Staying on the Asian Side? Transfers to Kadıköy, Üsküdar and Ataşehir From IST and SAW

A growing number of visitors skip the classic Sultanahmet-or-Taksim choice and stay on the Asian side instead. Kadıköy has the markets, the cafés and a famously lively evening scene. Üsküdar has the waterfront mosques and some of the best views back toward the historic peninsula. Ataşehir is the modern business district, full of offices and newer hotels. All three share one practical question: which airport, and how do you get there?

Start with the map

Istanbul is split by the Bosphorus. Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, far to the north-west. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, in Pendik. If you are staying in Kadıköy, Üsküdar or Ataşehir, SAW is on your side of the water, which removes the bridge crossing from your journey entirely.

From Sabiha Gökçen

Approximate road distances from SAW are:

• Ataşehir: roughly 25 to 30 km.
• Kadıköy: around 35 to 40 km.
• Üsküdar: about 40 km, depending on where exactly you are going.

Drive times typically range from around half an hour to an hour, depending on traffic on the main east-west motorways. The M4 metro is also a good option to Kadıköy if you are travelling light; it runs from the airport without changes and takes about 50 minutes.

From Istanbul Airport

This is where things get longer. From IST you need to cross the Bosphorus, and there are three main ways to do it by road:

1. The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge in the far north, linked to the airport by the Northern Marmara Motorway. Longer in kilometres, but it avoids the city centre.
2. The Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the middle crossing, close to the business districts.
3. The 15 July Martyrs Bridge, the southernmost bridge, convenient for Üsküdar and Kadıköy when traffic allows.

For Kadıköy, the Eurasia Tunnel under the sea is sometimes an option too, depending on the route. In practice, a transfer from IST to Kadıköy often takes somewhere around an hour to an hour and a half, and longer in the evening peak. Drivers choose the crossing on the day based on live traffic.

Which airport should you choose?

If you have a choice of flights, SAW is usually the more convenient airport for the Asian side. That said, IST has a far wider range of international routes, and many travellers end up there anyway. If you do, the crossing is simply part of the trip; just plan a little more time, especially on departure days.

Arriving in the neighbourhood

Kadıköy

The streets around the market area and Moda are busy and partly pedestrianised. If your accommodation is in the market lanes, the car will stop nearby and you will walk the last stretch.

Üsküdar

Hilly, with some narrow residential streets above the shore. Share the full address and any building name.

Ataşehir

Broad roads and modern buildings make drop-offs easy, though weekday rush hours around the business towers can be slow.

Crossing to the European side during your stay

One of the pleasures of staying in Kadıköy or Üsküdar is the ferry ride across to Karaköy, Eminönü or Beşiktaş. It is often quicker than driving, and much more scenic. For sightseeing days, the ferry is hard to beat. For the airport, with luggage, a car is still the practical choice.

Book your Asian-side transfer on this site from either airport. Include your full address and we will plan the most sensible crossing on the day.

Photo: Matti Blume, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons