🚇 Istanbul Metro 2026: New Lines, Airport Routes and Key Interchanges

[المسافر]

Istanbul’s rail network increasingly connects outlying districts with airports, business areas, ferry piers and Marmaray.

For a home, hotel or workplace, the usefulness of a nearby station depends on its connections as well as its location. Important 2026 openings included M5 to Sultanbeyli and the completion of the M11 corridor between Gayrettepe and Halkalı via Istanbul Airport.

Operating lines are distinguished from projects under construction. Target dates can change because of testing, financing and engineering work.

From the June 2026 announcement of Halkalı–Arnavutköy service.​

1. The network in numbers​

The operator’s official overview reports:

• Approximately 402.60 km of operating urban rail across Istanbul.
• 18 Metro İstanbul lines totalling approximately 245.75 km.
• More than three million passenger journeys daily on the company’s lines.
• A wider system including metro, trams, funiculars and cable cars, plus services run by other operators such as Marmaray and M11.

Use the official network map for the latest layout.

Scope	Length or count	Operator
Istanbul urban rail	402.60 km	Multiple operators
Metro İstanbul network	245.75 km and 18 lines	Metro İstanbul
M5	30.9 km and 24 stations	Metro İstanbul
M11	69 km and 15 operating stations per the 10 September 2026 statement	Separate from Metro İstanbul

2. Major openings in 2026​

M5 reaches Sultanbeyli​

The Samandıra Merkez–Sultanbeyli extension opened on 22 May 2026, adding 4.4 km and four stations.

M5 now runs between Üsküdar and Sultanbeyli. The complete driverless line is approximately 30.9 km long, has 24 stations and an end-to-end journey of around 50 minutes.

It improves connections from Sultanbeyli, Sancaktepe and Samandıra, with Marmaray and ferries at Üsküdar, Metrobus at Altunizade and M8 at Dudullu. M5 itself does not cross to Europe; change to Marmaray or a ferry at Üsküdar.

M11 connects Gayrettepe, Istanbul Airport and Halkalı​

The Halkalı–Arnavutköy section was inaugurated on 19 June 2026 and began carrying passengers on 20 June, completing the airport corridor.

It added approximately 22 km and five stations:

1. İbn Haldun Üniversitesi.
2. Kayaşehir.
3. Olimpiyatköy.
4. Halkalı Stadı.
5. Halkalı.

The full Gayrettepe–Istanbul Airport–Halkalı corridor is around 69 km with 15 operating stations, according to the ministry’s 10 September 2026 statement.

Published journey times from Halkalı are approximately 30 minutes to the airport, 43 minutes to Göktürk, 54 minutes to Kağıthane and 57 minutes to Gayrettepe. They are indicative train times; allow additional time for station access, transfers and airport formalities.

The airport is therefore accessible both from Gayrettepe/Kağıthane and from Halkalı, Olimpiyatköy and Kayaşehir in the west.

3. The main operating corridors​

M1A and M1B​

Both start at Yenikapı and share the route to Otogar, then branch towards the former Atatürk Airport (M1A) and Kirazlı (M1B).

Atatürk Havalimanı station does not serve today’s Istanbul Airport. Use M11 for IST.

M2: central Istanbul’s main spine​

M2 connects Yenikapı and Hacıosman through Vezneciler, Şişhane, Taksim, Şişli–Mecidiyeköy, Gayrettepe and Levent. Important connections include Marmaray, Metrobus, M7, M11 and M6.

M3: Bakırköy to Kayaşehir​

M3 is approximately 26.7 km with 20 stations, serving Bakırköy, Bahçelievler, Bağcılar, Başakşehir and Kayaşehir. It links the Marmara coast with northwestern growth areas.

M4: Kadıköy to Sabiha Gökçen Airport​

M4 runs approximately 33.5 km from Kadıköy to the airport. Key connections are:

• Kadıköy: ferries.
• Ayrılık Çeşmesi: Marmaray.
• Ünalan: Metrobus via the pedestrian connection.
• Kozyatağı: M8.
• Sabiha Gökçen: the airport.

It provides a direct rail alternative to road congestion between Kadıköy and the airport.

M5: Üsküdar to Sultanbeyli​

The 2026 extension strengthens this driverless corridor serving Üsküdar, Ümraniye, Çekmeköy, Sancaktepe and Sultanbeyli.

M7: the inland European-side corridor​

M7 operates between Yıldız and Mahmutbey, serving Mecidiyeköy, Kağıthane, Alibeyköy, Karadeniz Mahallesi and Tekstilkent. Connections include M2, Metrobus, M11, T5, T4 and M3.

M8: Bostancı to Parseller​

M8 links the coast with inland Asian-side neighbourhoods. Connections include Marmaray and ferries around Bostancı, M4 at Kozyatağı and M5 at Dudullu.

M9: Ataköy to Olimpiyat​

M9 is approximately 17.2 km with 14 stations. Connections include Marmaray at Ataköy, M1A and Metrobus around Yenibosna, M3 at İkitelli Sanayi and M11 at Olimpiyatköy. Some connections require a walk between entrances or stops.

M11: Istanbul Airport​

The completed 2026 corridor connects the airport both with central districts and with Halkalı and western Istanbul. Important transfers are M2 and Metrobus around Gayrettepe, M7 at Kağıthane, M9 at Olimpiyatköy, and Marmaray and trains at Halkalı.

