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Sabiha Gökçen Airport photograph

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

SAWAirport Guide

Private transfers from Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) sits on Istanbul's Asian side, in Pendik, and serves as the main base for low-cost carriers like Pegasus Airlines. A single integrated terminal building hosts both domestic and international passengers under one roof; the basement connects directly to the M4 metro station, and the departures level has 128 check-in counters.

Typical transfer
30–50 min
From
To
Date & Time
Passengers
2

Flight tracking · Upfront price · Optional meet & greet

Overview

About Sabiha Gökçen Airport

Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is a single-terminal airport on Istanbul's Asian side, in Pendik; it stays busy at night due to heavy low-cost carrier traffic, and the private transfer meeting point is across the street under the pedestrian overpass.

Because of its concentration of low-cost carrier traffic, the airport stays busy at night too — especially between 23:00 and 04:00 — which makes a pre-booked private transfer especially valuable for late arrivals. Being on the Asian side means fast access to Anatolian districts like Kadıköy with no Bosphorus crossing, while reaching European-side districts like Sultanahmet or Taksim requires crossing a Bosphorus bridge or tunnel.

Private transfer vehicles cannot wait directly outside the terminal exit; the meeting point is across the street, under the pedestrian overpass.

Last verified: 30 July 2026

Areas we serve from SAW
Key Facts
IATA code
SAW
City
Istanbul
Terminals
1 (international & domestic share one building)
Location
Pendik, Asian side
WiFi
Free (SGIA-Free-WiFi, SMS or passport-kiosk verification)
Private transfer meeting point
Across from arrivals, under the pedestrian overpass
Peak congestion
23:00-04:00 (heavy low-cost carrier traffic)
Where we meet you

Arrivals level — walk straight from the terminal exit and cross under the pedestrian overpass; the meeting point is opposite columns 10 and 13.

Key Facts

What to expect the moment you land.

Terminal
Single terminal building, domestic and international under one roof.
Meeting Point
Arrivals level — walk straight from the terminal exit and cross under the pedestrian overpass; the meeting point is opposite columns 10 and 13.
Upfront price
Optional meet & greet
Flight tracking
Professional drivers

What to Know Before Your Transfer

Price shown before you pay
The total is shown on the booking screen before you pay. Any card-payment fee and the extras you select are itemised before you confirm.
Flight-linked pickup timing
We track your flight, and pickup timing may be adjusted to your actual arrival.
Optional meet & greet
Optional paid meet & greet is available at airport pickups and can be added during booking.

Airport Guide

WiFi, SIM cards, ATMs and more at Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Pickup Details
VIP transfer services are available with pricing shown before booking. Optional extras include meet and greet and child safety seats, with Arabic- or English-speaking drivers available on request subject to availability.
How to Connect to Free WiFi
Free WiFi is provided via the "SGIA-Free-WiFi" (or "SGIA_WiFi_Free") network. There are two ways to connect: SMS registration (enter your phone number and receive a verification code) or scanning your passport and boarding pass at a terminal WiFi kiosk to get a physical access code. Bandwidth can drop during peak arrival windows; use a private connection for important transactions.
SIM Cards & eSIM
At the exit of the arrivals baggage claim area, on the right, three major carriers (Turkcell, Türk Telekom, Vodafone) run 24-hour kiosks. Airport prices run 50-70% higher than city-center vendors (Kadıköy, Taksim). If you plan to use an eSIM, buy and install it before landing in Turkey — since 2025 the Turkish telecom regulator has blocked access to international eSIM provider platforms (Airalo, Nomad, Saily) from Turkish IPs.
ATM Locations
ATMs are spread across arrivals, departures and the parking area: Yapı Kredi (5 ATMs), Türkiye İş Bankası (5 ATMs), Akbank (4 ATMs), Garanti BBVA (3 ATMs), plus 1-2 machines each from Denizbank, Ziraat, TEB, Halkbank, ING, Kuveyt Türk, QNB Finansbank and VakıfBank. Ziraat Bank, PTT and Halkbank are reported to offer low/no-fee withdrawals for foreign cards.
Currency Exchange
Currency exchange bureaus operate 24 hours across four locations (international departures and arrivals, landside and airside). Yapı Kredi and Türkiye İş Bankası each have a branch on the domestic arrivals level. The best rates are typically at the counter right next to the baggage belts in the transit area; for larger amounts, use city-center bureaus instead.
Lounge Options
Turkish Airlines CIP lounges are restricted to Business Class and Miles&Smiles Elite/Elite Plus members.
Duty-Free Shopping
Duty-free is operated by global retailer Dufry (Avolta) across 4,500 sqm total: a 3,300 sqm main departures gallery (cosmetics, spirits, chocolate, tobacco) and a 1,200 sqm arrivals duty-free — one of the largest in Europe — letting arriving passengers shop before clearing final customs. The "Turkish I.D." zone recreates a traditional Turkish bazaar selling Turkish delight, baklava and local gifts. A "Reserve & Collect" pre-order service lets you lock in promotional pricing and pick up items before your flight.
Night Arrivals
SAW stays busy at night too: landings concentrate between 23:00-04:00 (especially low-cost carriers like Pegasus), which can bottleneck passport control and baggage claim. The M4 metro line closes at midnight on weeknights (Mon-Thu, Sun) but runs 24 hours on Friday and Saturday nights (double fare applies 00:30-05:30). Havabüs shuttles stop at 00:30. For weeknight arrivals after midnight, the İETT SG-1 night bus (departing 23:40, 01:05, 02:25, 03:30) is an option, but a pre-booked private transfer remains the most reliable choice — there's no night-time fare surcharge, but stick to the official taxi rank to avoid scams.
Peak Hours
23:00-04:00 (night arrival wave) — High 07:00-10:00 / 17:00-20:00 (road traffic) — High Early morning / late afternoon (departure peaks) — Medium
Terminal Facilities
Single integrated terminal: Domestic and international share one building; the basement connects to the M4 metro, the departures level has 128 check-in counters, and the mezzanine holds lounges and Kepler Club.

Traffic, Tolls & Timing

What affects your journey time from Sabiha Gökçen Airport.

Crossings on routes from this airport
Kurtköy Pendik Bağlantısı girin Paralı yolLow
Anadolu Motorway (O-4)Medium
1. Çevre Yolu/İstanbul Çevre Yolu/O-1/D100 girin Paralı yolLow
Beşiktaş/Karaköy çıkışına girin Paralı yolLow
Fatih Sultan Mehmet BridgeHigh
171 kavşağında, sağa devam edin ve Kuzey Marmara Otoyolu/Yavuz Sultan Selim Köprüsü/İstanbul Havalimanı/Edirne/Şile tabelalarını takip edin Paralı yolLow
Kuzey Çevreyolu/O-7/E80 yönündeki rampaya girin Paralı yolLow
O-7 üzerinde devam etmek için sağdan ilerleyin Paralı yolLow
2. Çevre Yolu/İstanbul Çevre Yolu/O-2 yönündeki çıkışa girin Paralı yolLow
2. Çevre Yolu/İstanbul Çevre Yolu/O-2 üzerinde kalmak için soldan ilerleyin Paralı yolLow
Route charges that apply on some routes
15 July Martyrs or F.S.M Bridge Toll€2.00

What's Included

Flight monitoring for airport pickups

Services We Offer at This Airport

How to Book

1

Enter your trip

Pickup, drop-off, date and passenger count — see your price before you book.

2

Choose a vehicle

Compare capacity, luggage and comfort for your group.

3

Confirm details

Add your flight number so we can track it.

4

Pickup

Pickup details are confirmed with you after booking.

Vehicles for this airport

View all vehicles →
Mercedes Vito StandardRecommended
Mercedes Vito Standard
Comfortable private transfer in a Mercedes Vito, seating 1-7 passengers with room for 7 pieces of luggage.
1–7 7
Upfront price Flight Tracking Optional meet & greet Cancellation terms in your confirmation email
Starting from
€25
Book This Class
Mercedes Vito Business
Mercedes Vito Business
Premium Mercedes Vito VIP transfer with leather seating and elevated comfort for 1-7 passengers.
1–7 7
Upfront price Flight Tracking Optional meet & greet Cancellation terms in your confirmation email
Starting from
€38
Book This Class
Mercedes Vito First Class
Mercedes Vito First Class
The top-tier Mercedes Vito experience, seating 1-6 passengers with a privacy partition and premium in-cabin comfort.
1–6 6
Upfront price Flight Tracking Optional meet & greet Cancellation terms in your confirmation email
Starting from
€50
Book This Class
Mercedes Sprinter (12-Seater)
Mercedes Sprinter (12-Seater)
Group private transfer in a Mercedes Sprinter, seating up to 12 passengers with space for 12 pieces of luggage.
1–12 12
Upfront price Flight Tracking Optional meet & greet Cancellation terms in your confirmation email
Starting from
€55
Book This Class
Mercedes Sprinter (16-Seater)
Mercedes Sprinter (16-Seater)
Spacious minibus transfer for large groups of up to 16 passengers, with room for 16 pieces of luggage.
1–16 16
Upfront price Flight Tracking Optional meet & greet Cancellation terms in your confirmation email
Starting from
€65
Book This Class

Popular Routes

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Distance38 km
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SAWOrtaköy
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SAWLevent
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More routes from SAW

Intercity transfers from SAW

Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Sapanca Transfer
98 km · 64 min
Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Serdivan Transfer
104 km · 74 min
Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Adapazarı Transfer
110 km · 71 min
Sabiha Gökçen Airport - Bursa Private Transfer
118 km · 82 min
The arrival

What happens after you land at Sabiha Gökçen Airport

What to expect, in this order.

  1. 1

    Share your flight details

    Add your flight number when you book. Flight status is monitored for airport pickups, and pickup timing may be adjusted based on the actual arrival time.

  2. 2

    Pickup details are confirmed

    Arrivals level — walk straight from the terminal exit and cross under the pedestrian overpass; the meeting point is opposite columns 10 and 13.

  3. 3

    A private vehicle

    Your transfer is private, not a shared shuttle.

  4. 4

    Payment

    Optional extras and any card-payment fee are itemised before you confirm; the payment options available are shown at checkout.

Related guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I meet my driver at Sabiha Gökçen Airport?

Arrivals level — walk straight from the terminal exit and cross under the pedestrian overpass; the meeting point is opposite columns 10 and 13.

What happens if my flight is delayed?

We track your flight, and pickup timing may be adjusted to your actual arrival.

How much luggage can I bring?

Capacity depends on the vehicle category. Enter your passengers and luggage when you book and choose from the Vito and Sprinter options shown.

When is the price shown?

The price for your route and vehicle is shown before you book. Optional extras you add and any card-payment fee, where applicable, are itemised before you confirm.

Still unsure?

Send us your flight number and destination and we will reply with a quote.

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TÜRSAB licence 8491 · Çerkezköy Travel Turizm
Payment options at checkout

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