Article by James Heywood:
Transportation from Istanbul's Ataturk Airport
Transfer safely and quickly in Turkey by shuttle bus or taxi cab
For first-time visitors to Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport, the Havas Shuttle Service or the many taxi cabs are the best way to transfer to hotels and hostels.
Ataturk International Airport is fast becoming one of the busiest airports in Europe, receiving over 30 million passengers a year. It is the main point of arrival for international travellers to the city with the newer Sabiha Gokcen Aiport now sharing the passenger load.
ATMs in the Arrivals Hall at Ataturk International Airport
After passing through customs and entering the Arrivals Hall at Ataturk International Airport, it is simple to withdraw Turkish currency using any of the ATMs located nearby.
All machines have a multilingual function and withdrawing cash is more efficient than converting notes, which attracts a commission.
Visitors need to have Turkish currency before using any of the public transport options.
Havas shuttle bus or taxi cab?
The Havas Bus Shuttle service is more comfortable than a taxi cab however limited stops along the route means it is inconvenient for first-time visitors who are not staying close to the Taksim area.
Taxis are suitable for visitors staying in Sultanahmet, since the taxi drivers at the airport generally know the hotels in the tourist areas and depending on traffic can make the trip in less than 40 minutes.
Some people remain hesitant to use Turkish taxis. However, taxi drivers do use meters and the new Turkish lira (YTL) no longer display a string of confusing zeros that used to confound travellers.
Havas shuttle bus
Havas operates a modern fleet of shuttle buses across Turkey. Depending on the destination it’s the cheapest choice for travelling into the city.
There are two Havas Shuttle routes departing from Ataturk International Airport, one heading to Taksim on the European side of the city, and a less-frequented service to the Bakirkoy Sea Bus Pier.
The large, comfortable white coaches are just outside the terminal’s sliding exit doors. The driver will load luggage into the hold for you.
Confirm the destination before you board the bus, though the driver generally checks this as he loads your luggage.
Buses depart from Ataturk International Airport between 04h00 and 01h00, leaving every half hour between 04h00 and 09h00 and every 15 minutes thereafter until 01h00.
A one way ticket costs 10 Turkish lira per person. The ticket is paid for on the bus.
The shuttle takes approximately 40 minutes from the airport to Taksim Square. Traffic jams are a little unpredictable in Istanbul though it’s wise to expect short delays for departure that will hit peak hour traffic on weekdays
The drop-off point in Taksim is 150m from the Taksim Metro station.
Taxi cabs in Istanbul
The entire Istanbul taxi fleet is new, the metering system is simple and there is no good reason not to make use of transport that can take you from the front of the Arrivals Halls and drop you at the hotel door.
The taxi stand at Ataturk airport is swift and there is rarely more than a 10-minute wait. The queue moves quickly.
All taxis have meters and there is no reason to enter a cab that doesn’t have one. The meter is behind the gear stick. If the driver mutters that the meter doesn’t work then it’s simple enough to make him stop and exit the cab.
The reputation of Istanbul taxi drivers
Turkish taxi drivers are often maligned as bad drivers and cheats. This seems an unfair reputation based on non-Turkish speaking first-time tourists arriving tired and weary. These same tourists usually haven’t bothered to write their destination down on paper anywhere for the taxi-driver to read.
The tourist who attempts to bargain the fare with the driver and not use the taxi meter forfeits the right to complain. The taxi driver will naturally come out on top in a city where the tourist is a stranger to both the currency and the labyrinthine streets.
Common sense should prevail.
Keep in mind, Turkish taxi drivers generally do not speak more than beginner's English. Assume they speak none at all. More often they will be able to conversse in good German.
The Istanbul "taksi" drivers may complain he has no change. No problem. As the taxi pulls into the hotel, go inside and ask the concierge to change the money. The taxi driver may suddenly find a stash of small denomination notes.
Like everywhere between the Balkans and India, people drive according to what is practicable and not to the supposed rules. It pays to buckle up.
This article was first published on Suite 101 on 26 November 2009.