Staying at hotels in Istanbul Airport is not just about transit. Perhaps we can never get over the fact that Istanbul is the only city in the world where two continents meet. And for that very reason, Istanbul boasts loud as an eclectic and vibrant city. With a history dates back as far as 2,500 years, it’s no surprise that you get to see some of the most popular remnants of what was once belonged to mighty empires, such as the Ottoman and the Roman. It went by two different names in two different periods. Whether for the time when it was known as Byzantine or Constantinople, Istanbul bore witness to the peak of power from both empires.
Being the largest city in Turkey, there are plenty of things you can do in Istanbul. Whether you’re going for a food quest on the best East meets West delicacies, relive the history, or even to just simply roam around the city, Istanbul got everything for everyone. And that includes LGBT travelers! Gay-friendly hotels in Istanbul are spread around the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. All these are tailored for those who plan on delving into the city. But what about stopovers who only happen to have a night in Istanbul? To that end, here’s our take on the best hotels near Istanbul Airport for your guide.
Where to Stay near Istanbul Airport
As of 2019, the popular Istanbul Atatürk Airport is permanently closed. All flights on the European side of the country is transferred to the new, modern, and lavish Istanbul Airport (IST). So now the country has two major airports serving international flights. In the Asian part of Turkey, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) is just as busy as IST.
Hotels near Istanbul Airport are not many to be exact. This is due to how the airport has only been operating for a year. But you can still find some of the decent ones and make them a comfortable stay during your transit. You can find hotels near Istanbul Airport spread at the center of Aryakutnöv. Some are located a little further, closer to Odayeri and Başakşehir.
As for hotels near Sabiha Gökçen Airport, there are plenty to find in Pendik. If you prefer to be closer to this airport, you can find some of the best lodgings in Tuzla. Planning to spend a vacation in Istanbul? We also have the 11 Best Hotels in Istanbul covered for you.
Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir
11
Hampton by Hilton Istanbul Kayasehir is located in Başakşehir district. If you don’t mind getting to the airport for about half an hour to have a good sleep in known hotel chains, then go for this hotel. Besides, you don’t have to worry about airport transfers since they provide shuttle service at an additional charge.
The proximity might be a letdown for an obvious reason but the services and facilities are up for no debate. With a modern décor, each room is equipped with basic hotel room facilities, with an additional mini-fridge. Plush bedding will welcome you as soon as you arrive and be tempted to doze off. Our favorite part of the room is the working space. It’s very ideal for long hours in front of the laptop for when you need to finish up some tasks.
Guests are welcomed by a complimentary setup of coffee or tea upon arrival. Which makes it a warm welcome. Free parking service is available on the premises without having to make a reservation beforehand.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Available at an additional charge
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Airport at 19.9mi (32.1 km)
- Estimated drive time: 29 minutes
Tevetoglu Hotel
10
Conveniently located just 4 minutes’ drive time from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Tevetoglu Hotel is ready to welcome you! The front desk is open for 24-hour, ready to be at your service even at the oddest time of the day. When you arrived without Lira cash in your possession, you can exchange currency at the property.
The staff is more than ready to go above and beyond as they give their best catering to your needs. Each room is very spacious and equipped with comfortable bedding, satellite TV, and chic toiletries, this place got everything covered for a transit hotel. On top of that, a free parking service is also available for guests coming with their own vehicles.
Although they don’t provide a shuttle service, the staff can arrange a taxi for you to get to the nearest airport. A taxi ride to the airport would only cost you 15 TRY. All in all, we wouldn’t mind another stay in Tevetoglu Hotel next time around. With such a service, it’s impossible not to include this hotel in our best hotels in Istanbul Airport list.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Unavailable.
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 1.3mi (2.1 km)
- Estimated drive time: 4 minutes
Park Inn by Radisson Istanbul Airport Odayeri
9
The word “tranquil” seems to be the perfect fit for this hotel near Istanbul Airport. Park Inn by Radisson champions itself with a forward-looking décor, extending from the building’s exterior to the smallest detail you can find in the en-suite bathroom. Each spacious room at this 4-star hotel provides a serene view of the garden. Which you won’t only be able to see, but you can also enjoy it.
The new Istanbul Airport is the closest airport to the property. You can arrange a private transfer whether you’re coming from or going to the airport. Each ride will cost you about 13 minutes’ drive time. You’ll how the hotel and its surrounding is so quiet and perfect for a layover. You’re guaranteed for a night of sleep like a log when you’re staying at Park Inn by Radisson Istanbul Airport. Truly one of the best for when you’re looking for hotels in Istanbul Airport.
For those expecting a hearty breakfast, your stay may not be wrapped up neatly. If only it came with a wider array of choices, it’d be a perfect stay. A glimpse of Turkish delicacies from the breakfast provided will not disappoint, though.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Unavailable. But the hotel’s willing to arrange a private transfer to the airport.
