Rick recommends riding the 11 Havaist bus to Aksaray metro stop and walking to the #1 tram to get from the airport to the Blue Mosque neighborhood hotels. I noticed today there is a stop (perhaps new) passed that stop at Duraktan Gecen Hatlar right below the Blue Mosque. Does anyone have knowledge of this option. Bill
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
10485 posts
Are you traveling solo? If not, double check pricing between bus/metro combo and using Welcome Pickups.
I used public transport in Istanbul, but I was glad I had used welcome pickups for the original transfer from the airport.
Posted by
OP
Vacaville, California, USA
126 posts
This stop is labeled Catladiki (Sultanahmet). I read more and I believe it has been reinstated! It is just a few minute walk to the Blue Mosque and our hotel, Sultanahmet Palace Hotel. It is very organized at the airport, clean and very reasonable compared to having an arranged driver.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
4240 posts
What time of day and day of week? The trams in the historic area are crammed (and I mean CRAMMED) with people which is not in any way fun with luggage (or honestly, without). Have you tried using Citymapper to look at route options? I did a quick search and the "new" stop you mentioned is not an option to select as an end point, but all the options require a walk of some kind and travel times assume you are savvy with the system and transit layout. You can search by day of week and time to get more accurate estimates and routes.
After an extremely long travel day, I chose to use Welcome Pickups for door-to-door service, which took just over an hour in a nice air conditioned car. The convenience was worth it to me.
Posted by
OP
Vacaville, California, USA
126 posts
I am confused about the information we are reviewing. Havaist #11 bus just announced the opening of the Sultanahmet end stop on the website but you did not find that. You are correct about the long flight and arranging a pick up but if this stop is available it is a very short walk to our hotel. Thanks for your input. We arrive around noon on a Tuesday. Bill
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
4240 posts
William I misunderstood your post saying that there is a new TRAM stop (not bus stop). Citymapper does not show that stop so it must be very new. That makes the bus a more attractive option for getting to that area of Sultanahmet then when I was last in Istanbul. The schedule looks like there is only one bus per hour so depending on when you clear the airport you could have a long wait, plus a nearly two hour bus ride (or longer if there is bad traffic). I would still choose a private transport just to get to my hotel more efficiently, but that's me, you do you!
Posted by
Turkey
49 posts
Just a few weeks ago, a new metro extension to Istanbul Airport officially opened, making it even easier and faster to reach the airport by public transportation. The new section completes the M11 metro line, providing a direct connection between Halkalı, Istanbul Airport, and Gayrettepe.
Please check out the news link ;