You can sleep at both Istanbul airports, but the options differ a lot. Istanbul Airport (IST) has free nap zones, paid sleep cabins and an airside hotel. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) has one in-terminal option, the paid Kepler Club. Last checked: 2 November 2026 against the airport and operator pages linked below. Prices are in euros and change, so confirm them before you pay.
Which airport are you connecting through?
Istanbul has two passenger airports on opposite sides of the city, and the right sleeping plan depends on which one your tickets use. IST is on the European side and is Turkish Airlines’ hub. SAW is on the Asian side. If you change airports, you must pass Turkish immigration and collect your bags, so you cannot stay in a transit area. Our IST to SAW transfer guide covers that journey.
Sleeping at Istanbul Airport (IST)
Free: Napzone rest areas
The airport says complimentary Napzone areas are spread through the terminal. It describes six rest areas with room for 278 people in total. The same page lists more locations than six, including spots opposite check-in areas A and S, by gates A5, A7, B4, B18, C1, C4, E1, E4, F13 and G8, and a Transfers area opposite the security checkpoint. Treat the list as a starting point and ask at an information desk which areas are open to you. Whether a zone is airside depends on the zone, so check before you pass through security.
Paid: iGA Sleepod
The airport operates 44 private sleeping cabins near the international gates in area D. The one-hour rates on the airport’s page, VAT included, are:
| Time of day | Price for 1 hour |
|---|---|
| 07:00–19:00 | €17.50 |
| 19:00–23:00 | €25 |
| 23:00–03:00 | €30 |
| 03:00–07:00 | €25 |
A blanket, pillow and pillowcase set costs an extra €5. The page does not explain how longer stays are charged, so ask when you check in. For a full night, price the whole stay before you compare it with a hotel room.
Paid: YOTELAIR sleep cabins and rooms
YOTELAIR is the airside hotel, inside the international Duty Free area. Its sleep cabins can be booked by the hour and have a bed, TV and desk, with shared showers and toilets. The airport page says they are walk-in only and sit opposite the entrance to the iGA Lounge, one floor up by escalator. Guests need a valid boarding pass for an international flight. The landside YOTEL, on the city side, takes bookings from four hours and needs you to be cleared into Türkiye. We explain the difference in our YOTEL Istanbul Airport airside or landside guide.
Free but unplanned: gate seating
You can also rest on ordinary gate seating. Many seats have fixed armrests, lights stay on and announcements continue all night, so this is the weakest option for real sleep. Do not block doors, corridors or emergency exits.
Sleeping at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Pegasus Airlines says the only hotel, shower and sleeping service inside the SAW terminal is Kepler Club, on the airside in the international departures area. Kepler’s own page lists a single pod at €18 per hour and a two-bed deluxe room at €40 per hour, with a 10% service charge and 8% tax included. Guests must be 7 or older. Pegasus passengers get a 15% discount when they show a boarding pass.
I found no free official nap zones at SAW. If you are not flying with Pegasus or do not want to pay, a hotel outside the airport is the alternative, but that means passing immigration. Our Sabiha Gökçen airport transport guide explains how to reach the city, including at night.
Stay airside or enter Türkiye?
Stay airside if you only need a few hours of rest. If you have 8 hours or more and your bags are checked through, a hotel in the city may be more comfortable, but you must be allowed to enter. Whether you need a visa depends on your nationality, so use the official Türkiye e-Visa website. Our Istanbul layover guide shows how to work out your real free time.
- Under 4 hours: stay airside, use a Napzone and set two alarms.
- 4 to 8 hours: an hourly cabin (Sleepod, YOTELAIR or Kepler) is usually better value than a hotel plus transfers.
- 8 hours or more, bags checked through, entry allowed: compare an airport cabin with the city, using our airport to city centre guide.
Practical tips for a night at the airport
- Bags: ask your airline whether they are checked through. If you must collect them, see our Istanbul Airport luggage storage prices.
- Valuables: keep your passport, phone and wallet on your body, not in a bag by your feet. Use a strap or loop a bag around your leg.
- Noise and light: an eye mask and earplugs help more than any seat choice.
- Charging: carry a power bank, because charging points near sleeping areas may be taken.
- Don’t oversleep: set an alarm, and check the departures board for gate changes when you wake up.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sleep at Istanbul Airport for free?
Yes. The airport offers complimentary Napzone areas and you can use gate seating. Space is limited and the areas are open to everyone, so they can be busy.
Is there a hotel inside Istanbul Airport?
Yes. YOTEL has a landside hotel and YOTELAIR has an airside one. The airport page counts 171 landside cabins and 280 airside.
Is there a sleeping pod at Sabiha Gökçen?
Yes. Kepler Club offers sleeping pods and rooms on the airside in international departures, and charges by the hour.
Do I need a visa to sleep in the transit area?
Usually not if you stay airside, but a hotel in the city requires you to enter Türkiye. Check your nationality’s rules on the official e-Visa site.
Sources: iGA Napzone page, iGA Sleepod page, Istanbul Airport hotel page, YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport, Kepler Club SAW, Pegasus Kepler Club page.
