How to get to Istanbul: Best ways for Liverpool fans to travel

Premier League giants Liverpool are set to continue their 2026-27 Champions League league-phase campaign with an away trip to face Fenerbahce in Istanbul on November 4.

The Reds will be looking for another three points on the road, as they pursue a spot in the knockout phase with hopes of getting their hands on the famous trophy for a seventh time.

Andoni Iraola's side will need all the support they can get at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium, and fans will be looking for the best ways to get to Istanbul to back Virgil van Dijk and co.

Those with tickets to this match have plenty of ways to get to the venue, including options that will take them easily from where they are staying to the game.

Making the trip yourself? Read on as Football Ground Guide covers all you need to know about how to get to Istanbul, and the best ways for Liverpool fans to travel to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

How to get to Istanbul

By Plane

The quickest and easiest way to get to Istanbul is by plane, and it is recommended to fly into Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) given the airport's location on the Asian side of the city – the same side as Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

Direct routes are available on Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines, as well as Wizz Air UK and Ajet, with flights commonly running between London Stansted and SAW.

For Liverpool fans in particular, catching a flight from Manchester (MAN) to Sabiha Gokcen would represent the most convenient option.

A return ticket for a four-hour flight departing on November 4 and touching back down in Manchester on November 5 will set you back around £250 at the moment, though prices will rise as matchday approaches.

By Train

It is possible to travel from the UK to Istanbul by train, but it will take four nights and cost more than £500 for a return trip.

It seems unreasonable to travel by train if you are only heading to watch the match, but if you are looking for an epic journey and have the time and money available for such a holiday, then it could be a worthwhile experience.

The route is as follows:

• London to Paris
• Paris to Stuttgart
• Stuttgart to Budapest
• Budapest to Bucharest
• Bucharest to Istanbul

How to get to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium

By Metro

Fans heading towards the ground for the match straight from the airport should catch the M4 metro line towards Kadikoy, get off at Ayrilikcesmesi before transferring to the Marmaray line and going one stop east to Sogutlucesme station. From there, it is a 10-15 minute walk to Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

The metro will take you around 50 minutes, and with an Istanbulkart card – which are available to buy from the airport for £2.70 – fares for a single trip are a very affordable 75p.

The Istanbulkart card is valid with:

• Metro (all lines including M4 from the airport)
• Tram
• Bus (IETT city buses)
• Ferry (Bosphorus crossings)
• Marmaray (suburban rail)
• Metrobus
• Funicular

By Havabus coach

Another option for getting to the stadium is to take the Havabus coach from the airport, which operates three routes from Sabiha Gokcen airport towards Taksim, Kadikoy and Yenisahra Metro Station.

The shuttles depart every 30 minutes between 03:15 and 23:15, with the SG-1 bus taking you to central Kadikoy (around a 15-minute walk from Sukru Saracoglu Stadium) in roughly 50 minutes. However, travelling on matchday would likely lead to a longer journey due to increased traffic.

By Taxi

A taxi from the airport to the stadium would take at least 45 minutes on the night of the game, but it could be worthwhile for the convenience factor.

Sabiha Gokcen is approximately 25-30km from the stadium, and given that both the airport and venue are on the Asian side of Istanbul, no bridge tolls are required to be paid.

A typical taxi fare would run you £19-24 depending on traffic, though there are plenty of cars available to pre-book for going between the airport and Fenerbahce's ground, costing around £22 per vehicle.