Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
Its always noisy (children and announcements) but people and security were kind of friendly. I saw people snoring in their sleeping-bags. -33cem34
SAW Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
What to Expect
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Code: SAW) is a modern single terminal facility with a decent selection of airside and landside shops and eateries, some offering 24-hour service. While the terminal is new, service is described as disorganized, inefficient and chaotic, with long, slow lines, likely due, in part, to the overall undercapacity of Istanbul’s airports. For comfort while you wait, economy class passengers can pay to use one of the first-class airport lounges. See our Airport Lounges section for locations and rates.
Sleeping in Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Reviewers describe departure areas and gates as being the best spots for finding a place to sleep. Most seats have armrests, but some benches in the departures lounge are said to have moveable armrests. While sleeping on the floor in the airport is reportedly against the rules, several reviewers noted that authorities did not bother them when they slept on carpeted areas in the international departures area or empty gate areas. As noise and bright lighting were cited as the most significant sleep disturbance, earphones/noise-cancelling headphones and eyeshades are recommended. For uninterrupted sleep, there is a hotel inside the airport, and some others are just a quick shuttle ride away. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations, or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport Guide.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security. For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Airport Hotels & Sleep Pods
If sleeping in the airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport:
- Kepler – Located inside Sabiha Gokcen Airport are personal sleeping units/pods, showers, a luggage storage facility and a lounge area. Rate: Hourly rate inclusive of VAT is 12EUR, and 24 hours is 108EUR. It includes a bed, shower, free Wi-Fi, complimentary coffee and tea, and luggage storage. Location: International Terminal, airside, upper level. Hours: open 24 hours. Reservations can be made at the door. » Check Rates
- ISG Airport Hotel – a 3-minute walk from the terminal, plus a free airport shuttle departs every 30 minutes from the arrivals floor, outside the terminal in column 17. For airport pick-up, go to one of the Information Desks at the airport for assistance in calling the hotel for pick-up, or call 0216 588 50 00. » Check Rates
- Airport Residence Kurtkoy – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Miracle Istanbul Asia Otel & Spa – Free scheduled airport shuttle runs from 6:45 AM to 11:30 PM. For transfers outside of this time, there is a fee. » Check Rates
- Crowne Plaza Istanbul Asia – The hotel is part of the open-air shopping mall with a movie theatre, go-karts, ATVs, bowling, and an amusement park. A free scheduled airport shuttle is available. Confirm shuttle times with the hotel. » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Istanbul Sabiha Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
Domestic Departures
- ISG Domestic CIP Lounge – Location: Domestic Terminal, Airside, upper level. Free WiFi. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- Plaza Premium Lounge – Location: Airside, Domestic Departure Level. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
International Departures
- Kepler Club – Location: International Terminal, Airside, Mezzanine Floor. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge pass (£24 – 3 hrs) • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- ISG International CIP Lounge – Location: International Terminal, Airside, upper level. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
- Plaza Premium Lounge – Location: Airside, International Departure Level, near Gate 203. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the Door.
Airline Lounges
If you are a First or Business Class traveller, you may have access to the lounges listed below. For more information, check the airline’s website.
International Terminal: Turkish Airlines Lounge Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
VIP Terminal: Turkish Airlines Lounge Sabiha Gokcen (Domestic Elite Lounge) • Turkish Airlines Lounge Sabiha Gokcen (Domestic Business Lounge).
Related Pages: Sabiha Gökçen Airport Lounges
Rest & Relaxation Zones
There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.
Drinking Water
Information is unavailable. Does the airport have water fountains or water bottle refill stations? Click here to update this guide.
Food & Drinks
At the time of this update, it was not known if there were any 24-hour food concessions. Many options are available, both landside and airside.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Location: International Arrivals Hall, Landside. Hours: 24 hours.
Mobile Charging
A reader tells us that a “phone charging point is available at the last corner table at the back of Simit Sarayı landside in Sabiha Gökçen domestic terminal.” (November 2022) Another reader tells us, ” there are about 5 outlets in the entire international departures terminal. Look for them on the sides of big metal pillars near the benches. There are also outlets at a few of the restaurants in the international departures terminal. I couldn’t find any on the landside, although there might have been some in the starbucks.” (June 2023)
Showers
Unavailable. If this is incorrect, click here to update this guide.
WiFi / Internet
A reader tells us, “there is unlimited free wifi available at the airport, but only if you activate it using a personalized code that you get from a machine on the landside. There’s only one machine in the entire airport and it’s right in front of one of the giant screens indicating check-in counter numbers when you first walk into the airport. Just ask someone at an information desk for directions to the wifi machine, they’ll know what that is. The machine has instructions in many different languages.” (June 2023)
More Airport Information
Fast Track – Move through security faster with fast track service. Buy online; services may also be available for purchase at the airport. Rates: 180 TL (International or Domestic).
Hair Salon – Hairstyling is done at R/A Kuafor Hairdresser. Location: International Departures, 3rd level. Hours: unknown.
Luggage Porters – Service is available for a fee. Rates: unknown.
Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags with plastic wrap. Location: Landside, on the Departures level.
Medical Services
- Medical Services – Urgent and emergency medical care is available 24 hours daily in the airport’s First Aid unit. For access, ask an airport staff member for assistance.
- Pharmacy – Get a prescription filled or buy health and beauty aids at Nuray Pharmacy. Location: International Departures Hall, landside Hours: Open 24 hours.
Money
- ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Services are provided by at least 15 different banks. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: unknown.
- Banking Services – Türkiye İş Bank and Yapı Kredi Bank offer full-service banking in the Arrivals Hall. Hours: Open daily, but specific hours are unknown.
- Currency Exchange – Currency exchange offices operate in the International Terminal at these locations: Departures Hall (landside and airside) • Arrivals Hall • Baggage Claim Hours: Open 24 hours.
Post Office – Location: Arrivals Hall.
Prayer Room – Two masjids (mosques), one for males and one for females, are located in Domestic Arrivals. Hours: 4:00 AM – 11:30 PM (closed nightly for cleaning).
Shopping – Setur Duty-Free Shop is available in both Departure and Arrivals Halls. A Setur Duty-Free Last Minute Shop is located in the International Departures remote gates, close to Gate 306. A variety of retail shops are also available throughout the airport.
SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.
Smoking Area – There is a smoking area (airside). According to a reviewer, the area is not covered or protected from the rain.
Buses
SAW airport is well connected to the public bus system. To plan your route, visit the Istanbul Sabiha Airport website.
Car Rentals
The following car rental companies are available at Istanbul Sabiha Airport Gökçen: Avis, Bostanci, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Sixt and more. Location: Arrivals Level.
Hotel Shuttles
See also Airport Hotels above.
Shuttles
Havataş travels between the airport and Kadıköy for 35 TL or Taksim for 50 TL (as of July 2022). The white-coloured Havataş shuttles can be found outside the terminal in front of the Arrivals exit, in front of the Point Hotel in Taksim (across from Taksim Divan Hotel) and at Kadıköy Pier.
Taxis
Taxis are available at the ground transportation area. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required.
Last updated: 2024-01-30
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.