27. August 2025
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Istanbul Airport (IST)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport (IST)
4.4

Rating

 4.4/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very posh and modern terminal
  • Great range of shopping and services

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Public transport to the airport not yet completed
  • Long lines at free WiFi password terminal
  • Long walking routes

Istanbul Airport (IST, Turkish: İstanbul Havalimanı) opened in 2018, mainly in order to strengthen the global role of Turkish Airlines. I had some transfers there in the past, but did not really have the opportunity to check it out as a departure and arrival place. My trip to the Turkish city in May 2025 changed that. I flew into Istanbul (IST) with KLM and returned back to Germany with Turkish Airlines. Will the airport stand its strong reputation? Here is my review.

 

Istanbul Airport (IST) – Location & Transport

The airport is located in Arnavutköy Northwest of the city of Istanbul. It found a rather large area there hosting a total of five runways (four of them in the range of 4,000 meters). There is surprisingly limited Infrastructure, e.g. a hotel, right at the airport. By car, the driving distance from Taksim Square is some 38 kilometers. The driving distance is about 40 minutes without traffic issues. You should at least assume a driving time of 60 to 70 minutes, though, as the roads are typically congested.

Getting to and from the airport majorly comes with two options. Every twenty minutes, there are Metro trains (M11 line) connecting to Gayrettepe, which is located rather North of city center. That station and Kagithane right beforehand offer metro and metrobus connections into the city. The metro station is a some ten minute walk away from the terminal. The Westbound connection is expected to be extended, which would lead to more possible connections. There are also plans to create a high speed rail connection, which would then also stop at Sabiha Gökcen (SAW), the other airport of Istanbul, and the capital Ankara. The other key method are taxis. There is a taxi company founded by the airport, which leads to the situation that other companies and Uber drivers can bring passengers to the airport, but are chased away if they want to pick up people.

 

Istanbul Airport (IST) – Connections

The geographical location of Türkiye and Istanbul is quite ideal in regards of flight connections. Thus, Istanbul Airport (IST) is excellently connected throughout the world. The key focus are, of course, connections to the region and Europe. Türkiye is not banning Russia for the attacks on the Ukraine, so that there is a wide range of airlines and flights to and from Russia, including flights to Siberia.

 

Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)

After leaving the plane, the directions to border control or transfers are clearly given. There are quite some conveyor belts, which make the long distances from the gate to the plane more handy. All passengers need to follow the same route, before they are split into international transfers, domestic transfers and arrivals. The passport control at the arrivals was rather long, but the immigration check was rather efficient, so that I had to wait some 20 minutes before immigrating. In the luggage belt thereafter, there are also multiple duty-free shops, before you leave to public transportation.

 

Departing from Istanbul Airport (IST)

I arrived rather early at Istanbul Airport (IST), as I wanted to check out the airport and its facilities. The terminal feels very ample and modern. The check-in area is very well structured and comes with a couple of additional services.

As I flew Turkish Airlines Business Class, I was able to use their priority entrance and check-in lane. Especially the exclusive check-in area by the local airline is an absolute blast. After security, you reach the shopping and service paradise of Istanbul Airport (IST). You will find a wide range from typical duty-free opportunities (cigarettes, alcohol…) to very posh options. Most of the services are gathered in a central area. In the large airport, the walking distances can be rather long. From an airport lounge to more distant gates, this can be up to 15 to 20 minutes at increased walking speed until you reach your boarding place. Once you reach the gate area, there are more seating options and also facilities for younger passengers. The signage within the airside part of the terminal is good. Some facilities like lounges could be easier to spot, though.

 

Istanbul Airport (IST) – Services

As you see in the pictures, there is a wide range of stores and restaurants, especially at arrivals and airside. There are quite some water dispensers (hot water and cold water) throughout the terminal. The rental car facility is located at arrivals level. The airport offers free WiFi. However, when transferring or departing, you need to scan your boarding pass for a password. The line at these terminals are rather long. There are multiple lounges. I already took you to the Turkish Airlines Lounge Business there. There is also an airside Yotel terminal hotel as well as a small museum, which I did not check out during my visit.

 

Istanbul Airport (IST) – My View

Istanbul Airport (IST) is a modern airport. However, it comes with the downside of challenging commutes to the city and long walking distances within the terminal. Especially when you have a rather short connection time, this may be very bothering. Nonetheless, it is an impressing place and interesting to visit.

 

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