 hours 50 minutes |
Istanbul embodies the unique characteristics of both the occidental and oriental world, functioning as a bridge in between two continents of Asia and Europe. It has been regarded as one of the top attraction points in terms of the city’s geopolitical importance throughout the history. Today, it continues to draw thousands of visitors from all over the world with its special historical background, cultural mix and centrality in the world as a transport hub. Istanbul is very well connected to the rest of the world with frequent and affordable flights offered by Pegasus Airlines.
Transportation
Pegasus Airlines provides direct and indirect flights destined to Istanbul through a vast number of connections. There are over 100+ domestic and international direct flights to Istanbul that makes the city easily accessible.
You can follow up with special deals and book your ticket in advance in order to benefit from the seasonal promotions offered by Pegasus Airlines.
About the Airport
Pegasus Airlines connects Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport with various flights from different places in the world. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is among the two main airports of the city. It is located on the Asian part and within easy reach from the center.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is named after the first female fighter pilot in the world, Sabiha Gokcen who died in 2001. The airport became operational the same year. It is situated at Pendik which is about 40 km away from Kadikoy and 50 km away from Taksim. The airport terminal incorporates many facilities including ticket sale offices at departures floor for both domestic and international flights. The total passenger capacity of the airport has been increased up to 41 million after the recent inclusion of new domestic terminal.
Transport from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport to the City Center
The airport is accessed by car, public transport, taxi or shuttles. There are multiple public transport options including the metro and public bus that operate between various destinations. The timetables and bus routes can be reached online.
Metro
İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro, which was opened on 2 October 2022, is one of the most convenient ways to reach the İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport. This metro line is a part of the Kadıköy-Tavşantepe metro line, which was extended to the airport with four more stops.
The passengers can reach İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport metro line from the central metro connection points such as Kadıköy and Taksim.
- Passengers from Kadıköy can take the Kadıköy-Tavşantepe metro line from the first stop.
- Passengers from the European side can take the metrobus line and transfer to Kadıköy-Tavşantepe at Ünalan.
- The other option for transfer for the passengers from the European side is to take the Marmaray line and transfer to Kadıköy-Tavşantepe from the Ayrılıkçeşmesi stop.
- Additionally, there is a connection stop at Kurtköy from where the passengers can transfer to the Üsküdar-Çekmeköy metro line.
These connection stops make it easy to reach İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport without spending much time in traffic.
Bus
Bus E-3 operates between Sabiha Gokcen Airport and 4th Levent. Number E-9 departs from Bostanci, E-10, E-11 and SG-1 connects Kadikoy to the Airport. You can get to Taksim by taking SG-2 line. It is also possible to get to the airport by using Kadikoy-Tavsantepe Metro line. You have to get off at Soganlik stop and take one of the 16-S or E-10 buses. Since the metro is extended from Kartal to Tavsantepe, you can also get to the airport by taking a taxi from Pendik stop at the metro.
Marmaray
If you are coming from the European side, you should take the Marmaray stop from the nearest place (Kazlicesme, Yenikapı, Sirkeci) to cross to Anatolian side and get off at the Ayrilik Cesmesi stop and follow the path described above.
Havabus shuttle operates from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to various points in Kadikoy and Taksim. They provide service from 03.30 am to 01.00 am. Havabus routes and departure times are available online.
Alternatively, you can book a taxi or consider car rental services offered by Pegasus Airlines for a faster solution.
Public Transport
Istanbul is among the world’s biggest cities and there are vast amount of options to get from one place to another depending on your departure point. Traffic can get a bit hectic in the city especially during the rush hours. Hence, it is strongly advised that you plan your trip a couple of hours in advance.
You can benefit from discounted fares with IstanbulKart which is the travel pass used for city transportation. IstanbulKart can be purchased from various vending points and kiosks in the city. It is used in bus, metrobus, metro, funicular as well as Havabus shuttles.
Accommodation
Where you should stay in Istanbul depends on many factors. If you wish to be close to the historical center Sultanahmet as the old town comes up among the top choices. It is within easy reach from the main highlights of the city even though it means the area is pretty touristic. You can find a variety of accommodation choices around Sultanahmet. Alternatively, you may opt for Beyoglu which is a very lively quarter close to the major attractions and trendy places of the city.
If you would like to have our assistance while organizing your trip you can book your hotel through Pegasus Airlines.
Food
Turkish culinary culture is famous for its rich diversity. You cannot end your trip without tasting the traditional delicacies in Istanbul. Simit, börek, pide, lahmacun, kofte, midye dolma and Adana kebap are some of the famous food you must definitely try. You can cherish your day with some sweets such as baklava, kunefe, halka tatli or Turkish delight.
You can have a look at Istanbul Food Guide for more suggestions about all the flavors.
Useful Information
Below you can find some information that will be helpful for planning your trip to Istanbul.
About Visa
Citizens of foreign nationalities who wish to travel to Türkiye for tourism or commerce purposes can utilize electronic visa system to get their e-visas online from anywhere in the world. The applications can be processed through filling in the required information and paying the visa fee. Please be aware that there are some exemptions depending on your country of origin. The countries whose citizens are allowed to travel to Türkiye with their ID cards are listed online.
Neighboring Cities
You may consider visiting the nearby places if you’ll have time left after discovering the major highlights of Istanbul.
- Bursa (91 km)
- Sakarya (122 km)
- Edirne (215 km)
- Canakkale (237 km)
Weather
Istanbul is characterized with the transitional Mediterranean climate. Although the city forecasts sunny and hot summers, the winters tend to be pretty cold. The temperatures may fall to freezing degrees in cold winter days and heavy snowfall paralyses the city traffic. Precipitation is likely to be the highest during autumn and winter months.
Essential Numbers
- Country Code: +90
- Istanbul European Area Code: 212
- Istanbul Asian Area Code: 216
- Airport Contact: +90 216 588 88 88
- Emergency Line: 112
- Airport Shuttle Service: +90 444 26 56
Places to see
There are numerous places to visit in Istanbul which require a good amount of time and energy. The city represents a fusion with many famous historical and contemporary spots.
Topkapi Palace, Basilica Cistern, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus, Galata Tower are among the top tourist attractions. There are also a variety of options for those who rather want to experience different facets of Istanbul with many shopping malls, art galleries and restaurants scattered around the city. You can have a look at Istanbul Travel Guide for further details on places to visit.
