What to Do, Step by Step, After Landing at Sabiha Gökçen

Written by the Marhaba Service team · Updated: 7 November 2026

Where Is Sabiha Gökçen Airport?

Sabiha Gökçen sits in the south-east of Istanbul on the Asian side, and its code on your ticket is SAW. The Bosphorus separates it from Taksim and Sultanahmet, so every road to the European side crosses a bridge or a tunnel, and the tolls are inside our prices. Istanbul Airport, the main airport, is on the European side and has its own arrival guide.

In What Order Do You Move Through Sabiha Gökçen?

1. Passport control: follow the Passport Control signs, and keep the whole family's passports in one person's hand.
2. Baggage: once your passport is stamped, follow the Baggage Claim signs and find your flight number on the screens before you stand at a belt.
3. The exit: with your bags collected, follow the Exit signs, and count your suitcases before you go through the door.
4. Your car: in the arrivals hall, look for the sign with your name on it if you have booked.

Entry and visa rules change from time to time, so we do not list them here. Check them with the official authority before you travel, and keep your hotel address in Latin letters on your phone.

What Does a Car From Sabiha Gökçen Cost by District?

Prices are for the whole car, one way, and include tax, tolls, the Bosphorus crossing and 60 minutes of free waiting from landing. After that it is 15 euros for every 30 minutes or part of it. The details are on our fixed-price car from Sabiha Gökçen page.

How Long Is the Drive From Sabiha Gökçen Into the City?

The most requested routes have their own pages: Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy, to Taksim and to Sultanahmet.

Which Areas Do We Not Serve From Sabiha Gökçen?

From Sabiha Gökçen we do not serve the Princes' Islands, Şile, Çatalca or Silivri. If you are heading somewhere near them, send us the address and we will suggest an alternative.

Can Someone Stay With You Inside Sabiha Gökçen?

Yes, if you book our Arabic meet and greet at Sabiha Gökçen: a member of our team meets you with your name on a sign and stays with you through passport control and baggage to the car. It costs 175 euros per person on arrival, with the priority lane, a porter and the electric cart included when needed. If skipping the queue is all you need, the priority lane on its own is 40 euros per person.

If you would rather have someone who speaks Arabic, ask when you book, and we confirm in writing what is available on your date.

What About Flying Out of Sabiha Gökçen?

We collect you from your hotel at the same table price, with 15 minutes of free waiting at the hotel. If you want someone beside you inside the terminal up to the gate, our departure service at Sabiha Gökçen is 190 euros per person, and the VIP rooms for a quiet wait before your flight are 105 euros per person.

Is There a Place to Pray at Sabiha Gökçen?

Yes, the airport has a prayer room. Ask the nearest member of staff where it is, as that depends on which part of the building you are in. For the road itself, see our guide to prayer and halal food on the road.

Before you land, save three things on your phone: your hotel address in Latin letters, the district name and your booking number. If your hotel is on the European side, leave a wider margin for any meeting on the same day, because the bridges are among the busiest points in the city.

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