Originally Posted by
Stewie Mac
Unless you have any special requirements, then easy just to take a cab from the airport. Assuming that you don't know Istanbul/Turkish well enough to direct the driver, make sure that you have the address written down so that the driver can put it into his satnav, and ensure that he turns the meter on (normally the tally is in the rear view mirror, check that there are numbers there and they are increasing). I know that there are lots of tales about Istanbul taxi drivers ripping people off, but in a city with a million taxis they are a teeny tiny fraction, and I think mostly when you are around the Golden Horn district. I haven't taken a taxi IST-Asia side for a long time, and I know inflation is rampant, but I would expect it to be < trl 1,200, so under $40.
This is an exactly spot on comment, Istanbul Airport taxis are pretty honest usually as they are part of a cooperation, and they take complaints very seriously.
While some taxis in the Golden Horn and Beyoğlu area are trying to scam tourists, most of the rest are pretty honest.
A taxi to the Asian side until Kozyatağı maybe, shouldn't cost more than ₺1000-1200 including tolls. If the Asian side description is somewhere far as Pendik, Tuzla, etc... obviously the pricing would be much higher so I wouldn't bother with a private transfer company, especially from the airport.
Also since the airport metro is now extended to Gayrettepe, public transportation to/from the airport is now very feasible and the Asian side could be accessed by Metro U1 ( M11 ) + Metrobus, or those who want to stick with 100% rail Metro U1 ( M11 ) + Metro ( M2 ) + Suburban Rail ( Marmaray ).