On a map, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) look connected by clean highways and neat transit lines. In real life, moving between them feels less like a city transfer and more like a stress test. Two airports. Two continents. One city where traffic writes its own rules.
We see this mistake a lot. Travelers land at IST with a few hours to spare, search IST to SAW, and assume any option will work. Metro. Bus. Taxi. Google Maps says it’s fine. Then traffic builds near the Bosphorus, a connection slips, and suddenly the margin is gone.
According to recent discussions on TripAdvisor and Reddit, most missed flights on this route come down to one thing. People choose the cheapest or “technically possible” option instead of the most predictable one.
Istanbeautiful Team insight: “This isn’t a sightseeing route. It’s a logistics decision. Treat it like one.”
There is no single perfect way to travel between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. The best option depends on when you’re traveling, how much luggage you have, and how much risk you can tolerate. A route that works beautifully at 2 am can completely fail at 5 pm. And a route that feels fine with a backpack can feel exhausting with suitcases.
In our guide, we’ll walk you through every realistic way to get from IST to SAW and from SAW to IST. We’ll explain what works consistently, what only works on paper, and where first timers usually lose time.
You’ll see why Havaist IST to SAW is often the safest middle ground, when a taxi or private transfer actually makes sense, and why public transport combinations are best treated with caution.
At a Glance: IST to SAW
- Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport are far apart. The distance is about 85 km, and travel time matters more than distance on this route.
- Havaist HVİST-13 is the most predictable public option between the two airports. It runs day and night and is designed specifically for airport-to-airport travel.
- Taxis and private transfers can be the fastest choice late at night or early morning, but daytime traffic often removes that advantage.
- Public transport combinations are the cheapest option, but they involve multiple transfers and long walking sections. They work only if you have plenty of time and light luggage.
- Traffic, not transport, is the real risk. Bosphorus crossings and peak hours can double travel time without warning.
- The SAW to IST direction often feels harder than the other way around, especially during daytime travel from the Asian side.
- For international flights, leaving at least 4.5 hours before departure from the other airport is a safe baseline.
Quick picks: choose your IST to SAW route
If you’re short on time, this section is for you. Most searches for IST to SAW or Sabiha Gökçen to Istanbul Airport happen with a clock ticking. So let’s cut through the noise and match routes to real situations.
Safest option when timing matters
If you have luggage, a tight connection, or zero patience for surprises, Havaist IST to SAW is usually the safest call.
The HVİST-13 line is built for airport-to-airport travel. One vehicle. One route. Fewer decisions.
According to Havaist’s official information, the estimated journey time is around 120 minutes for the 85 km route, which makes expectations clear from the start.
Istanbeautiful Team advice: “When missing a flight is not an option, choose predictability over speed.”
Fastest option at the right hours
A taxi or private transfer from IST to SAW can be the fastest choice late at night or very early morning. Roads are quieter. The Bosphorus crossings move. During daytime, especially afternoon and early evening, this option becomes risky fast. Traffic does not scale politely.
No Regrets Booking Advice
Cheapest option, with a warning
Public transport combinations are the cheapest way to travel between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Metro, Marmaray, buses. They work. But they stack transfers, walking, and waiting. TripAdvisor forum posts often describe this option as doable but draining, especially with suitcases.
Worst option for short layovers
Anything with multiple transfers and tight margins. If your layover is under four hours, avoid routes that depend on perfect timing. One delay is all it takes.
A simple rule that helps
If you value certainty, choose Havaist or a private transfer. If you value cost and have time, public transport can work. If you value speed, timing decides everything.
Option 1: Havaist IST tı SAW (HVİST-13), the most predictable transfer
If you want one option that was built for this exact job, it’s Havaist IST to SAW. The HVİST-13 line connects Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) directly. No city detours. No mid-route decisions. You get on, settle in, and stay put until the other airport.
What this route looks like
- Line code: HVİST-13
- Distance: 85 km
- Estimated time: 120 minutes under normal conditions
Luggage goes underneath. Seats are comfortable. The pace is steady. According to the official hava.ist information, this line is designed for airport-to-airport demand, not commuters. That design choice shows.
