Airport Guide: Esenboga International Airport Ankara
The Esenboga International Airport Ankara is the fourth biggest airport in Turkey. It is located relatively far away from the city and is mainly important for domestic flights. In this airport guide, we’ll explain what you need to know about Ankara Airport!
Ankara Airport is only the fourth biggest airport in the country as it’s smaller than both Istanbul Airports and also smaller than Antalya Airport. However, that’s mainly due to seasonal traffic to Antalya, for domestic traffic Ankara is way more important.
The airport is a major hub of AnadoluJet, which connects the city with basically all parts of Turkey. Other airlines with a strong presence in Ankara are Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines. Additionally, a couple of international airlines are flying to Ankara.
Shopping & dining at Ankara Airport
Ankara Airport has two major terminals, a domestic and an international one. Due to the nature of the airport and its focus on domestic traffic, there are several shops, cafes and bars in the domestic terminal, but only very few in the international terminal.
Here, you’ll only find coffee shops and places, where you can grab a quick snack. Additionally, there are daily needs shops, but no cloth shops or anything. Thus, you really shouldn’t expect to get a proper meal or go shopping before an international flight from Ankara.
Sleeping at Esenboga International Airport Ankara
While the Esenboga International Airport Ankara is open 24 hours a day, it’s not really possible to sleep at the airport. There are no proper sleeping areas and the staff seems to question passengers staying overnight. Thus, I’d recommend booking an airport hotel for a relaxed night. The only near the airport is the ibis Ankara Airport, which I’d recommend for an overnight stay. Other hotel options are located in the city, but that means at least 30 minutes driving time.
Lounges at Esenboga International Airport Ankara
Even though Ankara Airport isn’t particularly big, there are quite some lounges at the airport. Turkish Airlines operates a domestic lounge. Additionally, there are three independently operated lounges, which are used by different airlines.
Two of the lounges are also accessible with a Priority Pass membership. I had the chance to try the Millenium Lounge, which I thought was rather mediocre.
Lounges at Ankara Airport:
- Anadolujet Prime Class Lounge (Domestic): Anadolujet Business Class, Priority Pass
- Turkish Airlines Lounge (Domestic): Turkish Airlines Business Class & Star Alliance Gold
- Comfort Lounge (International): Business Class & Status holders of various airlines, Priority Pass
- Millenium Lounge (International): Business Class & Status holders of various airlines
Transportation at Ankara Airport
Getting from Ankara Airport to the city isn’t particularly easy. There are no trains between the airport and the city, thus you need to rely on buses. There are two operators: HAVAS operates a shuttle bus to the city center, which takes 40 to 60 minutes. The Ankara City Bus Line 442 takes a little longer, but has more stops in the city. Both options are relatively cheap, but the city buses are the more affordable option. You can also take a taxi, which sets you back at least 20 Euro. Sadly, the taxis aren’t particularly safe and the drivers didn’t act very friendly when I visited. Uber or similar services are not available in Ankara.