You're met, not left to figure it out
Arriving in a large foreign city is the part patients worry about most — and it's the easiest part to remove. We arrange private transfers so that when you land, someone is there for you, and you're taken straight to your hotel. No taxi queues, no haggling over fares, no working out the metro after a long flight.
The same applies for every clinic appointment: you're driven between your hotel and the clinic and back, and then to the airport when it's time to fly home.
How far is the airport from the clinic?
It depends which airport you fly into — a key reason to choose carefully (see the airports guide):
- Istanbul Airport (IST): around 35–42 km from central Şişli, roughly 40–75 minutes by car depending on traffic. It's on the European side, the same side as the clinic — the more convenient choice.
- Sabiha Gökçen (SAW): on the Asian side, so the cross-city transfer to Şişli is longer. SAW often has cheaper budget fares, but you trade that against a longer drive.
Why transfers matter most on the way home
On arrival you're fresh, so even a longer transfer is just an inconvenience. After surgery it's different — you may be sore, tired and told to avoid lifting your bags. A pre-arranged transfer means you go door to door without standing in queues or carrying luggage, which is exactly what you want when recovering. It also keeps your journey calm before a flight, when you're already managing the practicalities of flying after surgery.
What about getting around otherwise?
Istanbul has good public transport and ride-hailing, and once you're feeling well you're free to explore. But for the airport runs and clinic appointments, letting us handle the transfers removes the language barrier and the logistics so you can focus on your recovery. If you're bringing a companion, transfers cover both of you.
The bottom line
Transfers are a small detail that makes a big difference to how the trip feels. You're met when you land, driven to and from your appointments, and taken to the airport at the end — so the only thing you have to manage is getting better. Fly into IST if you can for the shortest transfer, and we'll take care of the rest.