Taxi at Istanbul airport (IST)

Istanbul International Airport (IST) > Transportation > Taxi at Istanbul airport

To enjoy your travel to the city districts of Taksim, Galata or Sultanahmet, especially if you are a citizen of another country (as you may know, Istanbul Airport accepts airlines arrivals from Italy (Rome), Czech Republic (Prague), Germany (Berlin), Spain (Seville, Barcelona, and Madrid), Greece (Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, and Athens), Hungary (Budapest), Portugal (Lisbon), the USA (Miami and New York), Netherlands (Amsterdam), the UAE (Dubai), France (Paris), and even such far destinations like China (Beijing), Canada (Toronto), and Argentina (Buenos Aires)) you may need at least an English-speaking transportation operator to get to the address where you want to ride and to carry and drop your heavy luggage during your layover or your Istanbul journey. Especially if you are in a hurry and you worry about time to get somewhere.
Unfortunately, in this case, the metro line or a regular bus shuttle never suit. At once, not all people are able to drive cars easily, so, car rentals are a very uneven idea too. Therefore, public transport might not be your number one option for traveling. Hence, an Istanbul Airport taxi can be the most convenient option for you. Let’s reach the destination point via taxi cab! We have some relevant info to ensure you that taxis are your best option to start your journey across the city.
Istanbul Airport taxis are diverse, and they vary in the companies which provide their services and in colors which means the different types of vehicles. However, there are three options you’ll appreciate.

• Yellow or orange types of taxis are the main ones, and they are cheaper than any other and these are standard vehicles with quite good comfort conditions (i.e. Renault Clio).
• Turquoise/blue taxis category (like Opel Insignia) is more expensive (always at least 15% higher fares are taken but paying them is worthwhile).
• A black type of taxi is a luxurious 5-star car (i.e., Mercedes) and they offer truly luxury comfort levels. Now you can choose them when your budget is not limited, you prefer your own high style, or you have a special event to visit.

No matter which color you choose, it’s a must to apply only to officials.

Taxi fares and prices at Istanbul Airport

Usually, the fare taken by a taxi from the airport is calculated as the mileage plus the flat payment (it is somehow about 19 TL), and additionally, bridge tolls and a fare for Marmaroy pass are paid. Yet, there is a rule among Istanbul taxis that a minimal money amount to pay per ride is 77 TL.
Some taxi operators in the airport try to get more money at night, and their fares for night rides and day rides differ, yet, it’s not true, and they just try to make you scammed.

Istanbul Airport taxi price list: a guide to taxi fares for IST travellers

Being a traveler it is important to understand and to know for sure which payment is taken for taxi services. Let’s compare taxi Istanbul Airport prices and the policy according to every district.

Keep in mind that all other rides can be calculated by your chosen taxi company based on the route to get a clear fixed rate. You should get them upon your flight in the taxi office.

Where can I find taxis at Istanbul Airport (IST)?

First, we have an unofficial disclaimer: getting a taxi at the airport is safe only if you pick up an official vehicle provided directly by one of the local taxi operators at the airport. Consider also notorious Istanbul city traffic to understand that it’s better to contact officials only in person. online, or use an app. It’s a bad idea to get in touch with unknown driver and rely on his fidelity.
Most official taxis rank in the Plaza area right-hand from the domestic terminal and international arrivals terminals. One more ranks location of taxis in the airport is the Departures floor where they stand regularly. Indeed, for pre-booked taxis, passengers can apply at the second-floor pickup zone.

Airport Taxi from Istanbul Airport to hotels

Not all hotels always provide direct transfers from the airport for their clients. Thus, if you plan your accommodation in a certain hotel that does not provide airport transfer, you can opt for a door-to-door taxi instead. Please, indicate your hotel’s address, so a taxi driver can ride you perfectly to a hotel providing quicker navigation.

Tips and tricks to avoid when using taxis at Istanbul Ataturk Airport

As for your comfortable transportation when you use Istanbul Airport taxis, here are some tips to get premium services for fair fares in our guides.

• Please, get cash to pay for taxi services as most drivers don’t have terminals to accept credit or debit cards. Of course, they exist, but providing card payments is a rare situation. You should agree with this, and you can use the airport’s exchange points to exchange euros and dollars for Turkish lira and pay further in liras to drivers or use the airport’s ATMs to get cash from your card and avoid private information leaking.
• One more tip is to use a special app to book a taxi (Uber, BiTaksi, and iTaxi are available) safely to avoid scamming and get a car in one click. You can Google it easily and book before your planes land. In case you want to change something in your order, you can use email to save your correspondence or call the operator. Besides, you can look for a car in advance with it.
• Still, it’s advisable not to give tips to drivers. In Istanbul, tips are never offered even if the road is long and the service you ask for is flawless.
• Check the taximeter so as not to be tricked along your routes as drivers can make them longer. They should be metered correctly when you are entering the vehicle. All taxis have meters, and if there is no one in the car, it’s the same case of fraud.
• The final tip sounds as follows. If a taxi waits for you on the way, you have to pay an extra fee five minutes after the start of waiting. Well, if you paid more, it was your poor experience and you can avoid it further.