How to get from Istanbul airport to your hotel: taxi, metro, or hotel transfer?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: 21 days ago
TL;DR
Airport taxis can overcharge (quoted ~2000 TRY, actual ~3000 TRY), while a Mercedes minivan hotel transfer cost 2600 TRY; the metro can shut down partway, forcing a taxi — from Gayrettepe to Sultanahmet that ran about 1300 RUB (~$15), versus 3500 RUB for a Trip.com-booked transfer.
What the community said
Took the metro from the airport, but the line was shut down at Gayrettepe station, passengers were kicked off and had to grab a taxi to Sultanahmet — cost about 1300 RUB (~$15).
25 days ago Gayrettepe → Sultanahmet, ~1300 RUB
An airport-to-hotel transfer booked via Trip.com cost 3500 RUB — pricier than catching a taxi yourself after the metro shut down.
25 days ago Trip.com transfer — 3500 RUB
An airport taxi quoted 2000 TRY on the meter, but the driver ended up charging 3000 TRY — nearly 50% more than agreed.
28 days ago Taxi: quoted 2000 TRY, charged 3000 TRY
Better to ask your hotel about a transfer upfront: a hotel-arranged Mercedes business minivan transfer cost 2600 TRY — cheaper and more predictable than hailing a taxi on the spot.
28 days ago Hotel transfer (Mercedes minivan) — 2600 TRY