Sabiha Gökçen Airport Taxi Prices (2026): Fares, Tolls and Tips
Short answer: taxis at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) run on Istanbul's official meter tariff: in a yellow taxi ≈€1.30 (₺71.94) to start plus ≈€0.85 (₺47.92) per km, the same rate day and night, with no airport or luggage fee. That comes to roughly €32–41 (₺1,800–2,300) to Kadıköy and ≈€39–50 (₺2,150–2,800) to Taksim in normal traffic, plus any bridge, tunnel or motorway toll. A private transfer to Taksim is from €57 per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers).
Sabiha Gökçen is Istanbul's airport on the Asian side, so the fare depends above all on which side of the Bosphorus you are heading for. Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Ataşehir are on the same side; Taksim, Beşiktaş and Sultanahmet are on the European side, 40–48 km away, with a bridge or tunnel toll on top of the meter. Below you'll find fares to twelve destinations, the 2026 tariff, the tolls, the rank and taxi apps, and when the metro, the Havabüs coach or a transfer is the better choice.
Sabiha Gökçen taxi fares at a glance (2026)
What a yellow taxi's meter should show from SAW on the usual route, from light (lower figure) to heavy traffic (upper figure). The trip back costs about the same.
| Destination | Distance / drive time | Yellow taxi (estimate) | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kurtköy | ~5 km · 5–10 min | ≈€5–7 (₺300–400) | from €47 |
| Pendik | ~15 km · 15–30 min | ≈€14–17 (₺800–950) | from €47 |
| Ataşehir | ~27 km · 25–40 min | ≈€24–30 (₺1,350–1,650) | from €51 |
| Bostancı | ~31 km · 30–50 min | ≈€28–33 (₺1,550–1,850) | from €53 |
| Kadıköy | 36–40 km · 35–60 min | ≈€32–41 (₺1,800–2,300) | from €53 |
| Üsküdar | 36–43 km · 35–60 min | ≈€32–43 (₺1,800–2,400) | from €53 |
| Beşiktaş | ~40 km · 40–65 min | ≈€35–42 (₺1,950–2,350) + bridge toll | from €57 |
| Şişli | ~41 km · 40–65 min | ≈€36–43 (₺2,000–2,400) + bridge toll | from €57 |
| Taksim | ~43 km · 45–75 min | ≈€39–50 (₺2,150–2,800) + bridge toll | from €57 |
| Galataport (Karaköy) | ~43 km · 45–75 min | ≈€38–45 (₺2,100–2,500) + bridge toll | from €57 |
| Sultanahmet | 43–48 km · 45–80 min | ≈€40–52 (₺2,200–2,900) + tunnel or bridge toll | from €59 |
| Istanbul Airport (IST) | 76–84 km · 1–2 h | ≈€72–90 (₺4,000–5,000) + tolls | from €78 |
Taxi estimates are meter fares without tolls; at rush hour the time charge can push them past the upper figure. On the Asian side the only possible toll is the TEM motorway. To Taksim, an 8-seat taxi costs about €50–59 (₺2,800–3,300) and a black taxi about €66–78 (₺3,650–4,350), plus tolls. Transfer prices are per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers); the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay.
Sources — fares and timetables checked on 3 October 2026: Sabiha Gökçen Airport (taxi) · İTEO taxi tariff 2026 · KGM bridge tolls (PDF) · KGM northern motorway (PDF) · Eurasia Tunnel · Uber (SAW) · Havabüs
Euro amounts at €1 = ₺55.6.
Istanbul taxi tariff (from 20 July 2026)
| Type | Start | Per km | Minimum fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow taxi | ≈€1.30 (₺71.94) | ≈€0.85 (₺47.92) | ≈€4 (₺230) |
| Turquoise taxi | ≈€1.50 (₺82.73) | ≈€1 (₺55.10) | ≈€5 (₺265) |
| Black taxi (luxury) | ≈€2 (₺122.30) | ≈€1.45 (₺81.46) | ≈€7 (₺400) |
| 8-seat taxi | ≈€1.70 (₺93.52) | ≈€1.10 (₺62.29) | ≈€5.50 (₺300) |
SAW has no airport tariff of its own: taxis from the rank charge the same municipal (İBB) rates as anywhere in Istanbul. Whenever the taxi moves slower than 12.5 km/h, in a jam or at long traffic lights, the meter switches from distance to time: ≈€11 (₺598.90) an hour, about €0.20 (₺10) a minute in a yellow taxi. So the same trip costs more in the weekday evening rush than late at night.
