Transportation at Istanbul International airport

[Jonathan Sipos]

I'm flying to Istanbul in a couple of weeks—arriving at night—and I've got a full set of luggage, including my snowboard. Carrying all that myself is no fun, and overpaying local taxi drivers is definitely not an option. I've scoured a ton of information, but I still haven't found any up-to-date details on nighttime routes. Some people say that Havaist buses run around the clock, while others warn that the intervals at night are ridiculously long and you could end up waiting on the platform for two hours. Plus, I still haven't figured out if they accept regular bank cards there now, or if you absolutely have to get an Istanbulkart from the vending machine?

[Jonathan Sipos]

I rented a place in such a remote area that not every taxi driver will go there. Somewhere in the Beyoğlu area. If I take public transportation to Taksim Square, is it even possible to find my way around on foot with a heavy suitcase, or is it better not to even try? Can you tell me the most reliable and affordable way to leave the New Airport after midnight so I don't end up broke?