Istanbul New Metro Lines 2026: M11 to Halkalı Open, M12 Due 19 Dec

Istanbul opened two new metro sections in 2026, and a third line is due before the end of the year. The M5 reached Sultanbeyli on 22 May. On 19 June the M11 airport line was completed through to Halkalı, so the airport now has a rail link to Marmaray. The M12 Göztepe–Ataşehir–Ümraniye line is scheduled to open on 19 December 2026. Here is what each change means for visitors, and where a private airport transfer still saves you time.

What opened in 2026, and what is next

Of the five, the M11 matters most to visitors, because it serves Istanbul Airport (IST), where most international flights land. The others mainly serve residential districts on the Asian side. They are still useful if you are staying in Kadıköy, Ataşehir or Üsküdar.

M11: Istanbul Airport to Halkalı in about 30 minutes

President Erdoğan opened the final 22 km section, from Arnavutköy to Halkalı, at Kayaşehir station on 19 June 2026, and passenger service began on 20 June. With it, the line is complete:

• Length: 69 km, all underground. It is the longest line in the Istanbul metro network.
• Stations: 16 on paper and 15 in service. The Terminal 2 station waits for that terminal to be built.
• Speed: up to 120 km/h, the fastest metro in Türkiye.
• Travel times: about 30 minutes from Halkalı to Istanbul Airport, and 57 minutes from Halkalı to Gayrettepe.
• Operator: TCDD Taşımacılık, the state railway company, on behalf of the Ministry of Transport. The trains are driverless and use a signalling system made in Türkiye by Aselsan.

The five new stations are İbn Haldun University, Kayaşehir, Olimpiyatköy, Halkalı Stadium and Halkalı. Rides from these stations were free until 31 July 2026. They are now paid with the Istanbulkart like the rest of the line, under the line's own distance-based tariff, so check the fare shown at the gate. For planning the rest of your stay, see our Istanbul travel guide.

Which M11 stations matter to visitors

For most travellers, three stations are worth knowing:

1. Gayrettepe (city end). Change to the M2 metro for Taksim and İstiklal Avenue. This is the usual route into the city for people staying in Beyoğlu, Şişli or Beşiktaş.
2. Halkalı (west end, new). Change to Marmaray, the suburban rail line that runs east through Yenikapı and Sirkeci and under the Bosphorus to Üsküdar. Halkalı also has high-speed trains and the metro line towards Kirazlı.
3. Kayaşehir and Olimpiyatköy (new). Change to the M3 at Kayaşehir and the M9 at Olimpiyatköy, both useful if you are staying in the western districts.

What this means in practice: before June, the airport rail route ended at Gayrettepe on the European business side. Now a second route runs west and south to Halkalı, where you can join Marmaray. If you are going to the Old City, you can reach Sirkeci, a short walk from Eminönü and the Galata Bridge, without going through Taksim. It is a long ride with at least one change, though. With luggage, children or a late-night arrival, a car to your hotel door is still far simpler.

M5 now reaches Sultanbeyli

The M5 runs from Üsküdar, on the Bosphorus shore of the Asian side, deep into the eastern districts. Its fourth and final stage opened on 22 May 2026 and added Sancaktepe City Hospital, Veysel Karani, Hasanpaşa and Sultanbeyli stations, about 4.4 km of driverless line.

The city says the Üsküdar–Sultanbeyli trip now takes about 50 minutes, against roughly two and a half hours by road at busy times. Few visitors will ride to the end of the line. Its first station is Üsküdar, next to the ferry pier and the Marmaray station, and the line is planned to connect with the M12 and the future M14. On a day on the Asian side, it combines well with a visit to Çamlıca Hill and its mosque.

M12 Göztepe–Ataşehir–Ümraniye: due 19 December 2026

The M12 is a 13 km line with 11 stations, running north from Göztepe through the Ataşehir business district to Ümraniye. It was built by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. On 27 September 2026, during a driverless test run, the municipality's acting mayor Nuri Aslan said the line would open on 19 December. Another test ride followed on 30 October, with physical progress reported at about 97%.

Treat the date as a target. The same line was earlier expected to open in May 2026. For visitors, the M12 will mainly help anyone staying around Ataşehir or the Kadıköy hinterland. At Ümraniye it meets the M5 towards Üsküdar. For a day on that side of the city, see Kadıköy and Moda.

What comes after

Two more projects are in the news:

• Pendik–Kaynarca–Fevzi Çakmak. In June 2026, Nuri Aslan said this line on the far Asian side would open at the end of 2026 or in the first half of 2027. It serves local commuters more than visitors.
• Ümraniye–Kavacık–Beykoz. A presidential decree in August 2026 transferred this planned 17 km, 14-station line to the Ministry of Transport. It would run roughly parallel to the Bosphorus on the Asian side. It is still at the planning stage, with no opening date.

Network maps change quickly in Istanbul. Before you travel, check a current map at the station or on the official Metro Istanbul website rather than one printed a year ago.

Tours that cover this

• VIP private Istanbul airport to hotel transfer: from $60 per group.
• Istanbul layover tour from IST or SAW: from $550 per person, private guide and van, 6 to 8 hours. More options on our Istanbul layover tour page.
• Beylerbeyi Palace and Çamlıca Hill tour: from $52 per person, on the Asian side.
• Istanbul private city tour with Mercedes Vito and driver: from $299 per group, 8 hours.

See all Istanbul tours, or book a private car with driver for a day.

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