Havaist vs Havabus 2026: Which Istanbul Airport Bus Should You Take?
Havaist vs Havabus: which Istanbul airport bus should you take?
Havaist runs from Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, and Havabüs runs from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side, so the airport on your boarding pass picks for you. There's no real choice on most trips. Once you know which one to take: Havaist accepts contactless credit and debit cards and runs 24/7; Havabüs is cash-or-Istanbulkart only, and the last bus from the airport leaves around midnight.
At a glance: Havaist serves IST · Havabüs serves SAW · Havaist to Taksim: ₺426 with contactless card · Havabüs to Taksim: ₺440 cash or Istanbulkart · Both run every 30 min during the day.
Quick comparison
Side-by-side facts: which airport each operator serves, fares to Taksim, payment methods, frequency, and operating hours.
| Feature | Havaist | Havabüs |
| Airport served | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) |
| Side of the city | European | Asian |
| Tourist routes | 5 lines (Taksim, Aksaray, Kadıköy, Beylikdüzü, IST↔SAW) | 2 lines (Taksim, Kadıköy) |
| Fare to Taksim | ₺426 | ₺440 |
| Payment | Contactless credit/debit card or app QR | Cash (Turkish lira) or Istanbulkart only |
| Frequency | Every 30–60 min | Every 30 min |
| Operating hours | 24/7 | ~06:30 to 00:30 outbound from SAW |
| Booking required | No (walk-on); optional via app | No (walk-on, pay driver) |
| Luggage | 2 bags free; extras officially ₺80 each | Large under-bus storage, no posted limit |
| Onboard amenities | Wi-Fi, USB charging, A/C, extra legroom | A/C, reclining seats |
| App / online | Havaist app (tickets in advance) | None (pay the driver on board) |
Which one should you take?
The airport you're flying into picks the operator. The exceptions: airport-to-airport transfers, late-night arrivals at SAW, and travellers without an Istanbulkart or Turkish lira.
| If you are... | Take | Why? |
| Flying into Istanbul Airport (IST) | Havaist | Havabüs doesn't serve IST. |
| Flying into Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) | Havabüs | Havaist doesn't run from SAW (only to SAW from IST). |
| Transferring between IST and SAW | Havaist HVİST-13 | The only direct airport-to-airport bus. |
| Want to pay with a credit/debit card | Havaist | Havabüs is cash or Istanbulkart only. |
| Arriving late at night at SAW | Taxi or M4 metro | The last Havabüs from SAW to Taksim leaves around 00:30. After that you'll need a taxi or the M4. |
| Arriving late at night at IST | Havaist | Havaist runs 24/7 with departures roughly every 45–60 min through the night. |
Havaist in detail
Havaist is the official shuttle network for Istanbul Airport (IST), running five tourist lines around the clock. Buses are large and blue, depart from floor -2 (the arrivals level), and accept contactless credit or debit cards on board.
Havaist routes from Istanbul Airport
| Route | Line | Time | Fare |
| IST → Taksim | HVL-9 | 90 min | ₺426 |
| IST → Aksaray Metro | HVL-1 | 90 min | ₺426 |
| IST → Kadıköy | HVL-6 | 120 min | ₺468 |
| IST → Beylikdüzü | HVL-2 | 90 min | ₺420 |
| IST → Sabiha Gökçen Airport | HVİST-13 | 120 min | ₺480 |
For Sultanahmet, take HVL-1 to Aksaray Metro and transfer two stops on the T1 tram. For full timetables, departure platforms, and onboard amenities, see the in-depth Havaist guide.
Havabüs in detail
Havabüs is the official shuttle from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), with two lines for tourists. Buses are white, depart from outside the arrivals terminal near Simit Sarayı, and accept only cash (Turkish lira) or Istanbulkart. Credit and debit cards are not accepted on board.
Havabüs routes from Sabiha Gökçen
| Route | Line | Time | Fare |
| SAW → Taksim | SG-2 | 110 min | ₺440 |
| SAW → Kadıköy | SG-1 | 90 min | ₺270 |
The SG-2 to Taksim runs roughly 06:30 to 00:30 outbound from the airport. If you don't have an Istanbulkart yet, top one up at the kiosks inside the SAW arrivals hall before heading to the bus stop. For full route stops, schedules, and pickup spots, see the in-depth Havabüs guide.
Common confusions
"Can I take Havaist from Sabiha Gökçen?" No. Havaist only operates from Istanbul Airport (IST). The HVİST-13 line goes to SAW from IST. It does not run in the other direction. From SAW into the city, your shuttle option is Havabüs.
"Is Havabüs cheaper than Havaist?" Compare the two fares to Taksim above: ₺440 on Havabüs from SAW versus ₺426 on Havaist from IST. The fares are operator-set; you're not picking between them, since your airport decides.
"Are Havaist and Havabüs the same company?" No. They are separate operators with different fare structures, payment systems, and timetables. They share the airport-shuttle role but nothing else.
Havaist and Havabüs vs. other options to Taksim
Buses are the cheap option (about 90–110 minutes), taxis are the fast option (about 60 minutes from IST), and the M11 metro is the cheapest option from IST when you don't mind one transfer.
| Option | Cost | Time to Taksim | Best for |
| Havaist (from IST) | ₺426 | ~90 min | Budget IST arrivals |
| Havabüs (from SAW) | ₺440 | ~110 min | Budget SAW arrivals |
| Taxi from IST | ₺2,100 | ~60 min | Door-to-door, late arrivals |
| M11 metro from IST | ~₺79 | ~100 min (with transfer) | Cheapest option from IST |
For step-by-step directions from each airport, see Istanbul Airport to city center and Sabiha Gökçen to city center.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Havaist from Sabiha airport?
No. Havaist runs only from Istanbul Airport (IST). From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), the airport shuttle is Havabüs. The Havaist HVİST-13 line travels to SAW from IST, not the other way around.
Is Havabüs cheaper than Havaist?
The Havabüs fare from SAW to Taksim is ₺440; the Havaist fare from IST to Taksim is ₺426. Each operator runs from its own airport, so the fare you pay is determined by where you land, not by picking the cheaper one.
Are Havaist and Havabüs the same company?
No. They are separate operators. Havaist serves Istanbul Airport (IST), and Havabüs serves Sabiha Gökçen (SAW). They have different fare structures, payment methods, and timetables.
Which one accepts credit cards?
Havaist accepts contactless credit and debit cards on board (just tap when boarding) and also takes ticket purchases through its app. Havabüs does not accept credit cards. Onboard payment is cash (Turkish lira) or Istanbulkart only.
Do I need to book a Havaist or Havabüs ticket in advance?
No. Both are walk-on services. Show up at the bus stop, board, and pay on the spot. Havaist offers optional advance booking via its app for a small round-trip discount, but it isn't required.
How do I get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) by bus?
Take the Havaist HVİST-13 line directly between the two airports. The journey takes about 120 minutes and the fare is ₺480. There is no Havabüs equivalent. Havabüs only runs between SAW and the city, not between airports.
Can I use my Istanbulkart on Havaist?
On most Havaist lines, no. Havaist has moved to its own contactless payment system, so tap a contactless credit or debit card instead, or buy a ticket via the Havaist app. Havabüs, by contrast, accepts Istanbulkart on every line.
