How to Get from Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) to the City Centre
Short answer: there is no train or metro to Esenboğa, so you go by road. The AnkaraAir coach runs round the clock to Kızılay and the AŞTİ bus station for ≈€4.50 (₺250), taking about an hour. Havaş (≈€4.50 / ₺250) goes only to AŞTİ, and city bus 442 (≈€2.50 / ₺150) is the cheapest, but there is nowhere at the airport to buy its Başkent Kart. A taxi to Kızılay takes 25–45 minutes and costs about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) on the meter. A private transfer to Ulus, Kızılay or Çankaya is from €33 per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers, fixed price).
Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) is about 28 km by road north-east of Kızılay, the centre of Turkey's capital. There is still no rail link: contracts for a metro line to the airport were signed in August 2026, but no opening date has been announced. That leaves two airport coaches, one city bus, taxis and private transfers. Kızılay, Ulus and AŞTİ are well served by public transport; Çankaya, Bilkent and Çayyolu are easier by car.
Esenboğa Airport to the city: all options at a glance
| Option | Journey time | Typical cost (2026) | Changes | With luggage | Late at night | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnkaraAir coach | ~60 min on average | ≈€4.50 (₺250) pp | None to Kızılay or AŞTİ | Good | Yes, 24/7 | Kızılay, the railway station area, AŞTİ |
| Havaş coach | ~45 min to AŞTİ | ≈€4.50 (₺250) pp | None to AŞTİ; metro onwards | Good | Meets every arriving flight | AŞTİ and onward intercity buses |
| EGO bus 442 | ~1 h to Kızılay | ≈€2.50 (₺150) | None to Ulus, Kızılay or AŞTİ | Fair, city bus | Only every 2 h from midnight to 06:00 | Budget travellers, Ulus |
| Taxi | ~25–45 min to Kızılay* | ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400; estimate) | None | Good | Yes, 24/7 | Door to door without booking |
| Private transfer | ~25–45 min to Kızılay* | from €33 / vehicle | None | Best, space per vehicle | Yes, flight tracked | Families, groups, business trips, Çankaya, Bilkent, Çayyolu |
*On an empty road the drive to Kızılay takes about 23 minutes; rush hour can make it much longer, for coaches and buses too. Private-transfer prices are fixed per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers) when you book; taxi fares are metered.
Sources — fares and timetables checked on 2 October 2026: Esenboğa Airport · AnkaraAir · Havaş · EGO bus 442 timetable · EGO fares · Ankara taxi tariff (Cumhuriyet)
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Where each option leaves from
Esenboğa has one terminal building with separate international and domestic sections. Everything leaves from the arrivals level, just outside the exits, at numbered columns:
- International arrivals: AnkaraAir at columns 20–21, Havaş at 22–23, taxis at 24–25.
- Domestic arrivals: AnkaraAir at columns 1–2, Havaş at 3–5, taxis at 7–9.
- Bus 442: also from the arrivals level; EGO lists its first stop at the domestic terminal (İç Hatlar).
Option 1: the AnkaraAir coach
AnkaraAir, formerly BelkoAir, is the only airport coach through the city centre. It calls at Pursaklar, Aydınlıkevler, AKM (the Atatürk Cultural Centre), Eski Tren Garı opposite the old railway station and Kızılay (outside the Gama business centre, opposite Güvenpark), ending at AŞTİ. Coaches run 24 hours a day, leaving according to demand rather than to a timetable, and take about an hour on average. The fare is ≈€4.50 (₺250) per person whenever you travel. Pay the staff at the stop or buy online in advance; the open ticket is valid for 72 hours.
Option 2: the Havaş coach to AŞTİ
Havaş runs only to AŞTİ, Ankara's intercity bus station, via Pursaklar and the Ankamall shopping centre. It doesn't stop in Kızılay or Ulus, and its service to the YHT high-speed train station has been suspended by court order since 30 April 2024, although some websites still list it. A coach runs for every arriving flight, takes about 45 minutes and costs ≈€4.50 (₺250) per person. From AŞTİ, the Ankaray metro line runs to Kızılay (≈€0.70 / ₺40 with a Başkent Kart, slightly more by contactless bank card).
Option 3: EGO city bus 442
Bus 442 is the cheapest way into town and the only public transport to Ulus. It runs via Pursaklar, Hasköy and Dışkapı to İlk Meclis in Ulus, the railway station on Talatpaşa Boulevard, Güvenpark in Kızılay and AŞTİ, taking roughly an hour to Kızılay, for ≈€2.50 (₺150). It runs round the clock, but from the airport only at 00:01, 02:00 and 04:00 during the night, then every 25 minutes from 06:20 to 23:00, plus 23:30.
The catch is paying. The bus takes the Başkent Kart, Ankara's transport card (formerly AnkaraKart), but there is no Başkent Kart seller at the airport: none of EGO's official card dealers is there. The airport operator says cash and bank cards are also accepted on board, while some recent reports say cash isn't, so have a contactless bank card ready.
