Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) is Istanbul’s main low-cost and secondary hub airport.
It is located on the Asian side of Istanbul, 35 to 45 km from central districts such as Taksim or Sultanahmet. It is closer to the popular Anatolian-side neighborhoods of Üsküdar and Kadıköy than to the busier, larger Istanbul International Airport (IST).
After experiencing extremely fast growth between 2020 and 2025, SAW handled nearly 50 million passengers in 2025. A huge portion of the flights are short-haul departures within a 5-hour flight-time radius, in contrast with Istanbul Airport’s focus on long-haul flights.
Major Airlines - Pegasus, AJet
SAW is the primary operating base for Pegasus Airlines, the largest Turkish low-cost carrier. It dominates the airport, offering an extensive network across Türkiye, Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia by covering more than 140 destinations with 5000+ flights per month.
AJet (formerly AnadoluJet) also uses Sabiha Gökçen as an operating base. This airline’s primary markets are domestic flights, Europe, and the Middle East. AJet operates more than 2500 flights per month to over 85 destinations.
Several international low-cost airlines also fly to and from SAW. These include:
The Emirati Air Arabia.
The Saudi Flynas.
The Omani SalamAir.
The Malaysian AirAsia X, which offers one of the longest flights to SAW from Kuala Lumpur.
As the airport is focused on low-cost operations, few full-service airlines fly to SAW, as most prefer the larger Istanbul International Airport. Exceptions include Azerbaijan Airlines, Air Cairo, Iraqi Airways, as well as Kuwait Airways and Qatar Airways, which fly to both airports.
Click here to see a full list of airlines that serve Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
Terminal Layout
SAW has just 1 terminal, divided into two areas for domestic and international flights, respectively. Each section has its own Security Checkpoint.
In the International section, Passport Control is right after Security. After that, there is an international transit area which allows for airside transits between international flights.
The airport is open 24 hours.
Connecting Flights and Transit
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is a frequent transfer point between flights between Turkey, Europe, and Asia.
International connections are made easy by the international transit area, airside, which allows for layovers without going through Immigration. Follow the blue corridor after disembarking from your first flight. You may need to get a boarding pass from Pegasus’ or AJet’s service desks before going through Security and onwards to your next gate. Most international connections can be achieved in less than 30 minutes.
Domestic-to-domestic connections are similarly very easy. You will already be in the public area after arrival, so you just need to go through Security and on to your next gate. You need at least 20 minutes for this type of connection.
For International-to-domestic connections, follow the pink corridor after disembarking. Connecting passengers can use a special Immigration corridor that speeds up transit times. After that comes the Security checkpoint, which will bring you to the departures area for your next flight. Aim for at least 60 minutes between flights to have enough time for this connection.
Lastly, domestic-to-international connections require that you leave the domestic area, go through Immigration and Security for the International area, and proceed to your next gate. The recommended connection time is 60 minutes.
In all cases, your luggage will likely be transferred automatically, as long as you have booked both tickets under the same reservation.
Free Wi-Fi and other services
Free WiFi is available throughout the terminal. To connect, select WiSpotter Wireless Internet Access from the list of available networks. This will automatically open a splash welcome page where you need to add your name, surname, and phone number to receive an OTP code. Once you confirm the code, you will be connected to the network.
Alternatively, use one of the 8 passport registration kiosks to obtain a code. Simply insert your passport in the machine, and it will dispense a small piece of paper with a personal code to use to connect to the wifi.
The network used to be limited to 1 hour, but as of 2026 is no longer limited in duration or bandwidth.
Other passenger services at SAW include:
ATMs: Several Turkish banks have cash machines in Arrivals.
Banks: Türkiye İş Bank and Yapı Kredi Bank have branches in Arrivals.
Currency Exchange: Available in the International part of the terminal, both in Arrivals and in Departures.
Nuray Pharmacy: Located in Departures and open 24/7.
First Aid: An emergency unit provides 24-hour support when needed.
Luggage packing units: Two are available on the Departures level.
Luggage storage: There are lockers in Arrivals. The fee per 24 hours depends on size, between the equivalent of 2.5 and 10 EUR in Turkish Lira.
Hair Salon: Third level of International Departures.
Prayer Room: One for men and one for women, located in Domestic Arrivals, and one more for men and one more for women airside after the Security check in both the domestic and international areas. Open between 4:00 AM and 11:30 PM.
Post Office: Available in the Arrival Hall.
Showers: operated by Kepler, airside, and cost 15 EUR to use.
Outdoor terraces: Although available to everyone, they function mostly like smoking spaces. Located after Security, one in each of the domestic and international sections.
Fast Track: Available for domestic or international, departures or arrivals. Costs around the equivalent of 15 EUR (domestic) or 27 EUR (international) in Turkish Lira.