Marmaray: the railway across the Bosphorus​

Marmaray is operated separately from Metro İstanbul. It connects Halkalı and Gebze through the undersea tunnel, with important interchange stations including Yenikapı, Üsküdar, Ayrılık Çeşmesi, Bostancı, Ataköy and Halkalı.

4. Airport routes​

Istanbul Airport — IST​

Use M11. Typical routes are:

• From Taksim: M2 to Gayrettepe, then M11.
• From Mecidiyeköy: M2 to Gayrettepe, then M11.
• From Kağıthane: M11 directly.
• From Halkalı: M11 directly.
• From Kayaşehir or Olimpiyatköy: M11 directly.

Sabiha Gökçen Airport — SAW​

Use M4. Typical routes are:

• From Kadıköy: M4 directly.
• From Europe: Marmaray to Ayrılık Çeşmesi, then M4.
• From Metrobus: use the pedestrian connection around Ünalan to M4.
• From M8: change to M4 at Kozyatağı.

Check the airport code on your ticket: IST is Istanbul Airport and SAW is Sabiha Gökçen.

5. Key interchange stations​

Station	Principal connections
Yenikapı	M1A, M1B, M2, Marmaray, T6
Gayrettepe	M2, M11, Metrobus connection
Şişli–Mecidiyeköy	M2, M7, Metrobus
Kağıthane	M7, M11
Üsküdar	M5, Marmaray, ferries
Ayrılık Çeşmesi	M4, Marmaray
Kozyatağı	M4, M8
Dudullu	M5, M8
Ataköy	M9, Marmaray
Yenibosna	M1A, M9, nearby Metrobus
Halkalı	M11, Marmaray, railway services
Olimpiyatköy	M9, M11

A station with several useful connections can be more practical than one nearer the centre with fewer options. Include walking time within and between stations.

M12 testing during preparations; a target date is separate from actual opening.​

6. Projects still under construction​

The official construction list includes:

• M12 Göztepe–Ümraniye: planned connections with M5 at Çarşı, M4 at Yenisahra and Marmaray via Tütüncü Mehmet Efendi, serving Göztepe, Ataşehir and Istanbul Finance Center.
• M10 Pendik–airport connection: the Pendik Merkez–Fevzi Çakmak section would link coastal Pendik, Marmaray and high-speed trains with the airport metro network. The project page also identifies a planned interchange with M4 Kadıköy–Tuzla at Kaynarca Merkez, subject to completion of the associated projects.
• M7 Yıldız–Beşiktaş–Kabataş: future connections to T1, F1 and ferries at Kabataş.
• M7 Mahmutbey–Esenyurt: westward through areas including Bahçeşehir and Ispartakule, with planned M9 and M11 links.
• M1B Kirazlı–Halkalı: a future connection to Marmaray, trains and western corridors.

On 28 September 2026, the municipality targeted M12 passenger service for 19 December 2026 after testing. Its 29 June 2026 update placed the M10 target at late 2026 or the first half of 2027. Both are targets; a line is operating only after passenger service is formally announced.

Construction status does not guarantee an opening date. Tunnels, stations, systems, tests and operating approval must all be completed.

7. Weekend night metro​

The night metro programme covers M1A, M1B, M2, M4, M5, M6 and M7. The usual programme provides 66 continuous hours from Friday morning through Sunday evening into midnight, covering Friday and Saturday nights.

Check maintenance and event announcements. The M2 Sanayi Mahallesi–Seyrantepe branch is excluded from the published night programme. M3, M8, M9 and other lines may receive separate event extensions; that does not make them regular all-night services.

8. Cards and fares​

İstanbulkart is used across most public transport, but fare calculations can differ between municipal lines, Marmaray and airport services. Check the official fare page.

Keep extra credit for transfers, Marmaray, airport journeys, night travel and group travel. Check card-sharing and transfer rules rather than assuming each passenger receives the same discount.

9. What the new lines change​

1. Outlying districts: Sultanbeyli, Halkalı and Kayaşehir gain stronger rail connections.
2. Airport access: IST can be reached from both central and western corridors.
3. Interchange value: Gayrettepe, Kağıthane, Ataköy, Dudullu and Olimpiyatköy become more useful.
4. Housing choices: assess station distance, transfers to work or university, alternative routes, night service and ferry/Metrobus/Marmaray links, rather than only distance from Taksim.

10. Common mistakes​

• Taking M1A expecting to reach IST.
• Confusing IST and SAW.
• Following a line colour without checking its number and direction.
• Ignoring the train’s destination display.
• Allowing train time but no transfer walking time.
• Assuming every line runs all night.
• Using a map without the 2026 openings.
• Missing maintenance or entrance-closure notices.
• Choosing several transfers when a ferry would be more convenient.
• Arriving late without checking the last train.

11. Planning a better journey​

M5 to Sultanbeyli and the completed M11 corridor were the major 2026 additions covered in this guide. They changed access to homes, jobs and airports as well as adding stations.

Choose routes by useful connections, walking distance and alternatives during disruption, not simply the shortest line on a map.

From the inspection of Pendik–Kaynarca–Fevzi Çakmak works.​

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