Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) to the YHT High-Speed Train Station and Back
Short answer: no train, metro or direct bus runs from Esenboğa Airport (ESB) to Ankara's high-speed train station, called "ANKARA GAR" on YHT tickets. The easiest public option is the AnkaraAir coach (≈€4.50 / ₺250, 24/7) to its Eski Tren Garı stop, about 50 minutes, then a 6–8 minute walk; city bus 442 (≈€2.50 / ₺150) stops about 5 minutes' walk away. A taxi costs about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) on the meter. A private transfer costs from €33 per vehicle to the city centre, with the exact price to the station shown before you pay. Our advice: leave at least 2 hours 15 minutes between landing and your train.
This guide is for travellers connecting between a flight at Esenboğa and a YHT high-speed train to or from Istanbul, Eskişehir, Konya, Karaman or Sivas. The station is in central Ankara, about 30 km by road from the airport, and there is no rail link yet: a metro line went under contract in August 2026, with no opening date. Many websites still list a Havaş bus to the station, but it has been suspended by court order since 30 April 2024, and still was on 3 October 2026.
Esenboğa Airport to the YHT station: options compared
| Option | Journey time | Cost (2026) | Walk to the YHT building | Late at night | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnkaraAir coach to Eski Tren Garı | ~50 min (timetable)* | ≈€4.50 (₺250) pp | About 6–8 min | Yes, 24/7 | Solo travellers with light luggage |
| EGO bus 442 to Ankara Tren Garı | ~1 h (estimate)* | ≈€2.50 (₺150) | About 5 min | Only every 2 h from midnight to 06:00 | Tight budgets, with a contactless bank card |
| Taxi | ~25–45 min* | ≈€21–25 (₺1,150–1,400; meter estimate) | None: drops you at the station | Yes, 24/7 | Door to door without booking |
| Private transfer | ~25–45 min* | from €33 / vehicle to the city centre; exact price to the station shown before you pay | None: drops you at the station | Yes, flight tracked | Families, groups, heavy luggage, tight connections |
*On an empty road the drive takes about 25–35 minutes; at rush hour every road option, coaches and buses included, takes much longer. Walking times are without luggage. Transfer prices are per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers).
Sources — fares and timetables checked on 3 October 2026: TCDD ebilet (YHT times and fares) · TCDD ticket rules · TCDD luggage rules · TCDD notice on the Konya line · Ankara YHT station (ATG) · AnkaraAir · EGO bus 442 timetable · Havaş · Esenboğa Airport · Ankara taxi tariff (Cumhuriyet)
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Step by step: from arrivals to the station
By AnkaraAir coach
Board at columns 20–21 (international arrivals) or 1–2 (domestic) and pay the staff at the stop. Get off at Eski Tren Garı (by Gate F of the Ankara Spor Salonu sports hall, opposite the old station), the stop after AKM and before Kızılay; AnkaraAir publishes no map position, so ask the driver to tell you. From there it's about 6–8 minutes on foot, across Talatpaşa Boulevard at a signalled crossing, to the YHT building behind the historic station.
By city bus 442
Bus 442 leaves the arrivals level every 25 minutes from 06:20 to 23:00, plus 23:30, and at night only at 00:01, 02:00 and 04:00. Get off at Ankara Tren Garı on Talatpaşa Boulevard, after İlk Meclis (Ulus) and before Güvenpark (Kızılay); the YHT building is about 5 minutes' walk away. The Başkent Kart the bus takes isn't sold at the airport, and reports differ on whether cash is accepted, so have a contactless bank card ready.
By taxi
Taxis wait at columns 24–25 (international) and 7–9 (domestic). Ask for "Ankara YHT Garı", Celal Bayar Bulvarı. The meter charges ≈€1.15 (₺65) to start and ≈€0.70 (₺40) per km, day and night alike; keep some cash, as not every driver takes cards. See Ankara Airport taxi prices.