Drinking water dispenser: One is located near Gate 201A, 202, 204, and 205. More may be spread throughout the departure areas.
Lounges at SAW
SAW has several lounges, most of which under the Plaza Premium brand.
They include:
Plaza Premium Lounge Anadolu: Domestic Departures.
LGM Lounge: Domestic Departures.
Plaza Premium Bosphorus Lounge: International Departures.
Plaza Premium Marmara Lounge: International Departures.
ISG Lounge: International Departures, near Gate 204.
All of the above accept passengers of any airline, most lounge membership passes, and allow you to purchase a pass at the door (~65 EUR).
Lounges typically offer complimentary food and drinks, both soft and alcoholic, more comfortable seating than the common area outside, charging stations, TVs, kids' rooms, and open-air terraces suitable for smokers.
Dining Options at Sabiha Gökçen Airport
One of the most common complaints about Sabiha Gökçen Airport is the ridiculous price of food. Prices are often marked in euros and inflated more than tenfold above prices outside the airport.
At least it’s true that you can find Turkish food like kebabs and pide, though international chains and fast food make up most of the dining options.
On the Departures Level, in front of the terminal, you can choose from a variety of pastries from Simit Sarayı - a popular Turkish bakery.
Landside, some of the best-rated places include Usta Pideci, Usta Dönerci, and Karafırın Restaurant.
Inside International Departures, most options are well-known international brands - supply meets demand. These include chains like Subway, Starbucks, and McDonald’s on the Mezzanine Level, to name a few. Near gates, most options are cafes such as TakeOff Cafe (near Gate 307), Lavazza Café (near Gate 301), and Gate Cafe (near Gate 201).
Inside Domestic Departures, passenger favorites include Marmaris Büfe, HD Döner, Pidem, and Karafırın. Fast food is also easy to come by; for example, KFC, Burger King, and McDonald’s all have outlets here. Several small coffee kiosks have locations near different gates.
Transport to and from the airport
Sabiha Gökçen Airport is on the Asian side of Istanbul, about 40 km from the central areas of the megapolis. This technically makes it closer to the center than Istanbul Airport, but transportation still takes at least an hour, and in most cases, requires a transfer.
The Metro M4 extension stops at the airport, running directly to Kadıköy. For destinations on the European side of the city, you can either take a ferry from Kadıköy pier or connect to the Marmaray train, which uses a tunnel under the Bosphorus. Dozens of city buses criss-cross the city and connect to all forms of transport listed above.
The Havabus airport coach offers a direct service to Taksim Square, which takes around 90 minutes. It costs the equivalent of around 9 EUR in Turkish Lira. This is more expensive than taking the metro + ferry + the Tunnel cable car and then walking a little, but a lot more convenient. You can buy a ticket from the Havabüs kiosk in Arrivals or directly from the driver on the bus. The first bus from Taksim is at 3:30 AM, and the last bus from the airport is at 00:30 AM.
You will find having an Istanbulkart very handy as it allows you to load it up and use it for all sorts of transport in Istanbul. It is guaranteed to get you the best fares, too, as paying directly with your contactless card is generally more expensive than using the Istanbulkart.
Several public bus lines stop at SAW Airport, but most of their routes do not include the historic areas of the city. Thus, they are useful mostly to residents and not tourists. A notable exception is the E3 bus, which goes to the Beşiktaş district on the European side.
To get to Istanbul Airport, the most convenient way is to take the HAVAIST-13 Express Bus. This service runs every 90 minutes and takes around 2 hours to travel between the two airports. The fare is around 9 EUR.
Lastly, metered taxis are always available curbside outside of Arrivals. They are comparatively expensive. For example, a taxi to Kadıköy will set you back roughly 20-25 EUR. Fares to destinations on the European side are significantly more expensive due to tolls and bridge crossings. As a ballpark figure, a taxi to Taksim Square costs around 50 EUR.
Parking at SAW
Parking facilities include a four-level car park accommodating up to 4700 vehicles and a valet parking service for up to 400 cars.
Curbside parking in front of the terminal is not allowed.
Inside the multi-level car park, parking costs 250 TRY for the first hour, 550 TRY for the first 12 hours, or 740 TRY per day.
Motorcycle parking costs roughly half that.
Hotels near Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
The most convenient hotel is the ISG Airport Hotel, located directly within the terminal. It also offers a free shuttle that runs every 30 minutes between the hotel and the Arrivals floor, stopping near column 17. This 4-star property offers reasonable rates for its modern rooms and outside parking.
For those in transit, the Kepler Club Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located inside the International Departures area. It offers private sleep pods, showers, luggage storage, and a small lounge area. The sleep pods are charged by the hour with a discount for 24-hour stays.
If you’re willing to travel a little, the nearby Kurtköy area has dozens of hotels for any type of budget or other preferences.
Istanbul, Turkiye
