Search Flights from San Jose to Istanbul

Popular Airport

Istanbul Airport

Popular Airlines

Approximate Flight Duration

13 hour 50 min

Approximate Travel Distance

6938 Miles

Transportation to Airport from San Jose City Center

Juan Santamaria Intl. Airport

Juan Santamaria International Airport is located 11 miles of San Jose, which is the capital and one of the most developed cities of Costa Rica. The transportation alternatives that you can use to get to the airport from the city center are bus, taxi, car rental and shuttles of the tour operators. Taxis are among the best options that you can prefer since they offer transportation service without any destination or time limitation. Passengers who want to travel for more affordable fares can benefit from the buses that carry passengers to Juan Santamaria International Airport from morning hours to evening hours. You can also benefit from the car rental alternative for travelling from the city center to the airport. You can also use the car you have rented for travelling in and around the city. It is possible to find many car rental offices in the center and at the airport. However, if you need to travel during the crowded seasons, you can make a reservation before your travel by getting in contact with one of the car rental companies in order not to have trouble in finding a car.

Bus

The buses operating between San Jose city center and Juan Santamaria International Airport are the most economical vehicles you can use for your transportation to the airport. The buses depart near the Nuestra Señora de La Merced Catholic Church in the center. Buses start operating at early hours and after midnight you cannot be able to find a bus. For this reason, if you need to travel to the airport from the city center at a late hour, you can prefer getting on a taxi or renting a car in advance. If the place you are staying in is close to the bus stop in the city center and you need to travel in the daytime, you can choose the bus option which is nearly as fast as taxis and have a chance to travel for a much more affordable cost. You can buy your bus ticket when you come to the stop and continue your travel directly to the airport. If you need to get to the airport from one of the beaches located in the regions like Puntarenas and Guanacaste, you can get on one of the buses carrying passengers on these routes. Traveling to the airport from San Jose city center lasts about 35-40 minutes. The travel from the other points near the center varies between 20-40 minutes depending on their proximity to the airport.

Taxi

Taxis, which you can easily find at many points of San Jose city center, are among the fastest alternatives that you can benefit from when travelling to the airport. The distance between the city center and airport is about 11 miles and at the end of this distance the taxi fares don’t increase much. If your hotel is located in the center, you can ask your hotel to call a taxi for you or you can get on one of the passing taxis. One of the biggest advantages of taxis is that you have a chance to find a taxi anywhere and anytime you want without any limitation. If you need to travel to Juan Santamaria Airport from a location that is far from the center and airport, you can still use the taxi option but you should keep in mind that the fare you will pay will be higher depending on the distance. In this case, you can evaluate other transportation alternatives such as the shuttles of tour operators or you can bargain with the driver on the fare before getting on the taxi and travel to the airport comfortably without paying too much.

Car Rental

In the center, many international car rental companies such as Alamo, Hertz, Budget and Enterprise or alternative companies such as Solid, Apex, Nu and Payless offer car rental service for the passengers who want to travel to the airport in a comfortable way. After renting your car in the city center, you can reach the airport terminal in about 20-30 minutes by following the airport direction signs. You can deliver your car at the airport by preferring a car rental company which has also an office at the airport. In addition, you can get in contact with one of the companies in advance and learn whether you can deliver the car at the airport or not. If you want to rent a car in the city, you will need certain documents such as a driver’s license valid in the country and passport. While renting a car, you should bring these documents with you. After renting your car, you can take a city map with you in order to find your way more easily.

Tour Operator Shuttle

In the city, the companies such as Interbus and Gray Line Airport Express offer a different transportation alternative for the transportation to the airport from the city center. Travelling with the shuttles of tour operators is ideal and affordable for crowded groups and those travelling for business purpose. The fares of these shuttles can vary depending on the distance and the number of passengers. If you want to take advantage of these shuttles, you should get in contact with one of the companies in advance and make a reservation. As you can use these shuttles for travelling to the airport from the city center, you can also use them for travelling to different regions of Costa Rica or other countries.

Airport Information

Juan Santamaria Airport which connects San Jose, the capital of Costa Rica, with many different parts of the country and world, offers a great and comfortable atmosphere for its guests with shopping, eating and drinking opportunities as well as recreational areas. You can buy souvenirs by visiting Vida Pura located within the airport terminal or spend time by taking a glance at gift alternatives. Colibrí Craft Store, Green Trails, Casa Tica and Morpho Store Britt Shop Costa Rica are other options you can evaluate at the airport. Duty Free shops located in different parts of the airport are waiting for passengers who want to buy perfume, souvenir, alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink or chocolate for budget-friendly prices. If you want to have a snack before leaving the airport, you can visit Q Corner by Quiznos, Teriyaki Experience, Smashburger, Cinnabon or Quiznos to Go. If you have enough time and enjoy eating or drinking in a good place, you can prefer Bar 45° GastroPub, Malinche Restaurant or Café Lavazza. You can benefit from the free internet connection in many parts of the airport while waiting for your flight. If you need to make money transfer or perform any other banking transactions, you can find BAC San Jose, Bancredito, Global Exchange, Scotiabank, Citibank and ATH branches or ATMs at the airport terminal. The recreational areas and passenger lounges are among the areas where you can spend time on comfortable seats while waiting for your flight. If you need to park your car at Juan Santamaria Airport, you can use the parking area of the airport which has a capacity of 400 vehicles. The fees of this parking area which you can benefit from daily, weekly or monthly can vary depending on these periods.

