How best to get to SAW for us | Turkey - Lonely Planet Forum

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Sun, 17 May 2015 22:12:53 +0000

Hi all,

We've been in Turkey for about 3 weeks and are just loving it. I hope when we get home in another 6 weeks a decent trip report will be posted.

The three of us will be going from the Anatolian-side airport (SAW) for a 6:30 pm flight to Goreme - right now I forget the destination airport. Anyway, how to get to SAW from Beyoglu? We're a short distance from the Tophane tram stop so, with the funicular, can easily get to Thaksim Square area. We tried a dry run today and just couldn't find a bus to take us and then read that there might be a problem with the municipality for private SAW buses - don't want to start any unfounded rumours here. Anyway, our hotel is quoting 150 TL for their taxi. We have lots of time so won't have to rush. Money is always a concern.

What to do?

Cheers.

ONLINE

Sun, 17 May 2015 22:29:58 +0000

So the cheapest option rather than the quickest I guess :) If you have an Istanbulkart this will make the tram and ferry cheap for you.Take the tram from Tophane down to Eminönü and a ferry across from there to Kadıköy where you can pick up the Havataş airport transfer bus.
The tram and ferry will be 4TL each without an Istanbulkart but much cheaper with one and the bus is 9TL.
http://www.havatas.com/
You need to be at SAW to check in by 17.30 btw ,so at this time of day the traffic over the Bosphous bridges will be building up so by using the ferry you skip that headache :)making your journey quicker and more pleasant.The Havataş bus leaves from right in fromt of Kadıköy ferry pier,100 metres away.

You could of course take the Havataş bus from Taksim but then you have the issue of the bridge crossing.

Another cheapish(and hassle free) way is to book a door to door shared shuttle bus which is 10€ each,about 26TL.
http://www.istanbulairportshuttle.com/
The 15.15 would be good for you I reckon but e mail to ask if the have other times,they often do.

And finally (a bit late!)welcome at last to Turkey so glad to read you are having a good time and yes,a trip review later would be great!

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ONLINE

Sun, 17 May 2015 22:41:07 +0000

Thanks Sari.

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Wed, 18 May 2016 01:01:47 +0000

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