Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) Taxi Prices 2026: Fares, Tariff and Tips
Short answer: taxis at Ankara Esenboğa Airport run on the meter: ≈€1.15 (₺65) to start plus ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km, ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute for waiting and a minimum fare of ≈€3.50 (₺200), the same day and night (tariff in force since 1 March 2026). To Kızılay, about 30 km away, that comes to roughly €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) in normal traffic, and the drive takes about 25–35 minutes on a clear road. A private transfer to Ulus, Kızılay or Çankaya costs from €33 per vehicle for up to 6 passengers.
With no train or metro to Esenboğa, a taxi from the rank outside arrivals is the simplest way into Ankara if you haven't booked anything. The airport lies about 30 km north-east of Kızılay, though, so the meter adds up, and traffic can add more. Below: the 2026 tariff, estimated fares to 19 destinations from Ulus to Polatlı, where to find the ranks, how to pay, and when the AnkaraAir coach, bus 442 or a private transfer is the better choice.
Ankara taxi tariff (since 1 March 2026)
| Charge | 2026 tariff |
|---|---|
| Start (opening fee) | ≈€1.15 (₺65) |
| Per kilometre | ≈€0.70 (₺40) |
| Waiting time, e.g. in slow traffic | ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute |
| Minimum fare | ≈€3.50 (₺200) |
| Night rate | None: the same tariff day and night |
| Airport surcharge | None stated by the airport |
This tariff has applied since 1 March 2026; we found no later change up to early October 2026. It does not appear among the decisions of the city's transport commission (UKOME): Turkish press reports attribute it to Ankara's union of tradesmen's and craftsmen's chambers (AESOB). We could not find an official tariff document online, so these figures come from press reports. The airport says its taxis charge by the meter tariff and mentions no airport surcharge or fixed fares.
Sources — fares and timetables checked on 3 October 2026: Esenboğa Airport taxis · Ankara taxi tariff (Cumhuriyet) · Ankara taxi fares explained (Yeni Ankara) · AnkaraAir · Havaş · EGO fares · Esenboğa Airport notices
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Where to find taxis at Esenboğa Airport
Esenboğa has one terminal building with an international (Dış Hatlar) and a domestic (İç Hatlar) section. In both, the taxi rank is on the arrivals level, just outside the exits, at numbered columns:
- International arrivals: columns 24–25; the AnkaraAir coach stops at 20–21 and Havaş at 22–23.
- Domestic arrivals: columns 7–9; AnkaraAir stops at 1–2 and Havaş at 3–5.
The ranks work 24 hours a day, so you'll find a taxi even after a late landing. If there's none waiting, the airport taxi line is on 0312 398 08 97 or 98 (+90 312 398 08 97 from a foreign phone).
Estimated taxi fares from Esenboğa Airport (2026)
What the meter should show on the usual road in normal traffic, with our private-transfer prices for comparison.
| Destination | Distance (rounded) | Taxi (meter estimate) | Private transfer (from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ulus | ~25 km | ≈€19–23 (₺1,050–1,300) | from €33 |
| Keçiören | ~25 km | ≈€20–23 (₺1,100–1,300) | from €33 |
| Kızılay | ~30 km | ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) | from €36 |
| Çankaya / Tunalı Hilmi | ~30 km | ≈€22–27 (₺1,250–1,500) | from €36 |
| AŞTİ bus station | ~30 km | ≈€22–27 (₺1,250–1,500) | Price shown before you pay |
| Ankara YHT station | ~30 km | ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) | Price shown before you pay |
| Söğütözü | ~40 km | ≈€31–38 (₺1,750–2,100) | from €36 |
| Çukurambar | ~45 km | ≈€32–39 (₺1,800–2,150) | from €36 |
| Batıkent | ~40 km | ≈€29–34 (₺1,600–1,900) | from €45 |
| Bilkent | ~45 km | ≈€34–41 (₺1,900–2,300) | from €45 |
| Ümitköy | ~50 km | ≈€36–43 (₺2,000–2,400) | from €47 |
| Çayyolu | ~50 km | ≈€37–44 (₺2,050–2,450) | from €47 |
| Eryaman | ~50 km | ≈€37–44 (₺2,050–2,450) | from €47 |
| Etimesgut | ~55 km | ≈€40–48 (₺2,200–2,650) | from €47 |
| Sincan | ~50 km | ≈€39–47 (₺2,150–2,600) | from €49 |
| Gölbaşı | ~60 km | ≈€45–54 (₺2,500–3,000) | from €49 |
| Kızılcahamam | ~95 km | ≈€69–83 (₺3,850–4,600) | from €83 |
| Beypazarı | ~120 km | ≈€91–110 (₺5,050–6,050) | from €83 |
| Polatlı | ~120 km | ≈€90–110 (₺5,000–6,000) | from €110 |
How the estimates are made: the ≈€1.15 (₺65) start fee plus ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km over the usual road, with a range for the route actually taken and some slow traffic. Distances are rounded road distances without traffic. Every minute the taxi spends standing in traffic adds ≈€0.15 (₺7), so at rush hour the fare can end up above the range. The trip back to the airport is metered the same way; from some places, such as AŞTİ, the road back is a few kilometres longer. Transfer prices are per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers); the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay.
For the coaches and bus 442 to the same places, see our guides Ankara Airport to the city centre, Ankara Airport bus and Esenboğa Airport to the YHT train station.
Paying for your taxi
Ankara taxis charge in Turkish lira by the meter, and not every driver takes cards. Before you get in, make sure you have enough lira in cash to cover the fare in the table above, with a margin for traffic, or ask the driver before you set off whether you can pay by card. Pay the amount on the meter and ask for a receipt (fiş): it's useful for expenses or if anything needs sorting out later.
