Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Şişli transfer

Route at a glance

Şişli is about 41.2 km from Sabiha Gökçen Airport by road. In light traffic the drive takes around 45 minutes; at weekday rush hour allow up to 75 minutes. The longest stretch is on the D-100 (E-5) highway, and the Bosphorus is crossed via the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. A private transfer is priced per vehicle and fixed when you book; the smallest car starts at €39. Istanbul Airport is closer to Şişli (38.6 km), which is worth knowing if you can choose your flight.

Sabiha Gökçen to Şişli: over the bridge and into the centre

From Sabiha Gökçen to Şişli the car heads west on the D-100 (E-5), crosses the 15 July Martyrs Bridge on the O-1 ring road and stays on it to Zincirlikuyu, then on to Mecidiyeköy. Because the car barely leaves the motorway before reaching the centre, the route is very direct.

The bridge is the main factor here. Early in the morning and late at night the trip is fast; on weekday afternoons both the bridge approach and the Zincirlikuyu–Mecidiyeköy stretch slow down. Conference hotels and business centres in Şişli are usually reached via roads running parallel to the main avenue.

• If you land between 17:00 and 20:00, bridge traffic can lengthen the trip.
• Groups coming for meetings or events can choose a minibus or a larger vehicle.
• The M4 metro plus Marmaray is a public transport option, but changing with luggage is awkward.

Your ride, step by step

1. Meet & greetYour driver waits in the arrivals hall, facing the exit from baggage claim, holding a sign with your name on it.
2. On the road41.2 km, ~45 min off-peak. The route crosses the Bosphorus, so bridge traffic sets the pace.
3. Drop-offYour driver drops you at your address in Şişli.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Şişli: your options

Which way to Şişli?

1. Abdi İpekçi Caddesiabout 1.8 km
2. D-100 (E-5) highwayabout 23.2 km
3. O-1 ring roadabout 9.3 km

The Bosphorus is crossed via the 15 July Martyrs Bridge. Source: OpenStreetMap. The road may change with traffic; the price does not.

Good to know

• Arrivals usually come in over the Mecidiyeköy viaduct; Halaskargazi Caddesi is congested for most of the day on weekdays.
• Passport queues can build up when several charter and low-cost flights land together; your flight is tracked, so there is no need to rush.
• Asian-side areas such as Kadıköy, Ataşehir or Pendik are far quicker to reach from SAW than the European side, which is worth bearing in mind when picking a hotel.

Going back: when to leave Şişli for the airport

Time to leave before departure (quiet – rush hour). Your airline's advice comes first.

Which airport is closer?

Arriving in Şişli

Şişli is a dense urban centre strung along Halaskargazi Caddesi, mixing hospitals, office blocks, shopping malls and consulates. The area began to develop in the late Ottoman period and today also draws attention for the hotels and residences around the converted Bomonti brewery.

Highlights: Bomonti Bira Fabrikası, Atatürk Müzesi, Cevahir Alışveriş Merkezi.

Şişli area guide and all transfer options ›

Hotels in Şişli

Frequently asked questions