Landing at Istanbul Airport (IST) in the afternoon with one suitcase each. Staying in Sultanahmet. What are the options, and which one makes sense for a first visit?
There are three practical options. The cheapest is the M11 metro from the airport to Gayrettepe, then the M2 towards Yenikapı. Get off at Vezneciler and it's about a 15 minute walk to Sultanahmet, or hop on the T1 tram at Beyazıt for two stops. Pay with an Istanbulkart, which you can buy and top up at the machines in the station. The second option is the Havaist airport bus, which has a route to the old city. The third is a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.
Worth knowing: the airport is roughly 40 to 50 km from the old city, so by road expect anything from about 45 minutes to well over an hour depending on traffic. Late afternoon on a weekday tends to be slow. The metro route has two changes and some long corridors, which is fine with a backpack but tiring with big suitcases.
Disclosure, since you asked about transfers: our team also runs VixRide, a private airport transfer service, so we're not neutral on that option. A booked transfer mainly helps if you land late, travel with kids or lots of luggage, or want a fixed price agreed in advance. If you're travelling light and in daylight, the metro is a perfectly good choice.
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