Option 4: taxi
Taxis wait outside arrivals around the clock (columns 24–25 international, 7–9 domestic) and charge by the meter. Since 1 March 2026 Ankara's tariff has been ≈€1.15 (₺65) to start plus ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km, with a minimum fare of ≈€3.50 (₺200); waiting time, for example in slow traffic, costs ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute, day and night alike.
As a guide, expect about €19–23 (₺1,050–1,300) to Ulus, ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) to Kızılay, ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) to the YHT station, ≈€22–27 (₺1,250–1,500) to Çankaya or Tunalı Hilmi and ≈€22–27 (₺1,250–1,500) to AŞTİ. Heavy traffic pushes these estimates up; Bilkent and Çayyolu, 40–45 km away, cost a good deal more. Keep some cash handy, as not every driver takes cards.
Option 5: private transfer
A private transfer has a fixed price per vehicle agreed when you book, so traffic and a delayed landing don't change it. Your driver tracks your flight, meets you just outside the arrivals exit, helps with your luggage and drives you to the door. Once you land, your driver contacts you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point and a short video showing the way. A Mercedes Vito seats up to 6 passengers with luggage; larger groups can book a Sprinter.
In the centre, Ulus is from €33, Kızılay from €36 and Çankaya from €36; further out, Bilkent is from €45 and Çayyolu from €47. It suits families, groups, late arrivals, business trips and anywhere the coaches don't reach. See every destination on our Ankara Airport Transfer page.
Where exactly are you going?
- Kızılay: the heart of modern Ankara and its main transport hub, about 28 km from the airport. AnkaraAir stops opposite Güvenpark, bus 442 at Güvenpark itself.
- Ulus: the old centre near the citadel, about 25 km away. Bus 442 stops at İlk Meclis on Ulus Square; neither coach goes there.
- Çankaya and Tunalı Hilmi: the embassy district and the cafés around Kuğulu Park, south of Kızılay, about 30 km away. Nothing runs there directly: take a coach or bus to Kızılay and a short taxi ride, or go door to door.
- AŞTİ: the intercity bus station is the last stop for both coaches and bus 442.
- Ankara YHT station: the high-speed train station on Celal Bayar Boulevard, right next to the historic Ankara Gar and linked to the Ankaray, the M4 metro and Başkentray. AnkaraAir's Eski Tren Garı stop and bus 442's station stop are a few minutes' walk away; with a train to catch, leave plenty of time.
- Bilkent and Çayyolu: university and residential districts south-west of the centre, about 40 and 45 km away (roughly 40 minutes on an empty road). By public transport you'd change to the M2 metro in Kızılay; with luggage, a taxi or transfer is far simpler.
Back to the airport
AnkaraAir has 48 departures a day to the airport; from Kızılay they leave at 01:00, 03:00, 04:00 and 05:05, then every 15–25 minutes until 22:10, with later departures timed around flights. Havaş leaves AŞTİ every 30 minutes from 05:00 to 22:00, plus five night runs between 01:00 and 04:30. Bus 442 leaves AŞTİ about every 25 minutes by day, but only every two hours at night.
Flying abroad? 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); you then walk to the international section for passport control. The airport advises arriving earlier than usual; no end date has been announced. You can book your return with your arrival on our Ankara Airport Transfer page.
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Frequently asked questions
Is there a metro or train from Ankara Esenboğa Airport?
No. In 2026 there is no metro, Başkentray or other rail service to Esenboğa. Contracts to build a metro line to the airport were signed in August 2026, but no opening date has been announced, so for now you travel by coach, city bus 442, taxi or private transfer.
How far is Esenboğa Airport from Kızılay?
About 28 km by road. On an empty road the drive takes around 23 minutes, but allow longer at rush hour. The AnkaraAir coach takes about an hour on average, and bus 442 roughly the same.
Does the Havaş bus still go to Ankara train station?
No. Havaş's service between the airport and the Ankara YHT high-speed train station was stopped by court order on 30 April 2024, and Havaş now runs only to the AŞTİ bus station. For the train station, take the AnkaraAir coach to its Eski Tren Garı stop or bus 442 to the station on Talatpaşa Boulevard, or a taxi for about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400).
Can I buy a Başkent Kart (AnkaraKart) at the airport?
No. There is no Başkent Kart seller at the airport: none of EGO's official card dealers is there. You don't need the card for the AnkaraAir or Havaş coaches. On bus 442 the airport operator says cash and bank cards are accepted, but some recent reports say cash isn't, so have a contactless bank card ready.
How much is a taxi from Ankara Airport to Kızılay?
About €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) on the meter in normal traffic. Ankara taxis charge ≈€1.15 (₺65) to start and ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km, plus ≈€0.15 (₺7) a minute for waiting, and the same rate applies day and night.
What's the best way into Ankara late at night?
The AnkaraAir coach runs 24 hours a day and Havaş meets every arriving flight, but bus 442 leaves only every two hours between midnight and 06:00. Taxis wait outside arrivals all night, and a private transfer tracks your flight, so a late landing is no problem.
Landing late or heading straight to a meeting?
Your driver tracks your flight, meets you just outside the Esenboğa arrivals exit and takes you straight to your hotel or office in Kızılay, Çankaya, Bilkent or anywhere else in Ankara at a fixed price agreed in advance.
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