Layover at Istanbul Airport
Everything you need to decide whether to leave the airport on a layover in Istanbul.
City centre
50 min away
M11 metro to the city, or the HAVAIST airport bus
Min connection
~60 min to change flights
Left luggage
Available — drop your bags and explore.
Round trip
≈ 100 min there and back
Istanbul Airport to central Istanbul — about 50 min min each way. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Is it worth leaving?
As a rule of thumb, allow your round trip (about 100 minutes here) plus two hours for security and immigration on the way back. With a 6-hour layover or more you can comfortably reach Istanbul and back. With less, you're better off staying airside.
Turkish Airlines offers free guided 'Touristanbul' tours on long layovers — worth checking if you're flying with them.
Before you leave — check you can
Whether you can pass immigration on a layover depends on your nationality and the country's transit rules, not just your time. Always confirm with the official source for your passport before you plan to leave: UK FCDO travel advice and the Turkey guide.