Sabiha Gökçen Airport Arrival Guide: Passport Control, SIM Cards, Money and Transport
Short answer: at Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) international passengers go through passport control, collect their bags and clear customs; domestic passengers go straight to baggage claim. The arrivals floor has Türk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone shops, ATMs, exchange offices open 24/7 and free Wi-Fi, and the M4 metro station is reached from the terminal. A Turkcell tourist SIM costs ≈€32 (₺1,800), and the M4 to Kadıköy costs ≈€0.85 (₺46.20) with an Istanbulkart. A private transfer to Kadıköy is from €53 per vehicle.
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Sabiha Gökçen is Istanbul's second airport, on the Asian side near Pendik, and many low-cost flights land there in the evening or after midnight. This guide follows the arrival in order, then covers what most visitors sort out on the spot: e-visa and passport basics, a SIM or eSIM, cash, Wi-Fi, left luggage and where each way into the city leaves from.
Step by step: from the aircraft to the arrivals exit
- Passport control (international flights): have your passport ready. The e-passport fast gates are for Turkish citizens aged 12 and over with chip passports, so foreign visitors use the staffed desks. When several flights land together, allow extra time here.
- Visa desk: a visa desk in the arrivals hall serves the nationalities that can get a visa on arrival. Many travellers need an e-visa applied for online before the trip, so check the official e-Visa site and the Foreign Ministry's visa regime list for your passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your permitted stay.
- Baggage claim: your belt number is on the screens. Domestic passengers come here directly, without passport control.
- Customs: if you have goods to declare, use the customs desk to the left of the exit; otherwise walk straight through.
- Arrivals exit: the terminal is a single building with separate domestic and international halls. If you booked a private transfer, your driver meets you just outside the arrivals exit. Once you land and switch your phone on, the driver messages you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point and a short video showing the way.
Ignore ride offers inside the building: licensed taxis wait at the official rank, and a pre-booked driver contacts you only by WhatsApp.
Where to find it at SAW
| Service | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SIM shops | Arrivals floor: Türk Telekom, Turkcell, Vodafone | Opening hours are not published |
| ATMs | Arrivals and departures, landside and airside (30 in all) | Thirteen banks; check the fee on screen |
| Currency exchange | International baggage claim hall and the greeters' hall; also departures | Open 24/7 |
| Bank branch and post office | Arrivals floor (Yapı Kredi branch, five days a week; PTT) | Branch open five days a week |
| Wi-Fi | Whole terminal | Free; SMS code |
| Left luggage | International corridor of the arrivals floor | Priced per day, paid on collection |
| Car rental | Arrivals floor | Open 24/7 |
| Pharmacy and first aid | Departures floor (international landside) | Pharmacy 24/7; first-aid unit 24 h |
| M4 metro | Station reached from the terminal | Three entrances: car park, hotel, terminal |
SIM card or eSIM
The arrivals floor has Türk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone shops. You need your passport. Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Pack is listed at ≈€32 (₺1,800) for 20 GB over 28 days. Türk Telekom's tourist package prices leave out the one-off charges for a new line: ≈€12.50 (₺700) in special communication tax plus a ≈€6 (₺323.81) radio licence fee, paid upfront. These are operator-wide figures, not airport prices, and we could not confirm that every SAW shop stocks every pack, so ask for the total, SIM and taxes included, before you hand over your passport.
If you prefer an eSIM, Turkcell and Vodafone both offer one, and Turkcell lets you apply online before you travel. Keeping your home SIM or a foreign travel eSIM needs no registration: a phone brought from abroad can be used for 120 days. Registering it for longer on a Turkish line costs ≈€975 (₺54,258), which only matters on a long stay.
Money: ATMs and exchange offices
There are 30 ATMs from thirteen banks across the terminal, so cash is easy to get. A bank ATM is usually better value than an exchange desk; check the fee on the screen, and if a machine or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, choose lira. The exchange offices work around the clock, including in the greeters' hall and the international baggage claim hall, but change only what you need at once. Carry some lira in cash for taxis: card payment in taxis becomes mandatory only on 16 November 2026.
