Sabiha Airport to Avcilar
Overview
Sabiha Airport sits on the Asian side, so the drive from Sabiha Airport to Avcilar is our longest run on this pair of routes, crossing the Bosphorus to reach the European shoreline over roughly 69.5 kilometres and about 60 to 70 minutes. The bridge crossing itself is part of the journey, with views over the strait before the road settles into the coastal approach toward Avcilar. We match a driver to your flight, who waits past customs holding a card with your name, so there is no confusion after a long-haul arrival. The car is yours alone, a Mercedes V-Class or Sprinter, with no other families sharing the ride, which matters on a longer transfer like this one where comfort counts.
Highlights
- Longest of our two Avcilar routes, crossing the Bosphorus from Sabiha Airport.
- Covers close to 69.5 kilometres, mostly bridge and coastal motorway.
- Views over the strait form part of the drive before reaching Avcilar.
- Ends near Marmara Avenue, the district's everyday shopping street.
- Reaches the seafront promenade favoured by long-term residents in the evening.
- No other family shares the car across this Bosphorus crossing.
- Good option for guests staying near relatives or visiting university students.
Route details
About the destination
Set along Istanbul's European shoreline, Avcilar is a lively district that mixes long-term residents with a large student population drawn by Istanbul University's nearby campus. The seafront promenade is where locals gather in the evening, walking or sitting at tea gardens with the sea on one side and apartment blocks on the other. Marmara Avenue is the district's main shopping street, lined with everyday shops, bakeries and cafes rather than tourist boutiques, which gives Avcilar an authentic, lived-in feel. Families often choose it for longer stays near relatives, while visiting parents use it as a base when their children are studying nearby. It is a practical, unpretentious part of the city rather than a postcard destination, and that suits many of our guests.
Hotels nearby
- DoubleTree by Hilton Istanbul Avcilar
- Ramada Encore by Wyndham Istanbul Avcilar
- Grand Hotel Avcılar
Landmarks nearby
- Avcılar Beach Park
- Atatürk House Museum
- Marmara Street
- Paşaeli City Park
Restaurants nearby
- Adanalı Yusuf Usta
- Rumeli Pilavcısı Haluk Baba
- Avcılar Sosyal Tesisi
- Bursa Kebap Evi
Nearest metro
Avcılar Merkez Üniversite Kampüsü Metrobus Station
Good to know
- Allow time after a long-haul landing at Sabiha Airport before your driver can be met at arrivals.
- The Bosphorus crossing can back up in daytime traffic, so build in margin for the longer drive.
- Have snacks or entertainment ready for children on this route, since it runs close to an hour.
- Currency exchange near arrivals is useful if you would rather carry lira before the long crossing begins.
- Marmara Avenue in Avcilar is a good stop for everyday shopping rather than tourist souvenirs.
- Evenings on the Avcilar seafront are quieter than the city centre, a plus after a long flight.
