What the M4 actually is
The M4 is Istanbul's Asian-side metro spine. It has run from Kadıköy inland for years, and in October 2022 the line was extended to Sabiha Gökçen, giving the airport a direct rail link for the first time.
That extension is the reason getting out of Sabiha Gökçen cheaply is now realistic. Before it, the only options were a coach, a bus or a taxi. Today the metro station sits inside the airport complex, and a single fare takes you 33.5 km across 23 stations to the ferry piers at Kadıköy in about fifty minutes.
Finding it from arrivals
Follow the metro symbol from the arrivals hall. The signage is bilingual and the walk is short and step-free — this is not one of those airports where the rail link involves a shuttle bus and a fifteen-minute trek.
Buy your İstanbulkart at the machines by the station entrance before you reach the turnstiles. The airport is the terminus, so every train on the platform is going the right way; there is no wrong platform to stand on.
What it costs
A single journey costs the standard Istanbul public transport fare, which rose to ₺46.20 on 20 July 2026 as part of the same 10 percent UKOME increase that lifted taxi tariffs. The distance does not change the price — one tap covers the whole line.
Transfers made within a set window after your first tap are charged at a reduced rate rather than full price, so a metro-then-ferry journey costs less than two separate full fares. That matters if you are heading to the European side.
| Route | Approximate cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
| M4 to Kadıköy | ₺46.20 | ≈50 min |
| M4 + ferry or Marmaray to European side | ≈₺75–95 | 90–120 min |
| Havabüs coach to Kadıköy | ≈₺230–270 | 60–75 min |
| Havabüs coach to Taksim | ≈₺370–440 | 90–120 min |
The catch: the line stops at the water
M4 terminates at Kadıköy. Kadıköy is on the Asian side. If your hotel is in Sultanahmet, Taksim, Galata or Beşiktaş — which, for most first-time visitors, it is — the metro gets you to the shore and no further.
From Kadıköy you have two ways across. Ferries run to Karaköy and Eminönü from the piers right by the metro exit, and they are one of the genuinely lovely things about arriving in Istanbul. Or you change one stop earlier at Ayrılık Çeşmesi onto Marmaray, the rail tunnel under the Bosphorus, which is faster and weatherproof but underground the whole way.
Either option adds a change with your luggage, and possibly a third leg once you reach the other shore. That is the honest trade for the fare difference.
Operating hours, and why they matter here
The M4 runs roughly from 06:00 to midnight, with trains every four to eight minutes during the day and every eight to twelve in the evening.
Sabiha Gökçen handles a lot of low-cost traffic, and low-cost traffic lands at unsociable hours. If your flight is scheduled to arrive at 23:40, a twenty-minute delay plus passport control and baggage puts you at the metro station after it has closed. It is worth deciding in advance what you will do in that case rather than discovering it at 00:30 with your suitcases.
Metro with luggage: an honest assessment
Trains have no dedicated luggage racks. You stand with your case, and on the airport leg that is fine because you board at the terminus and the carriages start empty.
It gets harder further in. The M4 is a commuter line, and between roughly 07:30 and 09:30 and again from 17:00 to 19:30 it fills up properly. Two large cases and a rush-hour carriage do not mix well, and the interchange at Ayrılık Çeşmesi involves stairs and escalators.
Our rule of thumb: hand luggage and a backpack, take the metro without hesitation. One case each, still fine outside rush hour. Two large cases per person, or a pushchair, or a cruise sailing to catch — the change-free options start earning their price difference.
Who should take the M4
- Staying in Kadıköy, Moda, Ataşehir, Bostancı or anywhere on the Asian side — take it, nothing else comes close on price.
- Travelling light and arriving in daylight, even for the European side — take it, and enjoy the ferry crossing.
- Heading to the European side with real luggage — possible, but budget 90 to 120 minutes and one or two changes.
- Landing after midnight, travelling with small children, or working to a cruise or connecting-flight deadline — pick something that runs door to door.
Take the M4 from Sabiha Gökçen step by step
- 1
Follow the metro signs from arrivals
The station is inside the airport complex and signposted in Turkish and English. The walk is short and step-free.
- 2
Buy an İstanbulkart at the machines
Yellow and blue Biletmatik machines sit by the station entrance. Buy the card, then load credit — cash and cards both work.
- 3
Tap in and board
The airport is the terminus, so every train departs towards Kadıköy. Services run every four to eight minutes during the day.
- 4
Decide where to get off
Stay on to Kadıköy for the ferry piers and the Asian side. For the European side, get off at Ayrılık Çeşmesi and change to Marmaray.
- 5
Cross the Bosphorus if you need to
Ferries from Kadıköy reach Karaköy and Eminönü in about twenty minutes. Marmaray runs under the strait to Sirkeci and onwards.
Frequently asked
Is there a metro at Sabiha Gökçen airport?
Yes. A station sits inside the airport complex, on the M4 towards Kadıköy, opened as an extension in October 2022. The whole line covers 33.5 km across 23 stations and takes about 50 minutes end to end.
How much is the metro from Sabiha Gökçen?
₺46.20 for a single journey with an İstanbulkart, the standard Istanbul public transport fare since 20 July 2026. The price is the same regardless of how far along the line you travel.
How long does the M4 take from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy?
About 50 minutes for the full line. Trains run every four to eight minutes during the day and every eight to twelve in the evening.
Can I take the metro from Sabiha Gökçen to Taksim?
Not directly. The M4 terminates at Kadıköy on the Asian side. For Taksim you change to Marmaray at Ayrılık Çeşmesi or take a ferry from Kadıköy, then continue by metro or funicular — roughly 90 to 120 minutes in total.
What time does the Sabiha Gökçen metro stop running?
Around midnight, with first trains from roughly 06:00. Sabiha Gökçen sees a lot of late low-cost arrivals, so check your landing time before you rely on it.
Do I need an İstanbulkart for the M4?
Yes. Most Istanbul lines do not accept contactless bank cards. Buy an anonymous İstanbulkart from the Biletmatik machines at the station entrance and load credit onto it before you tap in.
Where these figures come from
Fares and timetables in Istanbul change more than once a year. Every figure above is traceable to a source below — check them yourself before you travel, and tell us if you find something out of date.
- Wikipedia — M4 (Istanbul Metro)
Line termini, 23 stations, 33.5 km length, the October 2022 airport extension and the ~52 minute end-to-end time.
- Posta — İstanbul toplu taşıma ücret tarifesi 2026
The İstanbulkart full fare rising to ₺46.20 on 20 July 2026.
- Metro İstanbul
The operator's own timetables and service updates — check here for engineering works before you travel.