From SAW to Kadıköy

M4: the metro that starts inside the terminal

SAW is the rare airport where the metro needs no shuttle and no outdoor trek: the M4 station sits inside the terminal, a short indoor walk from arrivals. Follow the metro signs, tap in with an Istanbulkart or a contactless bank card, and ride the line to its far end — Kadıköy — in about 52 minutes for roughly ₺42.

There is nothing to plan around: trains come every few minutes at peak times, the line is fully underground, and no traffic jam can touch it. The same line also serves stops such as Kozyatağı, Bostancı and Tavşantepe on the way, so much of the Asian side south and east of the centre is a single ride from the airport.

Two card details save money and confusion. The plastic Istanbulkart itself costs about ₺165 with no credit loaded, and the Biletmatik machines by the station often reject foreign bank cards — draw some lira from a terminal ATM first. And the transfer discount on later legs applies only to registered cards tied to a Turkish ID, so on an anonymous tourist card every leg is charged in full.

Getting to Üsküdar — and onwards by ferry

For Üsküdar, stay on the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then change to the Marmaray and ride one stop north. On a tourist card expect the ₺42 metro fare plus a separate Marmaray fare, since each leg is charged on its own.

Kadıköy is also Istanbul's nicest transport interchange: from the piers a few minutes' walk from the metro, ferries cross to Karaköy, Eminönü and beyond for around ₺59 depending on the pier, with frequent boats through the day. If your hotel is on the European waterfront, metro plus ferry is often the most pleasant arrival Istanbul can offer — our Asian side guide covers the piers in detail.

Buses: the cheap E-10 and the Havabüs coach

The E-10 city bus runs from SAW to Kadıköy for about ₺84, taking around an hour. It is an ordinary İETT bus — city stops, city crowds — and its main job in this comparison is covering the hours when the metro sleeps.

The white Havabüs coach costs roughly ₺270 to Kadıköy. It is slower value than the metro on a normal day, but it has a proper luggage hold, which the M4's stairs and gates do not, and you board right outside arrivals. You pay on the coach with cash or an Istanbulkart — bank cards are not accepted on board.

Taxi and private transfer: door to door

A metered yellow taxi from SAW to Kadıköy runs on the official 2026 tariff — ₺64.40 start plus ₺43.56 per kilometre. Over the 25–31 km of this route that works out to roughly ₺1,200–1,500 in normal conditions, and 35–60 minutes depending on traffic. The classic airport-rank tricks — a "broken" meter or a padded flat quote — are covered in our taxi fares and scams guide; knowing the rough meter price in advance is the best defence.

A pre-booked transfer costs more than the metro but fixes the price before you land and puts a driver at arrivals with your name. After a red-eye with luggage, or with a family in tow, that is often worth more than the fare difference. Book through GetTransfer and the quote is agreed up front.

Landing late? What runs at night

The M4 runs from about 06:00 to midnight most nights. There is one genuinely useful exception: on Friday and Saturday nights the line joins the weekend Night Metro and runs right through, with a double fare charged between 00:30 and 05:30. Land at SAW in the small hours of a Sunday to Thursday, though, and the metro is shut like everywhere else.

In that window your realistic choices are the E-10 (check the night timetable), a metered taxi with the caveats above, or a transfer booked for a set pickup time — the option that doesn't involve standing on an empty forecourt at 03:00 hoping. Our late-night arrivals guide walks through both airports after dark.

Quick answers

How do I get from Sabiha Gökçen to Kadıköy by metro?

Take the M4 from the station inside the SAW terminal straight to Kadıköy — about 52 minutes and roughly ₺42, with no changes. Tap in with an Istanbulkart or a contactless bank card.

Does the M4 run at night?

Trains run from about 06:00 to midnight on most nights. On Friday and Saturday nights the M4 joins the weekend Night Metro and runs through, with a double fare between 00:30 and 05:30; on other nights it is closed.

How much is a taxi from SAW to Kadıköy?

On the official 2026 meter — ₺64.40 start plus ₺43.56 per kilometre — the 25–31 km trip works out to roughly ₺1,200–1,500 in normal conditions. Insist on the meter; flat quotes at the rank usually run higher.

How do I get to Üsküdar from Sabiha Gökçen?

Ride the M4 to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then change to the Marmaray for one stop north to Üsküdar. On an anonymous tourist card the metro and Marmaray legs are charged separately.

Can I continue from Kadıköy to the European side by ferry?

Yes — ferries leave the piers near the metro for Karaköy, Eminönü and other European piers, around ₺59 depending on the route, with frequent departures through the day.