Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen to Üsküdar

Üsküdar sits on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, directly across the water from the old city, and it is mostly a residential district with a lively ferry pier. Sabiha Gökçen is on the same side of the strait. Istanbul Airport is not, so every trip from IST crosses the Bosphorus by rail tunnel or by bridge.

Your Options at a Glance

Rail prices are per person, one way, on the anonymous Istanbulkart that visitors buy; the card itself costs ≈€3 (₺165). *Rail times start when you board the first train: add the walk to the platform and up to 15 minutes' wait. Road times assume free-flowing traffic. The private-transfer price is per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers), depends on the date and pickup time and is shown before you pay.

From Istanbul Airport by Rail: M11 and Marmaray

Since 20 June 2026 the M11 metro runs from the airport to Halkalı, where it meets the Marmaray, the commuter line that passes under the Bosphorus. That gives Istanbul Airport its first rail link to the Asian side, and Üsküdar is one of its stops.

1. M11 to Halkalı (33 minutes): follow the metro signs from arrivals down to the M11 and take a train towards Halkalı, not Gayrettepe. Trains run every 15 minutes, from about 06:14 to 00:29.
2. Marmaray towards Gebze: at Halkalı, walk a few minutes to the Marmaray platform. Halkalı to Ayrılık Çeşmesi takes about 43 minutes and trains run every 15 minutes. The line calls at Yenikapı and Sirkeci, dives under the Bosphorus and surfaces at Üsküdar, one stop before Ayrılık Çeşmesi, so allow about 40 minutes on the Marmaray.
3. Walk to the pier: the Üsküdar waterfront and the ferry piers are close to the station, about 450 m on foot.

What a Visitor Pays

Transfer discounts and exit refunds apply only to Istanbulkarts registered to a Turkish ID or residence permit. On a visitor's anonymous card every ride is a full fare, and the M11 and Marmaray gates charge the line's maximum with no refund: ≈€0.85 (₺47.89) on the M11 and ≈€1.50 (₺82.17) on the Marmaray, about €2.50 (₺130) in total. The card costs ≈€3 (₺165) at the station machines, and one card can pay for a group if each person taps it in turn. More in our Istanbulkart guide.

Last Trains and Weekend Nights

On weekdays the last Marmaray towards Gebze leaves Halkalı at 23:28, so leave the airport by about 22:45. On Friday and Saturday nights extra Marmaray trains leave Halkalı every 30 minutes until 01:28, which lets the last M11 (about 00:29) connect. There is no overnight M11, so after that you need a taxi or a booked transfer. Full timetable in our M11 guide.

From Istanbul Airport by Road

The drive is about 50–55 km. Off-peak it takes 55–75 minutes; on weekday mornings and late afternoons it can pass 90 minutes, with slow points at Hasdal, the bridge approaches, Kavacık and Altunizade. The driver chooses between the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge on the TEM motorway and the 15 Temmuz Martyrs Bridge, depending on which is flowing better when you leave.

Taxi: taxis wait outside arrivals around the clock. A yellow taxi's meter should come to a little less than the fare to Kadıköy, which is ≈€46–58 (₺2,550–3,200) in normal traffic, and slow traffic adds a time charge. The Bosphorus bridge toll of ≈€1.05 (₺59) is paid on top of the meter. There is no night rate. A rule making card terminals mandatory in taxis takes effect on 16 November 2026, so until then keep some cash. More in our Istanbul Airport taxi prices guide.

Havaist coach: no Havaist line goes to Üsküdar. The nearest is the HVL-6 to Kadıköy (≈€9.50 / ₺515, about 2 hours), which stops at Acıbadem Metro, from where the M4 and the Marmaray are two short hops away. That is three vehicles for one trip, so for Üsküdar the train or a car is simpler.

From Sabiha Gökçen by Rail: M4 and Marmaray

The M4 station is part of the airport complex and signposted from arrivals. The airport is the end of the line, so every train from its platform runs towards Kadıköy.

1. M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi: it is the second-to-last stop, about 50 minutes from the airport. Trains run from 06:00 to 23:59, every 5–6 minutes in the day, and every 30 minutes all night on Friday and Saturday (00:30–05:30) at double fare.
2. Marmaray one stop to Üsküdar: change at Ayrılık Çeşmesi and board a train towards Halkalı. Üsküdar is the next station and the pier is about 450 m from it.

A visitor pays the flat M4 fare of ≈€0.85 (₺46.20), plus up to ≈€1.50 (₺82.17) at the Marmaray gate, because anonymous cards pay the line's maximum even for one stop. It is still the cheapest option by far, but the M4 is a long line and the stations are deep, so with large suitcases at rush hour a car is easier. More in our M4 guide.

