Istanbul Airport Transfer from Italy, Portugal and Brazil: IST or SAW

A private transfer from either Istanbul airport to a central hotel costs from $60 per group with us, about €53 or R$328, and takes 45 to 90 minutes depending on the airport, the district and the traffic. The first thing to check is your airport code: Turkish Airlines flights from Italy, Portugal and Brazil land at Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, while Pegasus and AJet flights from Italy land at Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Our private airport transfer in a Mercedes Vito works from both.

This page is for travellers from Italy, Portugal and Brazil who search "transfer aeroporto Istanbul" and want to know the same things: which airport is better for their hotel, what each way into the city costs, which documents they need at passport control, and what happens between landing and the hotel door. Euro and real figures use the European Central Bank rates of 5 November 2026 (US$1 is about €0.89 and R$5.47).

IST or SAW: which airport your flight uses

The two airports are on opposite sides of the Bosphorus and about 85 to 90 km apart by road, so booking a transfer to the wrong one is the most expensive mistake you can make on arrival.

If you fly with a change of plane, for example from Brazil via a European hub, the airport code on your last flight is the one that matters.

As a rule of thumb, IST is the better airport for hotels in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Galata, Karaköy, Beşiktaş and Nişantaşı, because the drive stays on the European side. SAW is the better airport for Kadıköy, Moda, Üsküdar and Ataşehir on the Asian side. A low fare into SAW is still fine for a European-side hotel, but expect the transfer to cross the Bosphorus by bridge or tunnel, which adds time at rush hour. Our Sabiha Gökçen airport transfer page goes into that airport in detail.

Every way from the airport to the city, compared

There are four realistic ways into the city from either airport. Public transport prices in Istanbul change several times a year, so where we could not confirm the current fare with the operator, we say where to check it.

A private transfer is priced per vehicle, not per person, so a family of four or five pays the same as a couple. For a deeper look at what changes the price, such as the hour, the district, luggage and child seats, see Istanbul airport transfer prices and our general Istanbul airport private transfer guide.

The M11 metro line runs from Istanbul Airport to Gayrettepe and, since June 2026, also west to Halkalı, where it meets the Marmaray line. From Sabiha Gökçen, the M4 line runs towards Kadıköy. Both are cheap, but they involve changes and stairs with suitcases if your hotel is in the old city. The Istanbul airport shuttle page compares the buses and shared options.

How Istanbul airport taxis work

Istanbul taxis run on a meter set by the city's transport board, with bridge, tunnel and motorway tolls added on top. At Istanbul Airport, there are three types: the standard yellow (orange) taxi, the turquoise taxi, which costs 15% more and has more space, and the black taxi, which costs 70% more. In slow traffic, the meter also counts waiting time, which is why the same ride costs more at rush hour.

Practical points for visitors from Italy, Portugal and Brazil:

• Take taxis only from the official stands outside the arrivals hall, and decline offers inside the terminal.
• Check the meter is on before the car moves.
• Carry Turkish lira. Card payment depends on the driver; euros and reais are not a fare you can count on.
• Have the hotel address in writing, with its phone number. Small hotels in Sultanahmet and Galata are not always known by name.

Our Istanbul airport taxi guide explains the stands at IST and the rules on tolls in more detail.

Drive times to the main hotel districts

These are typical ranges by car outside the worst rush hours. On weekday evenings and Friday afternoons, add time, especially for any route that crosses the Bosphorus.

• Sultanahmet and the old city: 45-75 minutes from IST, 60-90 minutes from SAW.
• Taksim, Galata and Karaköy: 45-70 minutes from IST, 60-90 minutes from SAW.
• Beşiktaş, Nişantaşı and Şişli: 40-70 minutes from IST, 60-90 minutes from SAW.
• Kadıköy and Moda: 60-90 minutes from IST, 40-60 minutes from SAW.

District guides with more detail: Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet, Istanbul Airport to Taksim, Istanbul Airport to Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen to Sultanahmet.

What happens on arrival with a private transfer

1. Before you fly: send us your flight number, the airport, the hotel name and address, the number of passengers and suitcases, any child seats needed, and a WhatsApp number that works abroad.
2. After landing: clear passport control and collect your bags. IST is a very large terminal, so the walk to the arrivals hall takes a while.
3. Meeting point: your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a name sign and follows your actual landing time from the flight number. If you cannot see him, message on WhatsApp and stay where you are. Our airport meet and greet page describes the meeting points.
4. The drive: 45 to 90 minutes to most central hotels.
5. At the hotel: the driver unloads at the door. In parts of Sultanahmet, the streets are too narrow for a van, and the last few metres may be on foot.

Because the price is agreed in advance, there is no meter to watch and no question about card payment at the end of a long flight.

Passport, ID card and visa rules

Italy. Italian citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days, and Italy is on the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs' list of countries whose citizens may enter with a national identity card. Note that paper Italian identity cards stopped being valid for travel abroad on 3 August 2026 under EU rules, so travel with the electronic CIE or a passport.

Portugal. Portuguese citizens do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, and Portugal is also on the ministry's ID card list.

Brazil. Brazilian ordinary passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days. Travel on your passport; the ministry advises that it should be valid for at least six months from arrival, and Turkish law requires at least 60 days beyond the end of your stay.

Airlines check documents at boarding as well, so confirm with your carrier if you plan to travel on an ID card. Anyone in your group with a different nationality should check our Turkey visa requirements update.

Time difference, night arrivals and the trip back

Türkiye stays on UTC+3 all year. That puts Istanbul two hours ahead of Italy in winter and one hour ahead in summer, three hours ahead of mainland Portugal in winter and two in summer, and six hours ahead of Brasília time all year. Long-haul flights from São Paulo and many evening departures from Italy land late at night, when a pre-booked car saves you from negotiating at a taxi rank.

For the return, a working rule many guests follow is to leave a central hotel for IST about three and a half hours before an international flight, and a little earlier for SAW if you stay on the European side, because of the bridge traffic. Our hotel to Istanbul Airport transfer page has a timing table. If you arrive at one airport and leave from the other, see Istanbul Airport to Sabiha Gökçen.

With a long gap between flights, you can see the city instead of waiting at the gate: our Istanbul layover tour page explains how.

Guides in Italian or Portuguese after the transfer

Once you are at the hotel, most travellers want a guided day in the old city. A licensed guide who speaks Italian or Portuguese is arranged on request, subject to availability, and confirmed before you book. See Italian-speaking guide in Istanbul and Portuguese-speaking guide in Istanbul. If Istanbul is part of a longer trip, look at our Turkey tour packages from Italy and from Brazil.

Tours that cover this

• Istanbul Airport VIP Transfer: Private Mercedes Vito to Your Hotel: from $60 per group.
• Istanbul Private Driver Tour: Mercedes Vito for 8 Hours, 1-6 Guests: from $299 per group.
• Istanbul Layover Tour: Private Guide & Van from IST or SAW, 6-8 Hours: from $550 per person.
• Istanbul Old City Private Tour: Hagia Sophia, Topkapı & Grand Bazaar: from $200 per person.

Frequently Asked Questions