The Ankara YHT station: what to expect
YHTs leave from the Ankara YHT Garı (branded ATG, opened in 2016), the modern building right behind the historic 1937 Ankara Garı. TCDD's booking system treats both as one station, "ANKARA GAR", the name on your ticket. The address is Celal Bayar Bulvarı No:78, and the station connects to the Ankaray (Maltepe), the M4 metro (Gar) and Başkentray.
- Tickets and lockers: TCDD ticket offices and information desks are inside; left-luggage lockers are on the 1st floor, the ticket floor (Bilet Katı). No locker prices are published.
- Security: bags are X-rayed at the entrance, so allow for a queue at busy times.
- When to arrive: TCDD sets no minimum time. Our advice: be inside the station 30 minutes before departure, or 45 minutes with large bags or at busy times.
YHT trains from Ankara: destinations, times and fares
| Destination | YHTs a day (sample day 13 Oct 2026) | Journey time | Base fare from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul: Pendik / Söğütlüçeşme (Asian side) | 14, from 05:55 to 19:50 | 3 h 40–3 h 59 to Pendik; 4 h 08–4 h 36 to Söğütlüçeşme | ≈€18 (₺990) |
| Istanbul: Bakırköy / Halkalı (European side) | 2, at 16:55 and 17:25 | 4 h 39–4 h 57 to Bakırköy; 4 h 57–5 h 15 to Halkalı | ≈€20 (₺1,100) |
| Eskişehir | 15 | 1 h 16–1 h 21 | ≈€9 (₺500) |
| Konya | 6, from 06:10 to 21:15 | 2 h 16–2 h 17 | ≈€8.50 (₺485) |
| Karaman | 2 direct, at 06:10 and 15:30 | 3 h 07 | ≈€13.50 (₺750) |
| Sivas | 3, at 07:00, 13:20 and 18:40 | 2 h 29–2 h 41 | ≈€18 (₺1,000) |
TCDD ebilet timetable for Tuesday 13 October 2026; base fares are the lowest shown for one adult. Timetables change, so check TCDD before you travel. Since June 2026, works on the Polatlı–Konya line make the Konya trip longer than the 1 h 45 min many websites quote. Pendik is the closest YHT stop to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Buying YHT tickets
- Where: online at ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (switch it to English), in the TCDD Taşımacılık app, at station ticket offices or through the call centre on 444 82 33. Payment is in Turkish lira; TCDD doesn't say whether foreign cards work online, so if yours is declined, try a ticket office.
- Passport: foreign passengers enter their nationality and passport number when booking. Tickets are in your name and can't be transferred.
- On board: carry the e-ticket (also sent by SMS) and your original passport; photos or photocopies of documents aren't accepted.
- Changes: allowed up to 75 minutes before departure, with a 10% deduction.
Luggage on the YHT
Free of charge: one piece up to 65 × 50 × 35 cm, or two up to 55 × 40 × 23 cm, or two sports bags that fit the overhead rack, all for personal use. Each extra piece of the same size costs ≈€3 (₺160; 2 medium or 3 small cases at most). Oversize cases cost ≈€3 (₺160) for the first and ₺415 for the second, with a maximum of 2 per person. Liquids are limited to 2 litres per person, and bags may be searched.
How much time to allow between your flight and your train
By coach or bus, we suggest at least about 2 hours 15 minutes between scheduled landing and departure, and more at rush hour or after an international flight:
- leaving the aircraft and collecting bags: about 20–40 minutes;
- waiting for the coach and the ride: about an hour, longer in heavy traffic;
- the walk with luggage: about 10 minutes;
- station entrance, security and boarding: 20–30 minutes.
A taxi or transfer saves some road time, but not the time for bags or security. Be generous: TCDD pays nothing if you miss a train because your flight was late. If your flight is delayed, change your train online straight away, at the latest 75 minutes before departure.
From the YHT station to Esenboğa Airport
- AnkaraAir picks up at the same Eski Tren Garı stop, about 6–8 minutes' walk from the YHT building: 48 departures a day, at 01:05, 03:05 and 04:05, then from 05:10 roughly every 15–30 minutes until 22:15. Nothing leaves between 22:15 and 01:05. The ride is timetabled at 50 minutes; the fare is ≈€4.50 (₺250).
