Here on this page, you’ll find detailed information and answer to the most common question “How to get from New Istanbul Airport (IST) to city center by metro?”. We put together all the up-to-date information about the construction works of the New Istanbul Airport Metro lines, opening date, integration with other metro and metrobus lines, etc.

Istanbul Airport Metro Line FAQs

Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro Line M11

Kagithane-Istanbul Airport metro line M11 was put into service on January 22, 2023.

The Gayrettepe section of the M11 metro line will be operational in mid-April 2023 and finally the whole line will be operational.

With the M11 Istanbul Airport metro line, New Istanbul Airport (IST) can be reached in 24 minutes from Kagithane, 12 minutes from Gokturk, 45 minutes from Esenler, 41 minutes from Taksim, 33 minutes from Zincirlikuyu and 35 minutes from 4.Levent.

The M11 Istanbul Airport Metro is the quickest and easiest way to get to the city center, as well as the best value.

The metro will pass through 7 stations along Kagithane, Eyupsultan and Arnavutkoy districts.

The M11 Kagithane-Istanbul Airport metro line is 34 kilometers in total with 7 stations.

It is now Turkey’s fastest metro at 120 kilometers per hour.

The train comes every 8 minutes, from 06:00am to 23:59pm and will get you to the Kagithane in about 27 minutes.

Quick Info

• Duration: 27 minutes
• Frequency: 8 minutes
• Operating Hours: 06.00-24.00
• Line Length: 34 km

Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro Line M11 Stops

• Kagithane
• Universite-Hasdal​​​
• Kemerburgaz
• Gokturk
• Ihsaniye
• Istanbul Airport
• Cargo terminal

For travelers carrying luggage, services like Bounce, a trusted luggage storage network, can be a great solution. By utilizing Bounce’s secure storage facilities, visitors can freely explore the city without the burden of heavy bags.

Pricing

M11 metro fare is 9.90 TL at short distance, and 12 TL for the longest distance.

Traveling between Istanbul Airport to city center by M11 Metro Line

For those who want to get to top tourist zones of Istanbul such as Taksim, Besiktas, Galata, Karakoy, Sultanahmet and Kadikoy, you should work out which is the most convenient route. The nearest metro line for Kagithane station is the Mecidiyekoy stop of the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line.

Majority of the tourists arriving to Istanbul for sightseeing and city break mostly stay at hotels in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Galata, Besiktas and Kadikoy districts and neighorhoods.

While Istanbul is a major destination for medical tourists in the world, those who are visiting Istanbul especially for rhinoplasty, plastic surgeries, and hair transplant in Turkey mostly stay at hotels located in Taksim, Nisantasi, Sariyer on the European side, Atasehir and Kadikoy on the Asian side.

Getting to Taksim by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman Metro Line
• Get off at Taksim station (2 stops/5 minutes from Mecidiyekoy)

You’ll get to Taksim from Istanbul Airport by M11 metro line and with transfers about 45 minutes.

You can also get to Taksim directly by public buses from Kagithane.

Getting to Besiktas by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the Public Bus directly to Besiktas

You can also get to Besiktas directly by public buses from Kagithane.

Getting to Sultanahmet by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the M2 Yenikapi – Haciosman Metro Line
• Get off at Taksim station (2 stops/5 minutes from Mecidiyekoy)
• Take the F1 Taksim – Kabatas Funciular line to Kabatas
• Take the T1 Kabatas – Bagcilar Tram line
• Get off at Sultanahmet stop (7 stops/20 minutes from Kabatas)

You’ll get to Sultanahmet from Istanbul Airport by M11 metro line and with transfers about 1 hour.

Alternatives: You can also get to Yenikapi by M2 Metro and from there join M1A metro line to get Aksaray (1 stop). From Aksaray take the T1 Kabatas – Bagcilar Tram line and get off at Sultanahmet stop.

Getting to Bakirkoy by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the Metrobus (Municipality Fast Bus)
• Get off at Bakirkoy station

Alternatives: You can also get to Yenikapi by M2 Metro and from there join M1A metro line to get Bakirkoy.

Getting to Kadikoy by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the Metrobus (Municipality Fast Bus)
• Get off at Unalan station on the Asian side
• Take the M4 Kadikoy – Sabiha Gokcen Airport Line
• Get off at Kadikoy station

Alternatives: You can also get to Sogutlucesme by Metrobus from Mecidiyekoy and from there you can walk to Kadikoy.

Getting to Atasehir by Istanbul Airport Metro

• Take the M11 Kagithane – Istanbul Airport Metro
• Get off at Kagithane station (24 minutes)
• Take the M7 Yildiz – Mahmutbey Metro Line
• Get off at Mecidiyekoy station (2 stops/5 minutes from Kagithane)
• Take the Metrobus (Municipality Fast Bus)
• Get off at Sogutlucesme station
• Take Public Bus or taxi

Alternative to Metro: Private Shuttles

If you are a group or a family with kids or having lots of luggage with you, than we highly recommend you to take private shuttle transfers for your hotel as they offer a fixed rate, comfortable and safe transfer that include meet-and-greet airport pickups and luggage assistance to your hotel from the airports or vice versa.

The Metro or HAVAIST airport shuttles will drop you off at the city center and you’ll need to take a taxi or walk from there again which will harder for you with your kids and luggage. But private transfers drives you just to the entrance of your hotel.

Book your Private Shuttle

Check out and book your transfer from the below best and cheapest options