How to get from Istanbul Airport to the city center by metro — schedule and tips
Based on 1 discussion with 8 participants · Last activity: 21 days ago
TL;DR
Metro line M11 connects Istanbul Airport (ISL) to Gayrettepe station. The last train from Gayrettepe departs around 23:55. Payment is by Istanbulkart card only — no cash accepted.
What the community said
The last M11 metro train from Gayrettepe to Istanbul Airport (and back) departs at approximately 23:55. Keep this in mind when planning late-night departures or arrivals.
21 days ago M11 last train ~23:55 from Gayrettepe
When taking the metro from the city center to the airport, board the last car — upon exiting you'll see a mall with a cafeteria on the ground floor and a Carrefour supermarket on the basement level (−1).
21 days ago Last car → mall exit, Carrefour on −1 floor
Metro fares, including to and from the airport, are paid exclusively via Istanbulkart. Top up the card in advance — cash is not accepted at metro gates. One card cannot be used for two passengers; each traveler needs their own card.
21 days ago Istanbulkart only — no cash, one card per passenger
During a temporary metro closure, replacement shuttle buses were operated to the airport. However, boarding mid-route (e.g., from Sultanahmet) was unreliable — buses filled up at the first stop. It's safer to board from the route's starting point.
21 days ago Replacement shuttle: board from the first stop