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Airport at 7.9mi (12.8 km)
- Estimated drive time: 13 minutes
Emirtimes Hotel Tuzla
8
This luxury hotel is located in Tuzla and just 9 minutes away from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Although embedding the title “luxury hotel” is still an understatement. A look at the hotel building, the concierge hall, to the rooms and the en-suite bathrooms, would explain why. The décor is very delicate and grandeur. Even the armchairs equipped in some of the bedrooms are extravagant. A comfortable working space is also provided in each room.
You get to enjoy a buffet breakfast style at the hotel’s restaurant or in the privacy of your room. Lunch and dinner are also served here with a la carte menu. While the lobby bar offers a diverse choice of refreshing drinks.
You’d appreciate the laundry and dry cleaning service available at the property. Have enough time to roam around neighboring towns? You can request for a car rental at Emirtimes Hotel Tuzla for a more convenient get around.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Available upon request at an additional fee.
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 4.8mi (7.8 km)
- Estimated drive time: 9 minutes
Menalo Hotel Express Istanbul Airport
7
Our next best hotels in Istanbul Airport sits a little further from Istanbul Airport. Currently, there aren’t many hotels near Istanbul Airport. But when you’re looking for one between your flights, Menalo Hotel Express Istanbul Airport is one of the best choices in the area. You can arrange a transfer to the airport at an additional charge. The ride will take about 19 minutes to the new Istanbul Airport.
We really appreciate the darker color tones on the décor, especially in the rooms. While most hotels in Istanbul Airport play it safe by choosing neutral colors such as earthy tones, Menalo Hotel Express goes out of the comfort zone by using dark tones. It turns out very chic and gives off a touch of elegance. And not to mention in instantly invites you to doze off just as soon as you arrive at the doorstep.
The 24-hour front desk is ready to welcome you even in the most untimely arrival. A luggage storage space is also available for when you don’t want to lug around your baggage. We’d recommend this hotel for a long stopover in Istanbul as well, as they’d cover all your basic needs and beyond.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Available upon request at an additional charge.
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Airport at 9.2mi (14.9 km)
- Estimated drive time: 19 minutes
Miracle Istanbul Hotel & Spa
6
Looking for hotels in Istanbul Airport with a great spa service? Here’s your answer: Miracle Istanbul Hotel & Spa. Located on the Asian side of Istanbul, you can have access to the never-the-same indoor and outdoor pool as well as its own spa facilities.
Other than the entry-level facilities, each room is also equipped with an electronic safe box. Guests can also enjoy daily breakfast serving both regional and international delicacies alike. Head to the bar for some refreshing drinks as well as a variety of snacks served all day!
The hotel’s spa facilities include a sauna and, of course, a Turkish bath. Perfect for anyone looking for some sweet time rejuvenating. Guests can also benefit from the well-equipped gym while overlooking the indoor pool view.
- Airport Shuttle Service: FREE, available 24/7
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 2.5mi (4.1 km)
- Estimated drive time: 8 minutes
ISG Sabiha Gokcen Airport Hotel
5
ISG Sabiha Gökçen Airport hotel is one of the hotels in Istanbul Airport where you can stay without straying too far from the airport. As an airport hotel, one of the main features that this hotel champion is the online flight check-in facility at the front desk. Making it one of the best hotels near Istanbul Airport since you can hardly find such service in other hotels. Another front desk service you can make use of is the luggage transfer service.
Each room is blanketed in a contemporary design. With plush bedding and well-equipped facilities, staying in your room as you wait for your next flight would just be enough. You don’t always find airport hotels near Istanbul Airport providing a connecting door between its room. But this is not the case for ISG Sabiha Gökçen Airport Hotel. Rooms with connecting doors are available at the property. With a flat-screen TV and free Wi-Fi throughout the premises, you can just lay back to rest after a long flight.
The restaurant pays a decent homage to local delicacies and the international cuisines are just as mouthwatering! A relaxing bar setting with various choice of drinks awaits you after the meal.
- Airport Shuttle Service: FREE
- Nearest Airport: The hotel is located right at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.
- Estimated walking time: 9 minutes
Crowne Plaza Istanbul Asia
4
It mostly takes around 15 minutes from hotels near Istanbul Airport to get to the airport. From the Crowne Plaza Istanbul Asia particularly, you’d only need about 9 minutes’ drive time to get to Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. A top-class service awaits you in this lavish hotel. The opulent décor welcoming you on the ground floor is extended to each room. It’s equipped with luxurious bedding and carpeted floors. As if this dashing décor is paying homage to the Ottoman Empire. And it does feel like you’re bearing a crown when you stay in Crowne Plaza Istanbul Asia.
It doesn’t stop there. The bedrooms are also equipped with a decent working space as well as a plush armchair for you to laze around. Sip on the best Turkish teas available at the on-site Belvedere Restaurant and Bar. They’re also serving various international dishes, along with coffees and cakes. Try out the region’s specialty, the lamb stew, and experience yourself how the lamb melts in your mouth!
Head to the hot tub for a sweet time relaxing. There’s no other perfect way to wrap the day after a long flight than rejuvenating your body and soul at the hotel’s very own wellness center. Providing a shuttle service and a free parking service, it seems hard to beat the hotel’s features, doesn’t it?
- Airport Shuttle Service: Available at an additional charge.