Free Wi-Fi
The airport describes its Wi-Fi as free and unlimited for all passengers. Connect to the "Free Wi-Fi" network, enter your name, surname and mobile number, then type in the SMS verification code. You therefore need a number that can receive a text, so switch on roaming or fit a Turkish SIM first. An older entry in the airport's FAQ still mentions one free hour; if the connection drops, simply log in again. Unlike Istanbul Airport, no passport kiosk is listed for SAW.
Left luggage and lost baggage
The left-luggage office (Bagaj Emanet Bürosu) is in the international corridor of the arrivals floor, and you pay per day on collection. The airport publishes no prices; phone the operators on +90 212 588 88 02 or +90 534 571 84 75 to ask.
If your checked bag does not arrive, report it at your airline's ground handler before you leave the baggage hall. Items lost in the terminal building go to the Lost & Found office on the departures floor, staffed on weekdays 08:00–23:30. Storage there costs ≈€0.95 (₺53.08), ≈€1.30 (₺70.93) or ≈€1.90 (₺105.71) per day (small, medium, large) on days 2–3.
Where each way into the city leaves from
- Private transfer: just outside the arrivals exit, at the point your driver sends on WhatsApp after you land. Drivers speak English, and the price is per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers), not per person.
- M4 metro: the station is inside the airport complex and reached from the terminal. It runs to Kadıköy in about 52 minutes. See our M4 guide.
- Havabüs coaches: to Taksim (about 1.5 hours) and Kadıköy (about 60 minutes). Our earlier checks put the stop opposite the arrivals exit, but neither the airport nor Havabüs publishes a plan, so follow the signs or ask staff. See the Havabüs guide.
- İETT buses: the E-10 night bus to Kadıköy and the E-3 to 4. Levent also serve the airport. Lines such as 16S, E-9 and E-11 no longer have İETT route pages, so do not plan around them.
- Taxis: the cooperative SAWKOOP works 24/7 on +90 216 588 12 35 or +90 552 552 4 552. The official rank is outside arrivals; there is no night rate, and tolls are added to the meter. See taxi prices.
- Airport hotel: the Sabiha Gökçen Airport Hotel (128 rooms) is next to the terminal. Sources disagree on how to reach it, either a short walk or a shuttle, so ask at the information desk.
The table below compares the usual routes to Kadıköy and Taksim.
| Option | To Kadıköy | To Taksim | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4 metro | ~52 min, ≈€0.85 (₺46.20) per person | Not direct; change on the Marmaray or ferry | Solo travellers, Asian side |
| Havabüs | ~60 min, ≈€5.50 (₺300) per person | ~90 min, ≈€8.50 (₺485) per person | Taksim on a budget, daytime |
| Taxi (meter estimate) | ≈€32–41 (₺1,800–2,300) | ≈€39–50 (₺2,150–2,800) + bridge toll | One or two people, no booking |
| Private transfer | from €53 per vehicle | from €57 per vehicle | Families, groups, late arrivals |
Havabüs fares are with an Istanbulkart; a contactless bank card costs more (≈€10.50 / ₺590 to Taksim). Taxi fares are meter estimates in normal traffic. Private transfers are priced per vehicle; the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay.
Istanbulkart at SAW
Visitors get the anonymous Istanbulkart, which costs ≈€3 (₺165) with no credit on it. Our previous checks found the machines in the M4 station; the airport publishes no plan, and the card price is the figure we last confirmed, so check the machine screen. Anonymous cards get no transfer discount and no exit refund, so every leg costs the full fare, ≈€0.85 (₺46.20) on the M4. One card can pay for several people: each of you taps it in turn. A single-ride ticket or a contactless bank card on the metro costs ≈€1.15 (₺65). Havabüs coaches take no cash. With a card, the Havabüs to Taksim costs ≈€8.50 (₺485) rather than ≈€10.50 (₺590). Our Istanbulkart guide has the full rules.
Landing late
The M4 runs until 23:59 on most nights. On Friday and Saturday nights it runs every 30 minutes from 00:30 to 05:30 at a double fare of ≈€1.65 (₺92.40). Havabüs coaches leave until about 01:30 to Kadıköy (to Taksim the last coach is at 00:30 on İETT's timetable, though havabus.com also lists 01:00 and 01:30). The E-10 night bus to Kadıköy costs ≈€1.65 (₺92.40) and leaves at 00:15, 01:05, 02:25 and 03:30 on weekdays and Sundays, with no Saturday trips. On other nights, there is no scheduled public transport between about 03:30 and 05:30, so a taxi or a pre-booked transfer is the realistic choice. See the night arrivals guide.