Turquoise taxis (electric and larger cars) cost about 15% more than yellow ones, 8-seat taxis about 30% more and black taxis about 70% more. There is no night rate, and no airport, pickup or luggage fee: the tariff applies 24 hours a day, so a driver who asks for a "night tariff" or a surcharge is running a scam. The only legitimate extra is a toll.
Tolls: bridges, tunnel and motorways
Tolls are not part of the meter fare. You pay them on top, but only for the direction you travel: the driver may not charge you the toll for the empty return trip. Which tolls apply depends on the route, so agree it before you set off.
- Bosphorus bridges (15 Temmuz and FSM): ≈€1.05 (₺59) per crossing. Since 2022 they have been tolled in both directions, so a taxi from SAW to Taksim, Beşiktaş, Şişli or Galataport over a bridge always pays it.
- Eurasia Tunnel (Avrasya Tüneli): ≈€6 (₺330) from 05:00 to 23:59 and ≈€3 (₺165) from midnight to 04:59, per crossing in either direction. It is the most direct road to Sultanahmet; the bridge route is about 4 km longer but cheaper in tolls.
- TEM motorway: ≈€0.90 (₺49) between Kurtköy and Çamlıca if the driver takes it towards the city. The D-100 (E-5) is the toll-free alternative.
- Northern motorway and Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge: the fast road to Istanbul Airport (IST). The bridge alone costs ≈€2 (₺110); the tolled section from the SAW side, bridge included, comes to about €9–10 (₺520–540). The city route costs only the bridge and TEM tolls but is usually slower.
Where to find taxis at Sabiha Gökçen
The official taxi service is run by the airport's taxi cooperative (SAWKOOP) and operates round the clock (phone 0 216 588 12 35). The airport publishes no plan of the rank, but travellers consistently place it directly outside the arrivals exit at ground level: follow the "Taksi" signs and take the next car in the queue. Most cars there are yellow taxis; for a larger or a black taxi, ask at the rank or use an app.
At peak times expect a queue; some travellers report drivers reluctant to take short trips to Kurtköy or Pendik, but the meter applies to every trip. Politely turn down anyone inside the terminal offering a car at a "fixed price": these are unlicensed drivers, not official taxis.
Taxi apps: Uber and BiTaksi
Uber works at SAW, but it books a licensed taxi rather than a private car: a yellow, a large or a black taxi. It shows an upfront price, which may be adjusted if the tolls differ, and the pickup point after you request the ride; that is not always the nearest exit, so follow the in-app directions. A taxi usually takes up to four passengers.
BiTaksi, a Turkish app, also books licensed taxis, including 8-seat and luxury ones. It shows a fare estimate before you confirm and lets you pay by card in the app.
Paying: cash or card?
Card payment is not yet compulsory in Istanbul taxis. A 2026 tax rule requires every taxi to have a card terminal linked to the meter; the deadline has been extended to 16 November 2026, with 15 more days to start taking cards, so card payment should become the norm from around the start of December 2026. Until then, carry enough Turkish lira in cash for the fare plus tolls, or ask before you get in. Count your notes as you pay, and don't let a "broken card machine" become a reason to pay more than the meter shows.
How to avoid problems
- Check the meter. It must be on from the start and show ≈€1.30 (₺71.94) in a yellow taxi.
- Agree the route. TEM or D-100, tunnel or bridge for Sultanahmet, northern motorway or city for IST: ask first, so the tolls are no surprise. You may state a preferred route.
- Pay the meter plus tolls, nothing more. There is no night rate, airport fee or luggage charge, and the driver may not round the fare up.
- Note the plate number. A photo of the number plate or the taxi number is the quickest way to trace lost property or report a problem.
- Report problems. Call İBB's Beyaz Masa on 153 (24/7) with the plate number, the time and the route.
Taxi, M4 metro, Havabüs or private transfer?
