Istanbul Airport, İstanbul, TurkeyHaving arrived at Istanbul I could now take the metro line downtown to get to my hotel. The new airport has been open from about 2019 but on my prior layovers the airport line had not been built so I never left the airport.
First I had to find the signage and go thru the walkways and escalators down to get to the airport metro station
There was no attendant to buy tickets only machines. Even though it had an English option it was confusing to use. It wouldnt let me buy a single ticket so I ended up buying a 10 ticket card for 225 Lira ($9 CAD)
The airport line charges two credits which I only noticed on the way back.
This is a new line and the stations had modern architecture lit up at night that I could only see thru the doors at stops.
The terminal station is Gayrettepe where you have to change to the Green Line to take you to the Sultanhamet and Fatih districts in the centre
The signage is not very clear to get to the transfer station. You have to go thru many long walkways and escalators to get to the other line
Finally I made it to the Green Line Gayrettepe Station where you have to tap another credit on your card to enter so 3 credits total one way
This is also a new line that was not here on my last visit in 2013. Istanbul has extensively built out their metro in the last decade
Finally at Vezneciler Station I had to walk a few blocks to the tram line that would take me to the Cemberlitis district where my hotel was.
See also Vlog of Airport Metro (8 mins) - https://youtu.be/SMt_F6u_mP0
2025-05-22