Which option suits you
Solo or light luggage, Asian side: the M4 is the cheapest and most predictable route to Kadıköy. Taksim on a budget in daytime: the Havabüs. Two people with bags: a taxi is quick, though the meter varies with traffic. Families, groups, heavy luggage, late or early flights: a private transfer. Your driver tracks your flight, so there is no extra charge for traffic or flight delays, child seats are available on request, and you can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before pickup. You can see the exact price before you pay on the Sabiha Gökçen transfer page, for example Kadıköy, Taksim or Sultanahmet.
Useful numbers
- Emergency (police, ambulance, fire): 112
- Airport pharmacy: +90 216 588 52 12 (24/7)
- Exchange offices: +90 216 588 52 10
- Foreigners' helpline (YİMER): 157
- Our 24/7 transfer line: +90 544 102 1414
Sources — checked on 19 October 2026: SAW arriving passengers · SAW Wi-Fi · SAW banks and exchange · SAW baggage services · SAW terminal guide · SAW taxis · Metro İstanbul fares · Night metro · Havabüs · İETT E-10 · e-Visa
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Related guides: Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) · Meeting your driver at Sabiha Gökçen · M4 metro from Sabiha Gökçen · Arriving at Sabiha Gökçen at night · Sabiha Gökçen taxi prices · Getting to Sabiha Gökçen
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a SIM card at Sabiha Gökçen Airport?
Yes. The arrivals floor has Türk Telekom, Turkcell and Vodafone shops, and you need your passport. Turkcell's Tourist Welcome Pack is listed at ≈€32 (₺1,800) for 20 GB over 28 days. Türk Telekom's package prices leave out the one-off new-line charges of ≈€12.50 (₺700) plus ≈€6 (₺323.81), so ask for the total before you pay. Shop opening hours are not published.
Is there free Wi-Fi at Sabiha Gökçen?
Yes. The airport describes its Wi-Fi as free and unlimited. Connect to the Free Wi-Fi network, enter your name, surname and mobile number, then type in the SMS code, so you need a number that can receive a text.
Do I need a visa for Türkiye?
It depends on your passport. Some nationalities can get a visa at the visa desk in the arrivals hall, many need an e-visa applied for online beforehand, and others travel visa-free. Check the official e-Visa site and the Foreign Ministry's visa list before you fly. Your passport must be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your permitted stay.
Where can I change money at Sabiha Gökçen?
Exchange offices work 24/7, including in the international baggage claim hall and the greeters' hall, and there are 30 ATMs across arrivals and departures. A bank ATM is usually better value than an exchange desk. Choose to be charged in lira if a machine offers your home currency, and keep some lira in cash for taxis.
Is there left luggage at Sabiha Gökçen?
Yes. The left-luggage office is in the international corridor of the arrivals floor, and you pay per day on collection. The airport publishes no prices, so phone +90 212 588 88 02 or +90 534 571 84 75 to ask before you leave a bag.
Where do I get an Istanbulkart at Sabiha Gökçen?
Our earlier checks found the machines in the M4 metro station, which is reached from the terminal; the airport publishes no plan of them. The anonymous card costs ≈€3 (₺165) with no credit on it. Visitors pay the full fare on every ride and get no transfer discount or exit refund.
Where does my driver meet me at Sabiha Gökçen?
Just outside the arrivals exit. Once you land and switch your phone on, your driver messages you on WhatsApp with the exact meeting point and a short video showing the way. Drivers speak English, and you can call our 24/7 line on +90 544 102 1414 if you cannot find them.
Which is the cheapest way from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy?
The M4 metro, at ≈€0.85 (₺46.20) per person with an Istanbulkart and about 52 minutes. For two or more people with luggage, a private transfer from €53 per vehicle is often comparable and goes to your door.
Rather go straight to your hotel?
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. Priced per vehicle for up to 6 passengers: from €53 to Kadıköy and from €57 to Taksim. The exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay, with free cancellation up to 24 hours.
See transfer prices Book a Sabiha Gökçen transfer