Hey, I saw that there was threads like this but they were rather old and I'm not sure how up to date they were. So:
After interrailing I'll be flying home in end of June from Istanbul. Either I can fly with pegasus airlines from SAW or with turkish airlines from Ataturk airport. The difference is about 70 euros. Is it worth taking the cheaper one or is it just to much hassle getting to SAW?
I presume you will be in central Istanbul before you leave for the airport. There's an easy bus connection to SAW, and it's not expensive; you just need to leave plenty of time. Atatürk is closer and easier to get to. But if you have an extra hour or two, and the €70 makes a difference to your overall budget, go for SAW.
I think it all depends where are you located. If you are coming from other parts of Turkey than flights to SAW will cheaper, if you are staying in the Asian side, may be it is better to use SAW. If you are staying in Europe it will be easier to use Atatürk Airport.
If you have booked your tickets from SAW and you are staying in Sultan Ahmed or any where near the ferry boats, it might be better to take the ferry to Kadiköy and catch the Havatas bus from there to SAW.
You can get to either Airports by using Havatas buses from Takseem Square. You can also use the metro to get to Atatürk Airport.
From Takseem to SAW, the traffic can get very ugly. It took me more than 2 hrs, so I would suggest to take the ferry to Kadiköy.
No need to take the Havataş bus from Taksim to SAW now,you can use the Marmaray under water tunnel metro.You can board this at Sirkeci(down the hill from Sultanahmet) and go as far as Ayrılık Çeşme and then M4 metro one stop to Kadıköy pier where the Havataş bus stop is.It will take you 5 or 6 minutes to A.çeşme and then another 3-4 minutes to Kadıköy pier.
As said above though,it does depend a bit on where in Istanbul you'll be staying as to which is best for you.
http://www.marmaray.gov.tr/content/photos/213546Yeni-harita100x100.jpg
I agree that the marmaray is probably faster to get from Sultan Ahmed to Kadiköy. You just need to keep in mind that the metro laws for carrying big bags are restrictive during rush hours and security can stop you from using the metro system. I am not sure if they would actually inforce those laws or NOT. In rush hours, even if are able to go with a heavey bag pass security, you still might find it difficult to get into the metro train which is already fully packed. You won't have that problem getting on the ferry
I am NOT aware of such laws are applicable to the ferry boats (I simply do NOT know) . The ferry is way less crowded than the marmaray line so even if these laws exist I imagine they would be less inclined to in force it, as they might do in the metro system which has a jam packed load of passengers.
You will almost always get a seat on the ferry. (plus you can use the toilet on the ferry LOL, you can't do that when you are stuck in a Havtas bus crossing the Bosporus in heavey traffic or the metro. I learned that the hard way and I became a ferry boat fan ever since )
If you have a very early morning flight it'd better to get a shuttle. Every hostel in Sultanahmet offers this service. The shuttle picks you up from your hostel and takes you direct to the airport. Good value for money, though I haven't taken one for a few years so can't confirm the price. (It was 10 Euros three years ago.)
Thank you so much guys. I don't know where we'll stay but most likely in central Istanbul somewhere at least.
I think the shuttles seems to be the easiest option, even if it may take longer time so I feel like SAW is an doable option in that case. Will look through all your alternatives of getting there though, thanks again!
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