- Bus 442 to the airport stops at Ankara Spor Salonu on Hipodrom Caddesi, about 6 minutes' walk away. EGO publishes times only for its start at AŞTİ, a few stops earlier: at night 01:00, 03:00 and 05:00, by day every 25–30 minutes until 22:55.
- Taxi: the station lists a taxi rank; expect about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) to the airport in normal traffic.
Arriving late from Istanbul? On our sample day the last three YHTs reached Ankara at 22:51, 23:27 and 23:56, after the last AnkaraAir coach at 22:15, with the next not until 01:05. For these trains, a taxi from the rank or a pre-booked transfer is the realistic option.
Flying abroad? 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 (doors C and D) until further notice; check esenbogaairport.com and see Getting to Ankara Airport.
Private transfer for groups, luggage and tight connections
With a family, a group or big suitcases, per-person fares soon add up. Your driver tracks your flight and meets you just outside the arrivals exit; once you land, they contact you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point and a short video showing the way. A Mercedes Vito takes up to 6 passengers, from €33 per vehicle to the city centre; the exact price to the station is shown before you pay. To the airport, your driver picks you up at the station at the agreed time and drops you at departures. Book on our Ankara Airport Transfer page or call +90 544 102 1414 (24/7).
Related guides: Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) · Ankara Airport to the city centre · Ankara Airport bus · Ankara Airport taxi prices · Getting to Ankara Airport
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Ankara airport to the train station?
Take the AnkaraAir coach (≈€4.50 / ₺250, 24/7) to its Eski Tren Garı stop opposite the old station, then walk about 6–8 minutes to the YHT building behind it. City bus 442 (≈€2.50 / ₺150) stops at Ankara Tren Garı on Talatpaşa Boulevard, about 5 minutes' walk away. A taxi costs about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400) on the meter, and a private transfer drops you at the station.
Is there a direct bus from Esenboğa Airport to the Ankara YHT station?
No. Havaş used to run one, but its service between the airport and the YHT station has been suspended by court order since 30 April 2024 and was still suspended in October 2026, although many websites still list it. AnkaraAir and bus 442 both stop a few minutes' walk from the station.
How long does it take from Esenboğa to the YHT station?
AnkaraAir's timetable allows about 50 minutes to Eski Tren Garı, plus a 6–8 minute walk; bus 442 takes roughly an hour. By taxi or transfer the 30 km drive takes about 25–35 minutes on an empty road, but much longer at rush hour.
How much time should I leave between my flight and my train?
We suggest at least about 2 hours 15 minutes between landing and departure, and more at rush hour or after an international flight, to allow for collecting bags, the coach ride, the walk and station security. TCDD gives no refund if you miss a train because your flight was late, but you can change your ticket up to 75 minutes before departure for a 10% deduction.
Where do I buy YHT tickets?
Online at ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (available in English), in the TCDD Taşımacılık app, at the station ticket offices or through the call centre on 444 82 33. Foreign passengers enter their passport number when booking and must carry their original passport on board. The Ankara station is listed as ANKARA GAR.
How do I get from Ankara train station to the airport late at night?
AnkaraAir's last evening coach leaves Eski Tren Garı at 22:15, and the next at 01:05, then 03:05 and 04:05; bus 442 runs only every two hours at night. Late YHTs from Istanbul (22:51, 23:27 and 23:56 on our sample day) miss the last coach, so take a taxi from the station rank, about €21–25 (₺1,150–1,400), or pre-book a transfer that picks you up at the station.
Catching a train straight after your flight?
Your driver tracks your flight, meets you just outside the Esenboğa arrivals exit and takes you and your luggage to the YHT station. Once you land, they contact you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point. A Mercedes Vito for up to 6 passengers costs from €33 to the city centre, and the exact price to the station for your date and time is shown before you pay.
See transfer prices Book an Ankara Airport transfer