Istanbul Airport to Laleli, Aksaray & the Grand Bazaar

Laleli and Aksaray sit on the western side of Fatih, on the T1 tram line, a short ride or walk from the Grand Bazaar. Many visitors come here to shop, and they often arrive with an empty suitcase and plan to leave with a full one. That changes what matters: how easily you can get bags on and off, how late you can arrive, and which day of the week the Bazaar is open. This guide covers the routes from Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen, the last stretch on foot or by tram, and how to avoid the outdated advice that still circulates online.

Istanbul Airport to Laleli and Aksaray: All Options at a Glance

Times for the rail routes are our own estimates from the line timetables. Fares are approximate and change; the private transfer is priced per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers) and the exact price is shown before you pay. Taxi figures are for a standard yellow taxi on the meter, before tolls.

Havaist HVL-1: The Direct Coach to Aksaray

The HVL-1 leaves from platform 12 on the transport level of the terminal, which you reach by escalator from arrivals. It calls at Nurtepe Viyadük, Ayvansaray and Ulubatlı and ends at Aksaray Metro, about 90 minutes later. At the time of writing there are about 31 departures a day, roughly every 40 minutes, and the line also runs at night. The fare is ≈€8.50 (₺470) with an Istanbulkart or the Havaist app, or ≈€10.50 (₺590) with a contactless bank card. Cash is not accepted. Two medium bags go in the hold free of charge; each extra bag costs ≈€2 (₺120). Check the Havaist timetable before you travel, because lines and times change.

At Aksaray, the T1 tram stop is about 5 minutes on foot, and the T1 stop Laleli-İstanbul Ü. is about 760 m (roughly 10 minutes) from the M1A station. Many hotels in both districts are within a few minutes of these stops, but with heavy bags the last stretch is the weak point of this option. If your hotel is on a quiet side street, a taxi from the coach stop for the final kilometre is often worth it.

Do not confuse HVL-1 with the Sultanahmet line, HVL-13, which ends at Çatladıkapı below the old town and is the wrong coach for Laleli. For the full line and timetable details see our Havaist guide.

By Rail: Two Routes From the M11

M11 and M2 to Vezneciler

1. Buy an anonymous Istanbulkart (≈€3 / ₺165) at the machines in the M11 station under the terminal. A visitor card gets no transfer discount, so each ride is charged in full.
2. Ride the M11 to Gayrettepe, about 30 minutes, and change to the M2 towards Yenikapı.
3. Get off at Vezneciler-İstanbul Ü., six stops later. From there it is about 350 m (5 minutes) to the T1 stop Laleli-İstanbul Ü.

The two rides cost ≈€1.70 (₺94) in total on a visitor card. The change at Gayrettepe means a long walk down to deep platforms, which is awkward with a large suitcase. On weekdays the last M2 leaves Gayrettepe at about 00:12 and the M11 does not run all night, so late arrivals need another option.

M11, Marmaray and M1A

1. Take the M11 in the other direction, to Halkalı (about 33 minutes; the M11 has run there since 20 June 2026).
2. Change to the Marmaray towards Gebze and get off at Yenikapı, which comes before Sirkeci.
3. Change to the M1A and ride one stop to Aksaray.

On a visitor Istanbulkart the Marmaray gate takes the line's highest fare, ≈€1.50 (₺82.17), with no refund at the exit, and the M11 and M1A are charged separately. Trains on this route leave Halkalı about every 15 minutes. The end station of the M1A is called Atatürk Havalimanı, but that is just the name of the stop at the end of the line; there are no flights there (see below).

By Car: Taxi or Private Transfer

The road from Istanbul Airport to Laleli is about 45 km. Outside the rush hours expect 40 to 60 minutes, and up to 75 minutes or more on busy weekday mornings and evenings. One route runs via the O-7 and the TEM motorway, which suits Aksaray and Laleli well, and the driver chooses between routes depending on traffic.

A private transfer from Istanbul Airport to the Fatih district, which includes Laleli and Aksaray, starts from €48 per vehicle. The driver waits just outside the arrivals exit, and after you land sends the exact meeting point and a short video on WhatsApp. Our drivers speak English, track your flight, and there is no extra charge for traffic or flight delays. A Mercedes Vito takes up to 6 passengers with luggage; larger groups travel in a Sprinter, and a V-Class VIP is available too. See the Istanbul Airport to Fatih transfer for the live price.

A yellow taxi starts at ≈€1.30 (₺71.94) plus ≈€0.85 (₺47.92) per km, with a minimum fare of ≈€4 (₺230) and no night rate. Tolls are extra. Our estimate for the Sultanahmet run, which is a little farther than Laleli, is ≈€40–52 (₺2,250–2,900). Card terminals become mandatory in taxis on 16 November 2026, but until then carry some lira. Ignore anyone in the terminal who offers a flat fare, and use the official taxi line outside the arrivals exit.

Hotel drop-off

Around Beyazıt Square, parts of the streets are closed to general traffic, and loading and unloading is allowed between 20:00 and 10:00. In the daytime you may be dropped at the edge of the zone and walk the last few hundred metres. Laleli and Aksaray streets are busy with delivery vans from early morning, so give the driver your hotel's exact address and phone number when you book. The driver can usually stop at the entrance or on the nearest corner.

