An IST to SAW transfer needs more planning than an ordinary airport connection. Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen are separate airports, so your next flight involves a journey across the city.
If you have five hours between flights, don’t count all five as transfer time. You still need to leave your arrival airport, reach transport and complete departure procedures at the other end.
The good news? A direct Havaist shuttle links the airports. However, its departure needs to fit your flight. Your plan should also leave room for delays.
Is five hours enough for an IST to SAW transfer?
Five hours may work, but it is not a reliable guarantee. Your actual margin depends on arrival formalities, luggage, transport departure and your onward airline’s deadlines.
For example, landing at 10:00 does not mean you can board a bus at 10:00. Likewise, a 15:00 flight does not mean you can reach check-in at 14:59.
Before booking, work backwards from the second flight. First, use your airline’s recommended airport arrival time. Then allow for the road journey and the time needed to leave your first airport.
If your tickets are separate, ask the airlines what happens if the first flight arrives late. Don’t assume the second booking includes protection against a missed connection.
On separate tickets, no airline moves your bags between the airports. Collect your luggage on arrival, then check it in again at the second airport.
You must enter Turkey to make this transfer
You cannot stay airside when changing airports. You leave the international area, so you pass through Turkish passport control. Before you book, check whether your passport needs a visa or e-Visa. The official Republic of Türkiye e-Visa website shows the current rules.
Start with the three-letter airport codes
| Code | Airport | Side of Istanbul |
|---|---|---|
| IST | Istanbul Airport | European side |
| SAW | Sabiha Gökçen Airport | Asian side |
This guide covers travelling between those airports. If both flights use IST, follow your airline’s transfer instructions instead.
Also, compare the total cost before choosing the cheapest flight combination. Transport, luggage and an overnight stay can change the calculation.
Your connection time, broken into five parts
- Leaving the aircraft: Include taxiing, disembarking and the walk through the terminal.
- Arrival procedures: Allow for passport control where applicable, baggage collection and customs.
- Reaching transport: Find the correct departure point and wait for your vehicle.
- Travelling between airports: Include a margin for changing road conditions.
- Preparing for the next flight: Allow for check-in, bag drop, security and reaching your gate.
Clearly, the road journey is only one part of the calculation.
A worked example—not a recommended minimum
Imagine your first flight lands at 10:00, and your second leaves at 15:00.
Suppose you choose 12:00 as your target arrival time at the second airport, following your airline’s advice. That leaves two hours from scheduled landing to reaching the next terminal.
If arrival procedures take one hour, only one hour remains for waiting and travelling.
These are illustrative assumptions, not predicted journey times. However, the example shows why a five-hour gap can feel much shorter on the day.
Available transfer window = target arrival time at the next airport − the time you expect to leave your first terminal.
Next, compare that window with the actual transport departure and current journey estimate.
IST to SAW transfer by Havaist
Havaist’s official stop list includes the connection between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen. The state airports authority also lists this service.
For travellers with luggage, a direct coach is worth checking first. It avoids carrying bags through several rail connections.
- First, select the correct direction on the official Havaist website.
- Then check the current departure time and fare.
- Confirm the boarding location.
- Compare the next departure with your connection window.
- Finally, save the details on your phone before landing.
Look for the airport name rather than relying only on a route number copied from an older guide.
For the reverse journey, Sabiha Gökçen’s official information describes a pickup point across from terminal arrivals, at the open car park level. Nevertheless, confirm the exact boarding point using current airport signs.
Would a taxi or private transfer solve a tight connection?
A car may reduce the wait for a scheduled departure. However, it still uses the road network.
Therefore, compare the whole journey, including pickup time. A private transfer cannot guarantee that an already tight connection will work.
If you book a vehicle, confirm the destination airport, meeting point, luggage capacity and full price. Also, ask how the provider handles a delayed arrival. For families, request any child seat you need before booking.
Can you use the metro instead?
Rail can be an option, but this is not a simple one-train airport transfer. Check a current journey planner for the complete route, interchange walks and operating hours.
Metro Istanbul confirms that the M4 serves Sabiha Gökçen Airport. It connects with Marmaray at Ayrılık Çeşmesi. However, that does not establish the timing of the entire journey from IST.
With several bags or limited mobility, consider the effort involved in changing trains. Also, check every part of a late-night route separately.
Our Istanbul night metro guide explains why one operating line does not guarantee a complete overnight journey.
Check-in closing time is not your arrival target
Your airline’s check-in deadline is a cutoff, not a comfortable time to reach the terminal.
For example, Turkish Airlines lists counter check-in closure at 45 minutes before domestic departures. For international departures, it lists 60 minutes, with station-specific exceptions. These rules do not automatically apply to another airline.
Instead, check your booking and your operating airline’s instructions. Online check-in may save a step. However, you still need time for baggage procedures, security and the walk to your gate.
When an overnight stay makes more sense
If the connection leaves little flexibility, compare it with an overnight stop near your departure airport.
You may gain a calmer morning and avoid treating every queue as a countdown. However, check the hotel’s actual location and transfer arrangements. “Airport hotel” does not necessarily mean a short walk to departures.
For a longer stay, our Istanbul Airport transport guide and Sabiha Gökçen transport guide explain the city connections.
IST to SAW transfer: frequently asked questions
Is there a direct bus between IST and SAW?
Yes. Havaist lists a direct airport connection. Check its official website for current departures, fares and boarding information.
Is five hours a safe connection?
There is no universal five-hour guarantee. Instead, calculate the usable window after arrival procedures and before your onward airport arrival target.
Is the reverse SAW to IST journey different?
The same planning method applies. However, departures, pickup points and traffic conditions can differ by direction and time.
Do I need a visa for an IST to SAW transfer?
You enter Turkey when you leave one airport for the other, so your nationality’s entry rules apply. Check the official e-Visa website before booking.
Should I fit in sightseeing between the airports?
Prioritise reaching your next airport. Only consider sightseeing when your verified schedule leaves substantial spare time after all transport and airport procedures.
What should I check before buying the flights?
Check ticket protection, baggage arrangements, your entry requirements and current transport options.
Our advice: On separate tickets, choose a second flight that leaves a clear buffer after your own calculation. Also note the next Havaist departure as a backup.
Transport sources checked on 1 November 2026. Recheck operating details before travelling.
