Is the metro to Istanbul Airport (IST) closed for repairs? How to get there without metro?
Based on 1 discussions with 8 participants · Last activity: 6 days ago
TL;DR
In mid-June 2026, the metro line to Istanbul Airport (IST) was closed for maintenance. The main alternative is the Havaist airport bus.
What the community said
During the metro closure, Havaist airport buses serve multiple stops across the city, not just Taksim — check the Havaist website for the stop nearest to your location.
1 day ago Havaist — city-wide stops
As of June 15, Google Maps was showing ongoing maintenance on the metro line to Istanbul Airport (IST). Always check the current status before traveling.
1 day ago IST metro — maintenance closure
Paying by bank card directly on the metro doesn't work at Istanbul Airport (IST) or on the Marmaray line. Top up your Istanbulkart in advance to avoid issues.
2 days ago Istanbulkart — top up in advance
When the IST metro is closed, the main alternative is the Havaist airport bus. Check the official Havaist website for current schedules and frequency.
3 days ago Havaist — airport bus to IST
Around June 14, reports indicated the IST metro closure was expected to last until approximately June 19. During this period, reaching the new airport by metro was not possible.
2 days ago Closure until ~June 19
From Istanbul Airport (IST) to Taksim, the Havaist bus is the most popular public transport option. Taxis are available but considerably more expensive.
2 days ago Havaist: IST → Taksim
On June 13, some travelers reported the metro was still running, with a journey to Aksaray station taking about one hour. However, information about the start of maintenance was conflicting that day.
3 days ago Aksaray — ~1 hour from IST by metro