|
If your Istanbul
hotel is
in Beyoğlu,
near Taksim
Square, Elmadağ, Talimhane, or
in another district on the north side
of Istanbul's Golden
Horn, here's
how to travel there from Istanbul's Atatürk
Airport (IST).
By Airport Bus
Two companies operate airport
buses that connect Atatürk
Airport with Taksim
Square. If your hotel
is within an easy walk of Taksim
(as are the hotels in Elmadağ and
Talimhane),
this is a fine way to go. If, however,
your hotel is on or off İstiklal
Caddesi,
in Galatasaray,
Tepebaşı, Tünel, Harbiye, Nişantaşı or
Şişli, you may want to use a private
transfer or
a taxi. (but
see the note on Havaş buses
below.)
The airport buses depart the Arrivals
level of both the International and
Domestic terminals at Atatürk
Airport. The Taksim bus stop
is just north of Taksim
Square on the east side of Cumhuriyet
Caddesi, by the Büyükşehir
Sanat Galerisi (Istanbul
Municipal Art Gallery) (map).
The trip takes between 45 and 65 minutes,
depending upon traffic, and costs TL10
per person, one-way, payable on the bus
in cash.
Havataş
airport buses depart
both
Atatürk
Airport and Taksim
Square on the
hour and half-hour from 04:00 am
to 01:00 am (ie, no buses from
01:30 am to 3:30 am). More...
Airport buses by Havaş (a
different company with a similar name)
depart the Arrivals level of both the
International and Domestic terminals
at Atatürk Airport to Taksim
Square on the hour and
half-hour from 04:00 am to 01:00 am
(ie, no buses from 01:30 am to 3:30
am). Departures from Taksim Square
are on the hour and half-hour from
03:30 am to 01:00 am (ie, no buses
from 01:30 am to 03:00 am).
Havaş buses
do stop at Şişhane (near
Tünel Square) and Tepebaşı in
Beyoğlu, so if your luggage is walkable
you may be able to walk to your hotel
in Galatasaray, Tepebaşı, or Tünel
Square. More...
From Taksim Square, both of these
companies run buses east 42 km (26
miles) to Sabiha
Gökçen Airport on
the Asian
side of the Bosphorus. More...
Many travelers staying in Beyoğlu
prefer the comfort, convenience and
security of a private transfer
service to reach their hotel.
If your hotel is not within
an easy walk of the Taksim Square airport bus
stop, if you have three or
more people in your group, or if you have more
than two suitcases, a private transfer
is the logical way to go. More...
By Taxi
A taxi from
Atatürk
Airport to Taksim
Square may cost about TL30
to TL40
and take between 35 and 75 minutes,
depending upon the exact location of
your hotel, the weight of traffic at
the time, and the honesty (or lack
of it) of your taxi driver. First, read
about Istanbul taxis.
Taking a taxi from your
hotel—a reliable one
summoned by your hotel—is
a better bet than taking one from
the airport. More...
By Metro, Tram & Funicular
You can take the Metro right
from the Atatürk
Airport terminal to Zeytinburnu,
change to the Kabataş tram,
ride that all the way to the terminus
at Kabataş, then take
the Füniküler up the
hill to Taksim.
The entire trip may
take nearly two hours, at a cost of
TL6, but you may have to carry your
luggage up and down some stairs.
Start by following these
instructions for going
from the airport to Sultanahmet,
but don't leave the tram at Sultanahmet.
Stay on the tram to the last
stop, at Kabataş,
then take the Füniküler.
By City Bus
IETT express city bus 96T
departs Atatürk
Airport and travels along the shore
of the Sea
of Marmara stopping at the Yenikapı
Fast Ferry Terminal and Aksaray Square on
its way to Taksim Square.
This is among the most inexpensive
ways to go, but also the slowest and
least convenient.
|