Istanbeautiful Team note: “For airport transfers, fewer decisions beat faster promises.”
Departure times you can actually plan around
From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), Havaist HVİST-13 operates throughout the day and night. Early departures start shortly after midnight at 00:10, with frequent services in the morning and steady spacing through the afternoon and evening at 22:55 final, making it suitable for both early flights and late-night transfers.
From Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul Airport (IST), the schedule follows a similar pattern. Services begin around midnight at 00:00, run regularly during the morning rush, and continue at consistent intervals until late evening at 22:30 final. This balance makes Havaist SAW to IST a dependable option regardless of departure time.
These times make Havaist SAW to IST viable even for early flights.
When Havaist shines and when it doesn’t
Choose Havaist if you value certainty, carry luggage, or have a connection you can’t miss. TripAdvisor and Reddit threads consistently point to this route as the least stressful IST to SAW transfer.
Skip it only if traffic is unusually light and you’re traveling late night with a private car ready.
Option 2: Taxi or private transfer
A taxi from Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport sounds like the obvious shortcut. Door to door. No waiting. No schedules. And at certain hours, it really does work beautifully.
The problem is that this route doesn’t forgive bad timing.
When taxis actually work well
Late at night or very early morning, a taxi or private transfer IST to SAW can be the fastest option. Roads are quieter. Bosphorus crossings move. Travel time can drop closer to 75 to 90 minutes, sometimes even less.
Private transfers add predictability here. Fixed pricing. Flight tracking. No meter anxiety if traffic suddenly thickens.
Istanbeautiful Team insight: “Taxis are great when Istanbul is asleep. During the day, the city decides.”
When taxis become a gamble
Between late morning and early evening, traffic builds fast. The Bosphorus crossings become choke points. A trip that looked fine on Google Maps can double in time without warning.
Metered taxis don’t pause pricing when traffic pauses movement. That’s not a scam. That’s how meters work. Reddit threads often show frustration here, usually tied to daytime travel with tight margins.
Cost expectations and access reality
Costs vary widely depending on traffic and route. Tolls may be added. Private transfers cost more upfront but remove uncertainty.
Both options still face one truth. Distance doesn’t equal time on this route. The city stretches or compresses the journey depending on the hour.
Who should choose this option
Choose a taxi or private transfer if you’re traveling late night, early morning, or with a group that values simplicity over cost. It’s also a solid choice if your layover timing is generous and you want a single decision.
Who should think twice
If you’re traveling during peak daytime hours or cutting timing close, this option becomes risky. In those windows, Havaist IST to SAW usually wins on predictability.
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Option 3: Public transport combinations
Yes, you can travel between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport using only public transport. Metro lines, Marmaray, city buses. On paper, it looks efficient. In practice, this is the option that asks the most from you.
What the full route really involves
There is no single public transport line connecting the two airports. Any public route means multiple transfers, usually across different systems. Most combinations start with the M11 metro from Istanbul Airport, then move through M2, Marmaray, get off at “Ayrılık Çeşmesi” and finally take M4 metro connection toward Sabiha Gökçen.
Each transfer works on its own. The challenge is stacking them. You walk. You wait. You tap in and out. And timing starts to matter more with every step.
How long it actually takes
In ideal conditions, total travel time can land around 2.5 to 3 hours. That’s when connections line up and crowds are manageable. Add luggage, peak hours, or a missed connection, and the journey stretches quickly.
TripAdvisor forum discussions describe this route as doable but exhausting. Many travelers mention that it felt longer than expected, even when everything technically worked.
Istanbeautiful Team honesty: “This route works when you have time, energy, and nothing to lose.”
When public transport makes sense
Choose this option only if you have a long layover, light luggage, and a flexible schedule. It can be a good fit for budget-focused travelers who are already comfortable with Istanbul’s transit system.
When to avoid it
If your connection time matters, or if missing a flight would cause real problems, this is not the route to test. Too many moving parts depend on everything going right.
The realistic takeaway
Public transport combinations are possible. They are not forgiving.
From Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) to Istanbul Airport (IST)
On paper, going from SAW to IST looks like the same journey in reverse. In reality, many travelers find this direction more stressful. The reason is simple. Traffic patterns work against you, especially during daytime hours.
What changes on the way back
Sabiha Gökçen sits on the Asian side. Reaching Istanbul Airport means crossing into Europe, usually via one of the Bosphorus crossings. In the morning and late afternoon, those crossings slow down fast. A delay here affects everything that comes after it.
This is why travelers often say the SAW to IST trip feels longer, even when distance is the same.
Istanbeautiful Team observation: “People plan the outbound carefully and underestimate the return. That’s where stress sneaks in.”
Best options by time of day
Early morning departures work well with taxis or private transfers. Roads are clearer, and travel time stays closer to estimates.
Daytime and evening travel favors Havaist from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul Airport. The schedule is steady, and expectations are realistic. You know the route will take time, but you’re not guessing which road will clog next.
Public transport combinations remain possible, but this direction adds more risk. Miss one connection, and recovery time is limited.
How early should you leave SAW?
For international flights from Istanbul Airport, leaving Sabiha Gökçen at least 4.5 hours before departure is a safe baseline. If you’re traveling during peak traffic windows, add more buffer. Cutting it close rarely ends well here.
The mindset that helps
Treat this as a flight connection, not a city ride. Choose the option that removes decisions and absorbs delays.
Common first-timer mistakes on the IST and SAW airport transfer
Most problems on the Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport route don’t come from bad luck. They come from reasonable assumptions that don’t hold up once you’re on the road.
Trusting Google Maps too literally
Google Maps is useful, but it often shows best-case travel times. On this route, best case and real life rarely match. Traffic near Bosphorus crossings can double travel time without warning. Travelers on Reddit often mention planning based on optimistic estimates and watching their buffer disappear.
Treating this like a normal city transfer
This is not a hotel-to-hotel ride. It’s an airport-to-airport connection across a very large city. Planning it like a short commute is how stress creeps in.
Choosing cost over certainty
Public transport looks attractive on paper. It’s cheaper. It’s logical. But every transfer adds risk. Miss one connection and you don’t just lose minutes, you lose control. TripAdvisor discussions frequently point out that saving money here often costs peace of mind.
Ignoring luggage reality
Transfers with stairs, long platforms, and crowded vehicles feel very different with suitcases. Many travelers realize too late that what worked with a backpack doesn’t scale with rolling luggage.
Underestimating the return trip
People plan carefully for IST to SAW and relax on SAW to IST. This is backward. Traffic patterns often make the return harder. Leaving without enough buffer is one of the most common mistakes we see.
The pattern that keeps repeating
Travelers who arrive calmly planned for delays, not speed.
Common Traveler Questions
Is there a direct shuttle between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport?
Yes. Havaist operates a direct airport bus service between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the HVİST-13 line. It is the only public transport option designed specifically for airport-to-airport travel.
How long does it really take from IST to SAW?
In normal conditions, expect around 2 hours. Traffic, weather, and time of day can stretch that. Late-night trips are often faster. Daytime travel can take longer, especially near Bosphorus crossings.
Is a taxi faster than Havaist?
Sometimes. Late at night or early morning, a taxi or private transfer can be faster. During the day, traffic often removes that advantage. Many travelers choose Havaist IST to SAW because the timing is more predictable.
Can I use the metro or public transport instead?
Yes, but it involves multiple transfers and long walking sections. This option works best only if you have plenty of time, light luggage, and no pressure to catch a flight. Most first timers find it tiring.
What if my layover is short?
If your layover is under 4 hours, avoid routes with multiple transfers. Choose Havaist or a private transfer. Anything else leaves very little margin for delays.
Is the SAW to IST direction harder?
Often, yes. Crossing from the Asian side to the European side during peak hours adds risk. Leaving earlier than feels necessary is the safest approach.
Which option do locals recommend?
Locals usually choose based on timing. Late night means taxi. Daytime means Havaist. Public transport is used only when time is flexible.