Turkey is far better connected than most first-time visitors expect. Domestic flights are cheap and frequent, the long-distance bus network is excellent, and Istanbul has one of the better public transport systems in Europe. This is what actually works.
The two Istanbul airports
| Airport | Getting to the centre | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| IST (İstanbul Airport) | European side, ~45–60 min from Sultanahmet | Most long-haul and international carriers |
| SAW (Sabiha Gökçen) | Asian side, ~60–75 min from Sultanahmet | Mostly low-cost and domestic carriers |
Check which airport your flight uses before booking a hotel. The transfer between the two takes well over an hour in traffic, and people miss connections over it. Both connect to the metro; IST also has the high-speed line to Halkalı.
Getting around Istanbul
- İstanbulkart. Buy one at the airport or any metro station. It works on trams, metros, buses, funiculars and the public ferries — and the public ferry is one of the best-value things in the city.
- The tram and metro beat a car across the city almost all day. Traffic in Istanbul is genuinely bad; assume double the map time.
- Taxis are metered. Insist on the meter, and prefer the apps over a kerbside hail. Agreeing a fixed price up front is usually a worse deal.
- Ferries, not bridges. Crossing the Bosphorus by boat is faster and far prettier than going by road.
Domestic flights
Turkish Airlines and Pegasus cover the country, and the domestic network is one of the busiest in the world. Prices vary enormously by how far ahead you book — the same seat can cost several times more two days out than six weeks out. The distances people usually fly:
| Route | Airport | Flight time |
|---|---|---|
| Istanbul → Cappadocia | Kayseri (ASR) or Nevşehir (NAV) | ~1h 15, then 40–60 min transfer |
| Istanbul → Antalya | Antalya (AYT) | ~1h 20 |
| Istanbul → Izmir (Ephesus) | Izmir (ADB) | ~1h 10 |
| Istanbul → Gaziantep | Gaziantep (GZT) | ~1h 40 |
| Istanbul → Dalaman (Kaş/Kalkan/Bodrum) | Dalaman (DLM) | ~1h 20 |
Buses and trains
Turkey’s intercity bus network is genuinely good — modern coaches, reserved seats, frequent departures, and food stops. Overnight buses are a real option between Istanbul and the coast or Cappadocia, though a night bus is not the same as a night’s sleep. Rail is excellent where it exists (the high-speed line from Istanbul to Ankara, Konya and Eskişehir) and slow where it does not. There is no useful long-distance train to the Mediterranean or Aegean coast.
Airport transfers, honestly
This is the part of a trip where people get taken advantage of. Fixed-price private transfers booked in advance are the calmest option, particularly if you are arriving tired, late, or with someone who has just had treatment. Airports also have licenced taxi ranks and Havaist/Havas airport buses, which are cheaper. What you should be wary of is anyone approaching you inside arrivals offering a car.
Driving
Renting a car makes sense on the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts and in Cappadocia, where sights are spread out and buses are infrequent. It makes little sense in Istanbul, where parking and traffic will ruin your day. If you drive: buy the HGS toll sticker, carry your licence and passport, and note that the police can and do stop foreign-plated cars.
If your trip includes treatment
The single most useful thing we do for treatment journeys is arrange the transfers and timing so nobody has to think about them. You should not be working out how to get from Sabiha Gökçen to Nişantaşı on the day after a procedure — and if you are travelling with someone who has had surgery, tell us and we will plan the vehicles and rest stops accordingly.
Related
All guides → · Best time to visit → · Where to go →
Ask us before you book anything
If you are unsure which entry route applies to your passport, or what your clinic needs to provide, ask us — we will tell you what we know and what we cannot advise on. info@gen.gen.tr