Trip Planner
Getting to the Turkish Grand Prix
Sunday December 6 2026
What to expect in this guide
• Which airport do you fly into?
• How do you get from the airport to your hotel?
• Do you need a visa?
• Best booking resources for F1 trips
• Money-saving tip
• Frequently asked questions
Estimated Reading Time: 4-5 minutes
Getting there by air
Istanbul has two main airports, on opposite sides of the city.
Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, around 35 km northwest of the city centre. It’s the main international hub and is served by Turkish Airlines and most major flag carriers. Most international fans will likely fly into IST.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is on the Asian side, around 50 km southeast of the city centre. It’s the smaller of the two airports and is mostly used by low-cost carriers and holiday charter flights. Sabiha Gökçen sits just a few kilometres from Istanbul Park and is the closer airport for the circuit.
Direct flights to Istanbul Airport are common from most European hubs and from a wide range of cities in North America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Turkish Airlines runs one of the largest route networks in the world from Istanbul.
Sabiha Gökçen is well connected to a wide range of European and regional cities, often with low-cost carriers including Pegasus and AnadoluJet.
If your city doesn’t have a direct flight to either airport, the most common connections are through other major European hubs.
From Istanbul Airport (IST)
Metro Line M11. Takes you direct from the airport to Gayrettepe, where you can change to Line M2 for onward connections to Taksim and the central tourist areas. The journey to Taksim takes around 45 to 60 minutes.
Havaist bus. Direct buses from the airport to Taksim, Sultanahmet, and other parts of the city. A useful option if your hotel is near one of the bus routes.
Taxi. Available from the official taxi rank.
Pre-booked transfer. Worth considering if you’d rather have a fixed price agreed in advance.
From Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Havabüs bus. Direct buses from Sabiha Gökçen to Taksim and Kadıköy.
Public bus and metro. A combination of bus and the M4 metro line will get you across the Asian side of the city.
Taxi. Available from the official taxi rank. The journey to the European side can take 1 to 1.5 hours depending on traffic.
Pre-booked transfer. Worth considering for the same reasons as at IST.
The IstanbulKart
Public transport across Istanbul (metro, tram, bus, ferry, the Marmaray rail line) all uses the IstanbulKart, a contactless top-up card. It’s available at machines in both airports and at most metro stations.
If you’re using public transport at any point during the trip, an IstanbulKart is the simplest way to pay.
Visa and entry requirements
Many visitors don’t need a visa to enter Turkey, but requirements depend on your nationality. Some nationalities can apply for an e-Visa online before travel, and visa-on-arrival is no longer available. Check the official guidance at evisa.gov.tr before booking.
Best booking resources for F1 trips
Planning the trip is the fun part for some and a chore for others.
If you would rather not handle all the details yourself, we can do that for you.
Take a look at our Grand Prix ticket & travel packages »
Prefer to do it all yourself? You’re welcome to take everything you’ve learned here and book your own trip. These are good places to start. They’re reliable, easy to use, and usually the best value.
Tickets
Grand Prix Tickets is the agency I’ve trusted for years. They’ve always been reliable, easy to deal with, and quick to help if something comes up.
Hotels
ZenHotels is one of my go-to sites for hotel bookings. It pulls prices from many smaller sites you might not know about, which makes it good for finding deals. I also check Expedia and Booking.com when I want more options.
Excursions
Viator is full of walking tours, attraction tickets, and local experiences. It’s especially handy if you’re heading to a new Grand Prix city. It’s a good place to find extras to add to your trip.
Money-saving tip
Compare both airports before booking.
Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) serve very different routes, and prices can vary significantly between the two. Sabiha Gökçen is often cheaper for short-haul European flights with low-cost carriers, and is also closer to the circuit. Istanbul Airport offers a wider range of long-haul routes. It’s worth checking both before you book.
FAQ's
Istanbul has two main airports. Istanbul Airport (IST) is the main international hub, while Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is closer to Istanbul Park and is often used by low-cost carriers.
Yes. Istanbul has direct flights from Europe, North America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, with Istanbul Airport serving as the city’s main long-haul hub.
From Istanbul Airport, Metro Line M11 runs to Gayrettepe, where you can connect to central Istanbul. Havaist buses, taxis and pre-booked transfers are also available.
Visa requirements for Turkey depend on your nationality. Many visitors do not need a visa, but those who do must usually apply online before travel, as visa-on-arrival is no longer available.
An IstanbulKart is a contactless top-up card used across Istanbul’s public transport network, including metro, tram, bus, ferry and Marmaray services. It is available at airport machines and metro stations.
Introducing the Turkish Grand Prix
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