From Sabiha Gökçen by Road

This is the easy direction. Sabiha Gökçen and Üsküdar are both on the Asian side, so there is no bridge and no ferry. The distance is about 30–35 km and the drive takes 40–55 minutes off-peak, or 60–90 minutes on weekday mornings and evenings, with slow stretches around Kozyatağı, Göztepe, Ümraniye and the approach to Altunizade.

A yellow taxi's meter comes to about €32–43 (₺1,800–2,400). If the driver takes the TEM motorway, a toll of ≈€0.90 (₺49) is added. The same card-terminal rule applies from 16 November 2026. Our Sabiha Gökçen taxi prices guide has the details.

Private Transfer to Üsküdar

A private transfer costs from €55 per vehicle from Istanbul Airport and from €53 per vehicle from Sabiha Gökçen, not per person. The vehicle is a Mercedes Vito for up to 6 passengers with luggage; larger groups can book a Sprinter, and a V-Class VIP is available. Child seats are available on request. The exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay, and there is no extra charge for traffic or flight delays.

Your driver speaks English, tracks your flight and waits just outside the arrivals exit. Once you have landed, they send you the exact meeting point and a short video on WhatsApp (24/7 line: +90 544 102 1414). After a long flight, that beats working out two metro lines and a hillside walk. See the fixed route pages for Istanbul Airport to Üsküdar and Sabiha Gökçen to Üsküdar, or compare all fares on the transfer prices page.

Where You Arrive in Üsküdar

Üsküdar has fewer hotels than the old city. You will find a handful near the pier and the main square, business hotels around Altunizade, and small guesthouses in the Bosphorus neighbourhoods of Kuzguncuk, Beylerbeyi and Çengelköy. If you are still choosing where to sleep, our where to stay in Istanbul guide compares the districts and their airport times.

• Pier square: buses and pedestrians fill the area in front of the mosque, so the car may stop a few metres away on a side street. Give your hotel's exact name or address.
• Kuzguncuk and Çengelköy: the lanes are narrow and steep, and the drop-off is often on the shore road with a short walk uphill.
• Altunizade: business hotels usually allow a stop at the entrance.

Tell your hotel your landing time, especially in a small guesthouse where the desk may not be staffed round the clock. Choosing between the two airports? Sabiha Gökçen is much closer to Üsküdar by road, as we explain in Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen.

What to Do Near the Pier

• Ferries: at the time of writing, Şehir Hatları boats leave the Üsküdar pier for Eminönü, Karaköy, Kabataş and Beşiktaş, so the old city is a short crossing away. Routes, times and fares change, so check the current timetable on the Şehir Hatları site before you go. A ferry is a good way to reach Eminönü and Sirkeci or Karaköy and Galata without a bridge queue.
• Mihrimah Sultan Mosque: the mosque on the hill above the pier was designed by Sinan and completed in 1548. The smaller Şemsi Paşa Mosque stands almost at the water's edge beside it. As in any working mosque, cover your shoulders and knees, take your shoes off and avoid prayer times.
• Maiden's Tower (Kız Kulesi): the small tower on an islet just off the shore is a restaurant and viewing platform. At the time of writing the museum ticket was about 27 euros for foreign visitors, with the boat from the Salacak shore or from Karaköy paid separately. Opening hours vary, so check the current hours and price before you plan around it.
• Tea gardens: the seafront promenade has simple tea gardens where locals drink çay and watch the ferries cross. Arriving about an hour before sunset gives the best light on the old city skyline across the water.

Back to the Airport

For Sabiha Gökçen, reverse the rail route: Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then the M4, which starts at 06:00. For Istanbul Airport, take the Marmaray to Halkalı and then the M11; the first M11 trains leave the airport at about 06:10, so check the timetable for an early flight. For a dawn departure or heavy bags, book the pickup in advance with Üsküdar to Istanbul Airport or Üsküdar to Sabiha Gökçen, and allow extra time for morning traffic.

Sources — checked on 22 October 2026: M11 timetable (TCDD) · Marmaray timetable (TCDD) · Marmaray fares (TCDD) · Metro Istanbul (M4) · Havaist timetable · Şehir Hatları · İBB taxi tariff (PDF) · KGM bridge tolls (PDF) · Maiden's Tower (istanbul.com)
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.

Related guides: Istanbul Airport to Kadıköy · Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy · Istanbul Airport metro M11 · Sabiha Gökçen metro M4 · Istanbulkart guide · Istanbul Airport to Eminönü and Sirkeci

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