The name of this airport is inherited from the world’s first female fighter aviator: Sabiha Gökçen. This Turkish woman, born in 1913, began flying in 1936 at the age of 23.
The Sabiha Gökçen airport began to be built to relieve congestion at Atatürk airport. It is used by more than 29 million passengers every year. SAW Airport is mainly an airport used by lowcost companies such as Pegasus.
Where to stay near Sabiha Gökçen Airport ?
If you want a decent hotel really close to that airport, the best option is without a doubt the one below as it is only 100 meters from the terminal :
How to get to Istanbul from Sabiha Gökçen?
Unfortunately, Sabiha Gökçen is not well located and the 50 kilometers to reach the city center are quite long. It is poorly connected by public transportation.
Here are the different means of transportation to reach the center, from the cheapest to the most expensive or, better said, from the most uncomfortable to the most comfortable :
By bus
Five public bus lines leave from the airport. Unfortunately, four of them serve the Asian part and only one arrives to the European part. This line (line E3) stops at the Levent subway station, from which you can reach Taksim in 4 stops.
The E3 line leaves the airport approximately every hour between 7:00 am and 2:30 am.
With the shuttle service
Havas offers a bus service that connects Sabiha Gökçen to Taksim Square every 30 minutes. The journey time is about one hour and the price is 13 TL (1.80 US$) per person per trip.
By cab
The price of a cab ride from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to the center of Istanbul is between 80 and 100 TL (US$13.50) Turkish TL.
With a transfer service
This is the most convenient and recommended way to get directly to your accommodation. A driver will be waiting for you at the airport with a sign with your name on it and will take you to your hotel as soon as possible. The price is €25 (US$30.70) per car (up to 4 people).
Other means of transportation
Although the airport offers other means of transportation, such as boat-bus or train, the port and train station are 15 km from the airport. Therefore, we do not necessarily recommend it.
Official website of Sabiha Gökçen Airport : https://www.sabihagokcen.aero/homepage