Tips for a smooth taxi ride
- Start at the rank. Columns 24–25 (international) or 7–9 (domestic): take the taxi at the front of the queue rather than going with anyone who offers you a ride inside the terminal.
- Check the meter. It should be switched on as you set off, starting from the start fee. If it isn't running, ask the driver to start it before you leave the rank ("taksimetre lütfen").
- Have your address ready. Keep the full address of your hotel or office on your phone, ideally with a map pin, and follow the route on a map app. A driver may take a different road to avoid traffic; if in doubt, ask.
- Luggage goes in the boot. Keep your passport, phone and valuables with you, and check the seats and the boot before you get out.
- Note the plate number. A photo of the number plate and your receipt make it much easier to trace lost property or report a problem.
- Tipping is up to you. There's no obligation to tip; rounding up the fare is entirely your choice.
Taxi, coach, bus 442 or private transfer?
For one or two people with light luggage, a taxi from the rank needs no planning and, in normal traffic, usually costs less than a private transfer. In other cases it pays to compare:
- On a budget: the AnkaraAir coach runs round the clock to Kızılay and AŞTİ for ≈€4.50 (₺250) per person, taking about an hour; Havaş goes only to AŞTİ, for ≈€4.50 (₺250). City bus 442 (≈€2.50 / ₺150) also stops in Ulus, but there's nowhere at the airport to buy the Başkent Kart it takes, so have a contactless bank card ready.
- Families and groups: per-person fares add up, and five or six people with suitcases usually need two taxis and pay two meter fares. One Mercedes Vito takes up to 6 passengers, from €36 to Kızılay per vehicle.
- Price certainty: the meter keeps running in traffic; a transfer is priced per vehicle, and the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay.
- Late arrivals and delays: taxis wait all night, but a transfer driver tracks your flight and meets you just outside the arrivals exit. Once you land, your driver contacts you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point and a short video showing the way.
- Further out: to Gölbaşı, Kızılcahamam, Beypazarı or Polatlı the meter fare climbs into the same range as a transfer, so it's worth comparing before you go.
You can see the prices for every Ankara district on our Ankara Airport Transfer page.
Going back to Esenboğa by taxi
From a hotel, the easiest way is to ask reception to call a taxi for you. The meter works the same way in both directions, so expect fares similar to those in the table. On a clear road the drive from Kızılay takes about 25–35 minutes, but rush hour can make it much longer, so leave a generous margin, especially before an international flight.
Tell the driver whether you're flying from the domestic (İç Hatlar) or the international (Dış Hatlar) section. TAV, the airport operator, has announced that from 8 October 2026 at 23:00 international bag drop moves temporarily to the domestic terminal's check-in counters (entrance doors C and D); after checking in, you walk to the international section for passport control. The change applies until further notice and the airport advises arriving earlier than usual, so check esenbogaairport.com before you travel. For check-in times and every other way to the airport, see Getting to Ankara Airport.
Rather book ahead? Our driver picks you up at your hotel, home or office at the agreed time and drops you at departures; see, for example, Kızılay to Ankara Airport or Çankaya to Ankara Airport.
Related guides: Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) · Ankara Airport to City Centre · Ankara Airport bus · Getting to Ankara Airport · Ankara Airport to the YHT station · Istanbul Airport Taxi Prices
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Esenboğa Airport to Kızılay?
About €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) on the meter in normal traffic for the roughly 30 km trip, which takes about 25–35 minutes on a clear road. At rush hour waiting time is added at ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute, so the fare can be higher. A private transfer to Kızılay costs from €36 per vehicle for up to 6 passengers.
Is there a night rate for taxis in Ankara?
No. The tariff in force since 1 March 2026 is the same day and night: ≈€1.15 (₺65) to start, ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km and ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute for waiting, with a minimum fare of ≈€3.50 (₺200). The airport mentions no airport surcharge either: its taxis charge by the meter.
Can I pay for an Ankara taxi by card?
Sometimes. Not every driver takes cards, so carry enough Turkish lira in cash to cover the fare, or ask before you get in whether card payment is possible. The meter shows the fare in lira.
Where is the taxi rank at Ankara Airport?
On the arrivals level, just outside the exits: at columns 24–25 for international arrivals and at columns 7–9 for domestic arrivals. The ranks work 24/7, and the airport taxi line is 0312 398 08 97 or 98 (+90 312 398 08 97 from a foreign phone).
Taxi or private transfer for a family?
A standard taxi is a saloon car, so a family of five or six with suitcases usually needs two taxis and pays two meter fares. One Mercedes Vito carries up to 6 passengers, from €36 to Kızılay or from €45 to Bilkent per vehicle, and the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay. Your driver meets you just outside the arrivals exit and contacts you on WhatsApp once you land.
How much is a taxi from Esenboğa to Bilkent or Çayyolu?
Bilkent is about 45 km from the airport and Çayyolu about 50 km, so expect roughly €34–41 (₺1,900–2,300) to Bilkent and about €37–44 (₺2,050–2,450) to Çayyolu on the meter in normal traffic, more at rush hour. A private transfer costs from €45 to Bilkent and from €47 to Çayyolu per vehicle.
Rather know the price before you travel?
Your driver tracks your flight, meets you just outside the arrivals exit at Esenboğa and takes you straight to your hotel or office. A Mercedes Vito for up to 6 passengers costs from €33 to Ulus, Kızılay or Çankaya, and the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay.
See transfer prices Book an Ankara transfer