From Sabiha Gökçen to Laleli and Aksaray

Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, so every route crosses the Bosphorus. There is no airport coach to Laleli, but the rail route is well suited to Aksaray:

1. Take the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi (21 stops, about 44 minutes).
2. Change to the Marmaray towards Halkalı and ride under the Bosphorus past Üsküdar and Sirkeci to Yenikapı.
3. Change to the M1A and ride one stop to Aksaray.

Allow about 1 h 30 for the whole journey by our estimate. On a visitor card the Marmaray gate charges up to ≈€1.50 (₺82.17), and the other rides are charged on top. Check the last trains of the Marmaray and M1A before a late arrival: the M4 runs all night on Fridays and Saturdays, but you also need the onward lines.

By road the distance is about 40 km, and a private transfer from Sabiha Gökçen to the Fatih/Sultanahmet area starts from €59 per vehicle. Typical times are 50 to 75 minutes outside the rush hours, longer when the Kozyatağı and Göztepe stretch is congested. The Eurasia Tunnel exit is close to Kumkapı and Aksaray, so for hotels here it is hard to beat. On the meter, the tunnel adds ≈€6 (₺330) by day and a Bosphorus bridge ≈€1.05 (₺59) per crossing. Our estimate for a taxi to Sultanahmet is ≈€40–52 (₺2,200–2,900) plus tolls. See the Sabiha Gökçen to Fatih transfer for the live price. Our guide to Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet has more detail on the rail and taxi options.

If you are choosing between the two airports for this district, Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen compares them.

Getting to the Grand Bazaar

The nearest tram stop is Beyazıt-Kapalıçarşı on the T1 (Kapalıçarşı means "Covered Bazaar"). From Laleli-İstanbul Ü. it is one stop towards Kabataş, and the T1 runs from 06:00 to midnight, every 2 minutes at peak times. If you prefer to walk, the Bazaar is about 1.2 km, around 16 minutes, from the Laleli-İstanbul Ü. stop.

Walking times are approximate, measured on OpenStreetMap walking routes at about 5 km/h.

The Grand Bazaar is closed on Sundays. At the time of writing it opens Monday to Saturday, roughly from 08:30 to 19:00, and it also closes on the first day of the religious holidays, so check the hours before a special trip. If you land on a Saturday evening or Sunday, plan the Bazaar for Monday. The Spice Bazaar in Eminönü is reported to open on Sundays, which makes it an option for that day; see Istanbul Airport to Eminönü and Sirkeci for the area.

Arriving With Empty Bags, Leaving With Full Ones

• Arrival day. Have your hotel's exact address ready, and avoid the Marmaray and metro changes with large suitcases. The HVL-1 and a private transfer both take the bags off your hands.
• Extra bags on Havaist. Beyond two medium bags, the HVL-1 charges ≈€2 (₺120) per extra bag. For three or four people, a private vehicle often costs about the same as everyone's coach fares and ends at the hotel.
• Telling us about luggage. When you book, give the number of people and large bags. A Vito suits a small group with several suitcases, and a Sprinter suits a larger party. Child seats are available on request.
• The way back. Airline baggage allowances apply to what you carry home, so check them before you buy. For a return, see Fatih to Istanbul Airport. For an international flight our Fatih page suggests a pickup about 4 to 4¼ hours before departure.

Atatürk Airport Is Closed to Passengers

Some older travel guides and forum posts still tell you to land at "Atatürk" and take the M1A metro into the city. That no longer applies. Atatürk Airport has been closed to passenger flights since 6 April 2019, when scheduled flights moved to the new Istanbul Airport. If your ticket says IST, you land at Istanbul Airport; if it says SAW, you land at Sabiha Gökçen. The M1A metro still ends at a station called Atatürk Havalimanı, but that is only the station name. See what Atatürk Airport is used for today if a route on a website mentions it.

Back to the Airport

• HVL-1 from Aksaray Metro. It runs through the night to Istanbul Airport (at the time of writing at 00:15, 01:45, 03:15 and 04:30, then about every 40 minutes by day). Check the Havaist app for the current timetable.
• Metro. From Vezneciler, the M2 to Gayrettepe and the M11 to the airport. The first trains start around 06:00, so rail suits a late-morning flight, not a very early one.
• Private transfer. Book it together with your arrival, and the driver will be at your hotel at the agreed time.

Staying near the old town instead? Read Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet. For a full comparison of districts, see Where to Stay in Istanbul.

Sources — checked on 22 October 2026: Havaist timetable · TCDD Taşımacılık (M11 and Marmaray) · Metro Istanbul (T1) · Metro Istanbul (M2) · Metro Istanbul (M4) · Istanbulkart fares · İBB taxi tariff (PDF) · Istanbul Airport
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.

Related guides: Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet · Havaist airport bus · M11 Metro from Istanbul Airport · Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet · Atatürk Airport · Istanbul Airport to Eminönü & Sirkeci

Frequently asked questions