Did you know Türkiye ranked among the world’s top visited countries? In 2023 it welcomed over 55 million international tourists.
To handle this influx and make travel between cities easier, Türkiye has invested heavily in airport infrastructure.
As of 2025, there are 51 passenger airports in Türkiye, including both international and domestic-only airports.
You’ve likely heard of Istanbul Airport (one of the busiest airports globally) and Antalya Airport, but dozens of regional airports make travel across the country far more convenient—especially if you’re heading to places like Gaziantep, Van, or Trabzon.
Roughly half of the airports listed here serve only domestic routes.
If you’re planning a multi-city trip in Türkiye, save this post — it contains a full list of airports by region, nearby major cities, and practical tips for navigating domestic travel.
Travel tip: read a dedicated guide to domestic flights in Türkiye to learn more about local airlines, airport transfers, average prices, and other practical advice.
Here’s a useful map showing airports across Türkiye.
5 Most Popular Airports in Turkey
We begin with the busiest international airports, which are the most likely entry points for visitors, then cover regional airports by area.
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Distance to center: 45 km (28 mi)
Istanbul Airport is Türkiye’s largest and most important air hub. It handled over 76 million passengers in 2023 and connects intercontinental routes. It is also the main hub for Turkish Airlines, the national carrier with an extensive global network.
Located on the European side, IST is about 45 km from the city center and features a single terminal divided into five piers—four for international travel and one for domestic flights. More than a hundred airlines operate there, including many major European and Middle Eastern carriers.
Allow plenty of time at IST: the airport covers a very large area and transfers between gates can take time. Turkish Airlines also offers a complimentary layover program for eligible passengers, providing short guided tours for layovers between 6 and 24 hours.
Read more:
• 15+ Best Hotels Near Istanbul Airport (IST) — options for early flights or long layovers.
• Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen Airport — a comparison to help you choose the best arrival airport for your trip.
İstanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Distance to center: 45 km (28 mi)
Sabiha Gökçen serves Istanbul’s Asian side and is a major base for budget and domestic flights. Pegasus Airlines, Türkiye’s largest low-cost carrier, operates many routes from SAW, making it a frequent departure point for domestic travelers.
Opened in 2001, SAW offers comfortable amenities and efficient connections to the city—Kadıköy to SAW can be reached in under an hour and there are multiple transport options to central Istanbul.
Read more:
• Best airport hotels near SAW — options for early departures.
• Guides on transport between SAW and Sultanahmet, Taksim, and Kadıköy.
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Distance to center: 14 km (9 mi)
Known as the gateway to Türkiye’s Mediterranean coast, Antalya Airport is a key hub for beach and resort tourism. It handled more than 35 million passengers in 2023 and links the region with many European and Middle Eastern destinations. Seasonal charters and regular international routes make it the main entry point for Antalya, Belek, Kemer, Kaş, Side, and Fethiye.
Ankara Airport (ESB)
Distance to center: 25 km (15.5 mi)
Ankara Esenboğa serves the capital and a growing number of international routes. It also hosts several low-cost carriers and is an important hub for business and government travel.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Distance to center: 20 km (12 mi)
Izmir is the main gateway to the Aegean coast. ADB serves travelers heading to İzmir, Ephesus, Çeşme, Alaçatı, Kuşadası, and nearby resort areas, with both domestic and seasonal international services.
Airports in Türkiye By Region
To simplify planning, airports are grouped by Türkiye’s seven regions. Use the region map above to quickly locate the area you’ll visit. Note: an asterisk (*) indicates airports that serve only domestic flights.
Airports in the MARMARA REGION
The Marmara region receives the most visitors thanks to cities like Istanbul, Bursa, and Çanakkale.
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
Balıkesir Koca Seyit Airport (EDO)
Bursa Yenişehir Airport (YEI) *
Çanakkale Airport (CKZ) *
Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport (TEQ) *
Balıkesir Koca Seyit is ideal for reaching Ayvalık and nearby Aegean towns. Bursa Yenişehir is a small regional option for travel to Bursa, which is known for ski resorts and green parks. Çanakkale Airport places you close to Gallipoli, Troy, and Bozcaada; note that Gökçeada Airport is a different facility used mainly for charters. Tekirdağ Çorlu is a small domestic airport with limited scheduled services.
Airports in the AEGEAN REGION
The Aegean coast is best served by a few main airports that provide easy access to beaches, historic sites, and resort towns.
Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB)
Dalaman Airport (DLM)
Milas-Bodrum Airport (BJV)
Denizli Çardak Airport (DNZ) *
Kütahya Zafer Airport (KZR)
Izmir ADB is the primary hub for the region and convenient for visiting Çeşme, Alaçatı, Ephesus, Pamukkale, Ayvalık, Kuşadası, and nearby attractions. Milas-Bodrum serves Bodrum and sees many seasonal international flights, while Dalaman connects travelers to Fethiye, Kalkan, Marmaris, and the Datça Peninsula. Denizli Çardak is a small domestic airport for visitors to Pamukkale. Kütahya Zafer operates a mix of seasonal international and year-round domestic services.
Travel tip: island hopping between Türkiye and Greece is easiest from Izmir (Çeşme to Chios), Milas-Bodrum (Bodrum to Kos), and Dalaman (ferries to Rhodes from nearby ports).
Airports in the MEDITERRANEAN REGION
The Mediterranean coast includes major tourist hubs and several regional airports serving resort towns and inland destinations.