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 2.9mi (4.8 km)
- Estimated drive time: 9 minutes
YOTEL Istanbul Airport (Landside)
3
Sitting only 5 minutes’ walk from the passport control point, you’d remember how YOTEL Istanbul Airport is such a convenient lodging. Operated by YOTEL, they got two hotels in Istanbul Airport, each located right at the new Istanbul Airport. As for this landside lodging, it covers all your basic necessities from a free Wi-Fi (yes, it is a basic necessity now) to a fitness center. It’s hard to find the downside because this hotel is really an ideal place for layovers and transit.
The room décor almost looked like it’s designed for a spaceship. We have to say it’s a total showstopper and not only because it’s perfectly neat and clean, but they also come in various choices of classes. Some rooms are not only equipped with the entry-level facilities, but it’s also spacious enough to house a TV room. Complete with its plushy seating area.
The on-site restaurant serves Turkish cuisines as well as a buffet breakfast. You also get to enjoy a selection of drinks at the bar. All in all, Yotel Istanbul Airport is a compact and fantastic hotel you can find in Istanbul Airport.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Unavailable
- Nearest Airport: The hotel is located right at Istanbul Airport.
- Estimated walking time: 5 minutes
Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Istanbul Tuzla
2
Another terrific hotel choice for when you’re looking for hotels near Istanbul Airport with a spa. Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa champions itself on their over the top wellness center and spa facilities. Here, you get to enjoy the famous Turkish bath (Hammam) and get a glimpse of how the highest Ottoman Emperors enjoy their bathing time. It does sound like a fantastic idea to spend time during transit, right? Other choices of refreshments include a sauna and a fitness center. It’s impossible to run out of things to do when you’re staying in Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa in Tuzla.
Each gorgeously decorated room comes with heating, something you don’t always find in hotels in Istanbul Airport. Some units even come with their own private Hammam and sauna. So you’ll get the kind of sanctuary and privacy you need after a long flight. It’s no surprise knowing the property houses the biggest spa facility on the Turkish Asian side. It covers an impressive land of 4000 m2! We weren’t really joking when we said you’re not going to run out of spa activities here. A Finnish bath and a designated ladies-only spa facility are also available at the premises.
Guests get to enjoy a selection of local delicacies at their on-site restaurant. Enjoy a wide array of drinks and refreshments at the Lobby Lounge & Aqua Pool Bar. We won’t be surprised if you’re now thinking of setting your foot at Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa for the first time. Pretty sure it’ll open to many more stays!
- Airport Shuttle Service: FREE, available 24/7
- Nearest Airport: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport at 4.7mi (7.7 km)
- Estimated drive time: 8 minutes
YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport (Airside)
1
We always save the best for the last indeed. Our best pick on the best hotels in Istanbul Airport goes to this compact hotel located right at the new airport. Sitting at the Duty-Free area in Istanbul Airport, YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport is built to accommodate guests with international flight connections. It’s no doubt that going out of the airport to find a hotel is not always the best option. And YOTELAIR really comes to save the day. With 24-hour front desk service, you can stop by at any time to check-in.
The property is a great value for money! Much like its sister on the landside, each room boasts a futuristic design and definitely not something you usually see any day in hotels anywhere. Some of the rooms are equipped with a smart bed for a more delightful and convenient experience at the property. Getting to relax and refresh before catching your next flight sounds like a great idea, right? The best part of staying at YOTELAIR is that you won’t have to go all the way out of the airport to find a place to rest your body.
A big lounge is open for guests around the clock during the week. Perfect to catch up on work or for when you need a charging station for your gadgets.
- Airport Shuttle Service: Unavailable
- Nearest Airport: The hotel is located at Istanbul Airport.
- Estimated walking time: 4 minutes
Recommended Restaurants / Bars in Istanbul:
- BIGCHEFS at Sabiha Gökçen International Airport – if you got some spare time at the airport, try out BIGCHEFS. You’re not only here to fuel up your tummy, but the restaurant’s layout is also perfect to relax from the bustling airport.
- Antiochia – the always-packed restaurant is a favorite because it’s tasty and comes with a reasonable price. With cold and hot mezes as well as kebab dominating the menu, this is your window to the Turkish cuisine.
- Asitane Restaurant – don’t miss out on the travelers’ favorite! Located at an enchanting place in Edirnekapı, let the revived cuisines of the Ottoman Palace dance in your taste buds!
Recommended Activities In Istanbul:
- Visit the airport art galleries – got an hour or two before your next flight? Head to the Domestic Terminal of IST and you can roam around Ara Güler Istanbul or Victory Monument Exhibition. The former showcased iconic Turkish photographer works and the latter will take you to a journey on how the new airport was built through pictures.
- Marvel at the magnificent Hagia Sophia – skip the line and see for yourself how two places of worship for the biggest religions collide in one place. The beautiful architectural design is awe you won’t see anywhere else.
- The music and motion of whirling Dervishes – known as “Semah” in Turkish, the mystical ritual of Mevlevi Order is one great experience. Get to know how the Sufi community translates religion into their practices.
