From Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport is on the European side about 45 km north of Florya.
- Taxi or private transfer: 45–60 minutes outside rush hour via the motorway and the coastal road. The simplest option with luggage or children. Book a fixed-price transfer in advance to avoid meter disputes; our partner gokarvan quotes fixed prices for airport to Florya.
- Public transport: the Havaist airport bus to Bakırköy or Yenikapı, then the Marmaray westbound to Florya Akvaryum. Around two hours with the change; fine without luggage, tedious with it.
Layover visit: feasible with eight hours or more. Leave the airport by 60 minutes after landing, an hour to Florya, three hours inside, an hour back, and be at security two and a half hours before departure. Store bags in the airport's left-luggage. Check the opening hours against your arrival time first; a weekday closing at 19:00 rules out evening layovers.
From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW)
Sabiha Gökçen is on the Asian side about 60 km away and across the Bosphorus.
- Taxi or private transfer: 75–90 minutes outside rush hour via the Eurasia tunnel or the bridges, considerably more at peak times.
- Public transport: the M4 metro from the airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then the Marmaray westbound straight through the tunnel to Florya Akvaryum without changing. About 1 hour 45 minutes; a comfortable option with a single bag.
A layover visit from Sabiha Gökçen only works with ten hours or more.
Staying near the airports
The hotels around the former Atatürk Airport (Yeşilköy, Bakırköy, Ataköy) are five to fifteen minutes from the aquarium by taxi, which makes it the obvious first-evening or last-morning outing for anyone staying there. The Istanbul Airport hotels are as far away as the city centre.
Once you are there
Tickets, hours and the walk from the station are on how to get there and tickets. If you have luggage, the mall has no left-luggage; keep bags small or leave them at the hotel.
Frequently asked questions
How far is Istanbul Aquarium from Istanbul Airport?+
About 45 km. By taxi or private transfer it is 45 to 60 minutes outside rush hour, along the motorway and then the coast. There is no direct public-transport link; the bus-plus-Marmaray route takes about two hours.
Can I visit on a layover?+
From Istanbul Airport, yes with a layover of eight hours or more: an hour each way by transfer plus three hours inside. From Sabiha Gökçen it is too far for anything under ten hours.
Which airport is closer?+
Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side, about 45 km. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side, about 60 km and across the Bosphorus, so allow 75 to 90 minutes by car.
Is the aquarium near the old Atatürk Airport?+
Yes, it is next to the former Atatürk Airport site, which is why older guides describe it as 'near the airport'. That airport closed to passenger flights in 2019; do not book flights or transfers to it.
Keep planning
Aquarium Florya is an independent visitor guide. It is not the official website of İstanbul Akvaryum; official information and gate tickets are at istanbulakvaryum.com. istanbulakvaryum.com