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Çukurova International Airport (COV)
Gazipaşa Alanya Airport (GZP)
Hatay Airport (HTY) *
Isparta Süleyman Demirel Airport (ISE) *
Kahramanmaraş Airport (KCM) *
Antalya and Gazipaşa are the main gateways for beach destinations. Çukurova International, opened to replace Adana Şakirpaşa, connects the southeast coastal region with international and domestic flights. Smaller regional airports like Hatay and Kahramanmaraş provide domestic connections to major hubs.
Airports in the BLACK SEA REGION
The Black Sea region is known for lush landscapes, tea plantations, and coastal towns. Major airports here support both tourism and regional travel.
Trabzon Airport (TZX)
Samsun-Çarşamba Airport (SZF)
Ordu Giresun Airport (OGU)
Rize–Artvin Airport (RZV)
Zonguldak Airport (ONQ)
Amasya Merzifon Airport (MZH) *
Kastamonu Airport (KFS) *
Sinop Airport (NOP) *
Tokat Airport (TJK) *
Trabzon is the busiest in the region, with mostly domestic routes and seasonal international flights from Gulf countries. Rize–Artvin is ideal for tea-country visits; Ordu–Giresun and Samsun serve northern coastal cities. Western Black Sea airports like Zonguldak, Kastamonu, and Sinop are smaller regional options with a mix of domestic and some international services.
Travel tip: divide the Black Sea into west, central, and east—choose airports accordingly: Zonguldak or Ankara for the west, Samsun for central, and Trabzon or Rize for the east.
Airports in the CENTRAL ANATOLIA REGION
Central Anatolia connects travelers to Ankara, Cappadocia, Konya, and historic inland destinations.
Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Eskişehir Hasan Polatkan Airport (AOE)
Konya Airport (KYA)
Kayseri Erkilet Airport (ASR)
Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport (NAV)
Sivas Nuri Demirağ Airport (VAS) *
Ankara ESB is the region’s busiest airport. Kayseri and Nevşehir both serve Cappadocia: Nevşehir is closer but has fewer routes, while Kayseri is farther but offers more frequent connections. Konya provides access to religious and cultural sites and some seasonal international services. Eskişehir sees limited international service and is often reached by high-speed train from Istanbul.
Airports in the EASTERN ANATOLIA REGION
The expansive Eastern Anatolia region has many airports serving remote and mountainous destinations.
Malatya Erhaç Airport (MLX)
Elazığ Airport (EZS)
Ağrı Airport (AJI) *
Bingöl Airport (BGG) *
Erzurum Airport (ERZ) *
Erzincan Airport (ERC) *
Iğdır Airport (IGD) *
Kars Airport (KSY) *
Muş Airport (MSR) *
Van Ferit Melen Airport (VAN) *
Malatya and Elazığ are the region’s international gateways with seasonal services to Germany and regular domestic flights. Ağrı and Iğdır are key access points for Mount Ararat. Kars is popular for winter travel and the Eastern Express train, with close access to Ani Ruins and Lake Çıldır. Van provides access to Lake Van and the distinctive Van cats. Erzurum is convenient for Palandöken ski resort, with skiing reachable within an hour of arrival.
Airports in the SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA REGION
Southeast Anatolia is rich in history and cuisine, and airports here provide access to world-class archaeological sites and vibrant regional cities.
Gaziantep Oğuzeli Airport (GZT)
Diyarbakır Airport (DIY)
Adıyaman Airport (ADF) *
Batman Airport (BAL) *
Hakkari–Yüksekova Airport (YKO) *
Mardin Airport (MQM) *
Şanlıurfa GAP Airport (GNY) *
Şırnak Airport (NKT) *
Siirt Airport (SXZ) *
Gaziantep and Diyarbakır are international gateways with seasonal and regular services to Europe and neighboring countries. Adıyaman is commonly used for trips to Mount Nemrut. Şanlıurfa GAP serves visitors to Göbeklitepe and Harran. Mardin, Şırnak, Siirt, Batman, and Hakkari–Yüksekova support domestic connections to major Turkish hubs and regional tourism.
Read More
For additional planning resources, consult guides on traveling around Türkiye by plane, how to plan a trip to Turkey, and specific transport guides between airports and city centers.
Suggested reading: Travel Around Turkey by Plane; How to Plan a Trip to Turkey; Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen: Which One Should You Choose?; transport guides for SAW to Kadıköy, Taksim, and Sultanahmet; and best hotels near SAW.
Q&A
How many airports are there in Turkey?
There are over 50 passenger airports, including international and domestic facilities.
What are the main airports in Turkey?
Key airports include Istanbul Airport (IST), Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), Antalya (AYT), Ankara Esenboğa (ESB), and Izmir Adnan Menderes (ADB).
Which is the best airport to fly into Turkey?
It depends on your destination. Istanbul Airport is the largest and most connected; choose Izmir for the Aegean or Antalya for the Mediterranean coast.
Does Istanbul have two airports?
Yes—İstanbul is served by Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).
Which airport is in the capital of Turkey?
Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB) serves the capital, Ankara.
What is the busiest airport in Turkey?
Istanbul Airport (IST) is the busiest.
What is the oldest airport in Turkey?
Istanbul Atatürk Airport was the earliest major airport (opened in 1924) but is closed to commercial traffic; Eskişehir Airport is among the oldest still in service.
Why are flights often inexpensive in Turkey?
Competitive domestic markets, several low-cost carriers, and high passenger volumes help keep prices relatively low.
What is the main airline in Turkey?
Turkish Airlines is the flag carrier; other major carriers include Pegasus Airlines and AJet.
Photo credits: header image via Jairph; airport images via respective airports.