Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
Sabiha Gökçen International Airport things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
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Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on Istanbul's Asia side offers a seamless travel experience. The simplicity of navigating through the airport contrasts favorably with Istanbul Airport, ensuring a quicker passage through immigration. For city transfers, a convenient metro links the airport to Ayrilik Cesme station, where a connection to the Marmara train takes you effortlessly to the European side. Strategically located in a tranquil part of Istanbul, the airport provides a serene gateway to the bustling city. Choosing Sabiha over Istanbul Airport can yield significant savings on flights. Taxis and shuttle buses are available, but for an economical option, a private bus journey to Taksim or Aksaray in the historic Fatih District costs 137 Lira. This route opens up access to iconic landmarks like the Sultanahmet Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Topkapi Palace. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport stands out for its efficiency, simplicity, and cost-effective connections to Istanbul's key destinations. Travelers seeking a smooth arrival and departure experience, coupled with potential savings, will find Sabiha Gokcen an excellent choice.
Mohamed Mahmud
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Experience in Arrival: Mostly, Pegasus Airlines are here. You have to ride for an airport bus as the terminal tubes are always busy. I love their signages - clear and have color coding to make it easy for the passengers. There are lots of immigration counters but seems that too many also tourists coming into this country. The I.O. I encountered was cool, checking every detailed and kind. It takes only less than 3 mins. Getting your luggage is easy and it will not take time. The worst wifi I have encountered at the airport... only for 30 mins. Lots of fast food chains, exchange moneys, telecoms and rentals. Good thing that there are lots mode of transportation such as metro, taxi and bus. Some of the employees at the airport are not friendly and don't smile. Experience in Departure: Arrived via metro train that it takes 1 hr. starting from Sirkeci Marmaray Station Entrance There is an inspection before entering the premises. I arrived more than 4 hours so that I have time to buy some stuffs. BUT, the problem starts with the airport staff's as the don't give the correct or concrete answers. I asked at the entrance of departure, and they give me the wrong direction. I asked, and the staff put me in the wrong lane and place (which I line for almost an hour) The "Check-in Counter desk" - 2 out of 5 counters were working, and it takes tooooooooooooo longgggggg… and another 1 hour waiting in line. They always talk and work slow. I asked again airport staff where is the entrance for the Immigration and she gave the wrong direction until I find it myself. No problem in the Immigration area perhaps less than 2 minutes. The Duty Free is not as big as the others airport. All titled fast food chains are located on the 1st floor including eating area. Not as many available steel chairs at the gate station. I have Conclusion: Next time better come early at the airport cause some airport staff's have an attitude.
John Paul Tuquib
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The airport Sabiha Gokcen is one of the most uncomfortable,small,dull and lacking of human services place. Got ticket with Pegasus last minute with landing and waiting in Istanbul for 6 hrs. The place is missing usual understanding for the needs of Transfer travellers,even while Istanbul is a huge hub itself. 1)No wi-fi, for a free one (a one hour ) huge que and in cafes (where it used to be available for customers) it is given same free one for one hour as well.2)As transfer travellers we are not going to stay in Turkey and have no idea that Dollars cash paperes should be not older that 2017 and that in Sabiha exchange they would not accept regular money.Being locked in airport transfer area while waiting for my flight with a child I faced very unpleasant time and felt poor while having enough money for any needs. Especially ugly was restaurant "Big Chief": the bill was 99 usd , we paid 100 . Then the waiter started to "begg" for tips, asking with a stupid smile that for his good service he is expecting tips. So he got his 5 dollars(for regular bringing the plates)+ 100 usd for bill. The funniest started after a minute,when he returned asking to give him another 100 dollars as it is earlier than 2017. First, if it is stupid this way ,please write it on entrance to the place,that we know from the start( that you are expecting people to come to you with the money recently printed). I am working and getting money being used by other people ,no one is getting newly printed money from bank specially for you.In exchange kiosk (the only one) they said the same(dollars production 2017-"blue") in a poor english and not polite. So Sabiha Gokcen and Istanbul itself is out of my list of prefferd hub.
Antonina Astafeva
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Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, located on the Asian side of Istanbul, has been a popular gateway for travelers. However, it's unfortunate that during my recent visit, I encountered some notable issues that significantly impacted the overall experience. The most pressing problem was the lack of adequate air conditioning throughout the airport. Overheating was a constant issue, making the terminal uncomfortably hot and stuffy. This not only made the waiting areas and queues unbearable but also affected the general atmosphere, leaving passengers feeling quite frustrated. Another point of concern was the pricing within the airport. The shops and duty-free outlets seemed to have significantly higher price tags compared to other international airports. This could be frustrating for travelers looking to purchase souvenirs or essentials, as the elevated prices might discourage shopping at the airport. Similarly, the food and beverage options were overpriced, which is disappointing considering how airport dining can already be expensive. These elevated costs made it even more challenging for passengers to find reasonably priced meals and refreshments during their travels. Despite these drawbacks, Sabiha Gökçen Airport continues to serve as an essential hub for travelers arriving and departing from the Asian side of Istanbul. Hopefully, in the future, the airport authorities will address these issues, improving the overall experience for passengers and making it a more competitive and enjoyable travel hub.
Amer Olba
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I don’t understand why this airport still holds a five-star rating. As a frequent flyer who has visited airports in 32 different countries, I can confidently say that none of them was as disappointing as this one. It’s hard to believe this is the airport of such a large, well-known, and tourist-friendly country. I assure you, this is by far the worst airport I’ve encountered. If you plan to travel from here, make sure to arrive at least 2.5 hours before your flight, even if you’re traveling during the low season or on an early morning flight. The queues are long, and there is a severe lack of seating or proper areas to relax. To make matters worse, the prices for meals and beverages here are shockingly higher than in most European countries, making it even more frustrating for travelers. What really baffles me, however, is how there are plenty of seats available near the gates, but they’re all blocked off with barriers, preventing anyone from sitting. It’s truly appalling—people, including babies, are left with no choice but to stand, often for long periods of time. There’s no consideration or mercy for anyone waiting. It’s a deeply frustrating experience that only adds to the growing list of issues with this airport. This place certainly does not live up to its reputation, and it’s disappointing to see such a poor experience in a place that attracts so many tourists.
SALSABILLA HASNA M R
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One of the worst airports I’ve ever been to: 1. Wi-Fi is the biggest issue. For some reason, it’s unnecessarily difficult to connect to it - you either have to receive a code on your phone (which never comes) or get a code by scanning your passport in one of the machines. Once you go through fire and water to get the code, you get a one-hour access which for some reason stops working after 1 minute. While Wi-fi access is not mandatory at airports, I had never been to an airport with such terrible experience. 2. The departure time information shows up on the screen 20-30 minutes before the actual boarding, which can be not enough if someone is on the other side of the airport or is having unexpected issues. 3. There was no staff around to talk to, or at least I didn’t find anyone at the time I was there, which led to lack of support and guidance about Wi-Fi or flight status. 4. There were not many charging plugs. 5. They divide the lines at arrival into domestic and international. Despite there being more international flights, the staff and space dedicated to them was not enough, while the domestic line was free and not as crowded. Overall, for an airport that has hundreds of fights daily, i’m sure they can afford to improve their services. Until they do it, I’ll make sure to avoid Sabiha and Pegasus Airlines.
E A
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