For one or two people with light luggage going to the Asian side, a taxi from the rank is quick and usually the cheapest door-to-door option. Otherwise:
- M4 metro: to Kadıköy in about 52 minutes for ≈€0.85 (₺46.20) with an Istanbulkart, 06:00 to midnight. The best value for Kadıköy and, changing to the Marmaray at Ayrılık Çeşmesi, for Üsküdar.
- Havabüs coach: ≈€5.50 (₺300) to Kadıköy (about 60 minutes) and ≈€8.50 (₺485) to Taksim (about 1.5 hours), with bags in the hold and extra night runs for delayed flights. Good for solo travellers on a budget.
- Private transfer: pays off for groups and families who would need two taxis (two meters, two sets of tolls), for lots of luggage and for European-side hotels, where traffic and tolls make the meter least predictable. From €53 to Kadıköy and from €57 to Taksim per vehicle (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers); the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay. Once you land, your driver sends you the exact meeting point and a short video of the way on WhatsApp, and meets you just outside the arrivals exit.
Prices for every district: Sabiha Gökçen Airport transfer and our transfer price list. All other ways into the city: Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Istanbul.
Related guides: Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy · Sabiha Gökçen to Taksim · Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet · Havabüs airport coach · Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen · Istanbul Airport taxi prices · Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Frequently asked questions
How much is a taxi from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Taksim?
About €39–50 (₺2,150–2,800) on the meter of a yellow taxi for the roughly 43 km trip, plus the ≈€1.05 (₺59) Bosphorus bridge toll, and ≈€0.90 (₺49) more if the driver takes the TEM motorway. Allow 45–75 minutes; heavy traffic pushes the fare up through the time charge. A black taxi costs about €66–78 (₺3,650–4,350) plus tolls.
How much is a taxi from Sabiha Gökçen Airport to Kadıköy?
About €32–41 (₺1,800–2,300) in a yellow taxi for the 36–40 km trip, which takes 35–60 minutes depending on traffic. There is no bridge to cross; the only possible toll is ≈€0.90 (₺49) if the driver uses the TEM motorway. The M4 metro covers the same trip in about 52 minutes for ≈€0.85 (₺46.20).
Are there extra charges at night, for luggage or for tolls?
There is no night rate and no airport or luggage fee: the İBB tariff applies 24 hours a day, so a driver who asks for a night surcharge is running a scam. The only legitimate extra is a toll, which you pay on top of the meter and only for the direction you travel. The Bosphorus bridges charge ≈€1.05 (₺59) in both directions, the Eurasia Tunnel ≈€6 (₺330) by day and ≈€3 (₺165) from midnight to 05:00, and the TEM motorway ≈€0.90 (₺49).
Can I pay for a taxi at Sabiha Gökçen by card?
Not always. Card payment is not yet compulsory: a new rule requires card terminals linked to the meter in every taxi, but the deadline has been extended to 16 November 2026, so cards should be accepted everywhere from around the start of December. Until then, carry enough lira in cash for the fare and tolls, or ask before you get in. If you book through the BiTaksi app, you can pay by card in the app.
Does Uber work at Sabiha Gökçen Airport?
Yes, but it books a licensed taxi (yellow, large or black), not a private car. The app shows an upfront price, which may be adjusted if the tolls differ, and tells you where to meet the taxi after you request the ride. BiTaksi also books licensed taxis and shows a fare estimate in advance.
Is a private transfer better than a taxi from Sabiha Gökçen?
For one or two people with light luggage, a taxi is usually cheaper, and the M4 metro or the Havabüs coach cheaper still. A transfer pays off for groups and families who would need two taxis, for lots of luggage and for hotels on the European side, where traffic and tolls make the meter hard to predict. It costs from €57 per vehicle to Taksim (Mercedes Vito, up to 6 passengers), the exact price for your date and pickup time is shown before you pay, and your driver meets you just outside the arrivals exit.
Rather know the price in advance?
Book a private transfer from Sabiha Gökçen: once you land, your driver sends you the exact meeting point on WhatsApp and meets you just outside the arrivals exit. From €57 per vehicle to Taksim for up to 6 passengers, with the exact price for your date and pickup time shown before you pay.
See transfer prices Book a Sabiha Gökçen transfer