Transportation to Istanbul City Center from Airport

Sabiha Gökçen Intl. Airport

You can get to the city center from the Sabiha Gökçen Airport using the TEM highway and following the exit and street signs. The airport is also accessible by city buses and Havataş shuttles. If you want to leave your car at the airport there is an outdoor parking lot and a multi-story parking lot. There are also some private parking facilities located around the airport.  

Taxi

The fastest and most convenient way to get to the city center from Sabiha Gökçen Airport is by taxi. However, when taking a taxi the most important factor to consider is the traffic. If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to lose time we suggest taking a taxi to a certain point and then transferring to the metro or metrobus. This way you can avoid traffic, even during rush hour.

Havabus

The Havabus shuttle buses provide transportation between Sabiha Gökçen Airport and central locations in the city like Taksim on the European side and Kadikoy and Yenisahra on the Anatolian side. The shuttle buses provide quick and comfortable transportation to and from the airport every 30 minutes.

Marmaray

The Marmaray is a faster alternative for those living on the European side in particular. You can take a taxi or bus to the Kartal metro stop, then get on the metro and continue in the Kadıköy direction. Get off at Ayrılık Çeşmesi and transfer to the Marmaray where you can cross to the European side of the city at the Yenikapı station. From Yenikapı, which is a major station for the metro, buses, and ferries, you can reach many central locations on the European side of the city. Sea buses and ferries to various places in the Marmara Region like Bandırma, Yalova, Avşa, Bursa and Çınarcık depart from the Yenikapı İDO pier. Moreover, you can travel with your vehicle on the ferries.

Bus

You can get to the city center from Sabiha Gökçen Airport by bus.

Lines that operate between the airport and central locations in the city are as follows:  E3 - 4.Levent - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, 122H - 4.Levent - Yenişehir - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, E9 - Bostancı - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, E10 - Kadıköy - Kurtköy - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, E11 - Kadıköy - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, E18 - Altunizade - Ümraniye - Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, 16S - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport - Metrobus Uzuncayır, KM20 - Pendik YHT - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, KM22 - Cevizli - Kartal Metro - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, 132H Pendik YHT - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, and 122H - 4.Levent - Yenişehir - Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport.

By getting off at the Kadiköy or Bostanci piers you can take a boat to Istanbul’s Princes’ Islands, like Buyukada, Heybeliada, Burgazada and Kinaliada.

Metro

From the airport you can take a bus or taxi to the Kartal metro station and get on the Kadikoy-Kaynarca line in the Kadikoy direction.

Rental Cars

You can get to the city center by renting a car from various rental agencies at the airport. You can also return your rental vehicle to rental agencies located in the city. If you are traveling between multiple places make sure to specify your vehicle pick up and drop off location when making your reservation. 


Istanbul Airport

You can get to the city center from Atatürk Airport, located on the European side of Istanbul, by taxi, airport shuttles, metro, bus, private transportation services or your personal car. The most important factor to consider when picking your means of transportation to reach the city center is the traffic. Using alternative means of transportation, like a combination of taxi, metro or metrobus, during rush hour will save time.

Taxi

The fastest and most convenient way to get to the city center from Atatürk Airport is by taxi. However, when taking a taxi the most important factor to consider is the traffic. If you’re in a hurry and don’t want to lose time we suggest taking a taxi to a certain point and then transferring to the metro or metrobus. This way you can avoid traffic, even during rush hour. Some taxis accept credit card payments. If you want to pay using your credit card make sure to indicate this before hand to the driver and get in a vehicle that accepts credit card payments.

Havabus

The Havabus shuttle buses provide transportation between Atatürk Airport and central locations in the city. The Havatas shuttles provide service to and from Taksim and Yenikapi IDO Pier every 30 minutes.

Bus

You can use public buses to get to the city center from Atatürk Airport. Using the istanbulkart (smart card for fare payment), this is the most economical alternative. From the airport you can use the TH-1 bus to get to Taksim and the YH-1 bus to get to Yenikapi. From Taksim and Yenikapi you can transfer to the metro to reach other central districts.   

Metro

One of the fastest alternatives to get to the city center is by metro. Using the metro station that is located in the airport you can easily reach various parts of the city like Yenikapı, Aksaray, Fatih, Topkapı, and Esenler. If you’re planning on continuing your journey to a different city by bus, the metro goes to the Esenler Bus Station.  

Rental Cars

You can get to the city center by renting a car from rental agencies such as AVIS, Budget, or Europcar both at the airport or various locations in the city like Beşiktaş, Taksim, Kadıköy, Bostancı and Bakırköy. You can also return your rental vehicle to the offices of the aforementioned companies located in the city. If you are traveling between multiple places make sure to specify your vehicle pick up and drop off location when making your reservation.  

Weather in Istanbul

DayMin - Max
SundayMin 4ºC - Max 9ºC
MondayMin 4ºC - Max 12ºC
TuesdayMin 8ºC - Max 12ºC
WednesdayMin 9ºC - Max 11ºC
ThursdayMin 8ºC - Max 10ºC

Frequently Asked Questions

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