Istanbul Expo Center Guide: Yeşilköy and Getting There from Bakirkoy

The Istanbul Expo Center (IFM) is in Yeşilköy, and two rail lines reach it: the Marmaray Yeşilköy stop and the M1A metro stop DTM-İstanbul Fuar Merkezi. From Zeytinlik, Bakırköy, the fairground is about 7 km away; 15–25 minutes by car and 30–40 minutes on public transport.

This post gathers the basics on Yeşilköy and the area around IFM for anyone coming to the fair for the first time. For the fair name, dates and opening hours, the most current sources are IFM's event calendar and the organiser's announcements.

Where Yeşilköy sits relative to Bakırköy

Yeşilköy is a neighbourhood on the Marmara shore, west of Bakırköy centre. Heading from Bakırköy toward Halkalı on the Marmaray, the stops come in this order: Ataköy, Yeşilyurt and Yeşilköy. After Yeşilköy the line continues to Florya Aquarium and Florya.

The two rail routes to IFM

• Marmaray, Yeşilköy stop: if you are staying within an 8-minute walk of Marmaray Bakırköy station, this is the most practical of the rail options. Check the route from the station to the fair entrance on a map beforehand.
• M1A, DTM-İstanbul Fuar Merkezi stop: board at Bakırköy-İncirli toward Atatürk Havalimanı and get off after Bahçelievler, Ataköy-Şirinevler and Yenibosna.

For step-by-step directions and a comparison, see our getting from Bakırköy to IFM post.

Three easy mix-ups

1. Atatürk Havalimanı: this is the name of the M1A terminus, but the airport is closed to passenger flights. Flights run through Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).
2. Which direction: on the Marmaray you take the Halkalı direction for IFM. Trains toward Gebze head to Yenimahalle, Zeytinburnu and Kazlıçeşme, away from the fair.
3. Yeşilyurt and Yeşilköy: these two consecutive Marmaray stops have names that sound alike. Heading from Bakırköy toward Halkalı, Yeşilyurt comes first; for IFM you get off at the next stop, Yeşilköy.

Driving and parking at the fairground

If you are coming by car, the parking layout and vehicle entrances at the fairground can change from event to event; check this in IFM's and the organiser's announcements. On the Bakırköy side, look into the parking options nearby before you set off. On fair days, taking the Marmaray takes the parking question off the table entirely.

Beyond the fair in Yeşilköy and Florya

• Yeşilköy seafront: a well-known walking area, worth an hour for anyone who wants a break from the fair while they are already in Yeşilköy.
• Florya: the stops after Yeşilköy on the Marmaray bring you to Istanbul Aquarium, Florya beach and the Florya Atatürk Marine Mansion.
• Food and drink: the options at and around the fairground vary by event. Heading back to Bakırköy for dinner around Freedom Square is another option; have a look at our evening after the fair post.

Why staying in Bakırköy works well

Staying in Bakırköy means lively evenings in a district centre and easy connections to the rest of the city along the Marmaray line. Yenikapı is about 15 minutes away by Marmaray and Sirkeci about 20. In the morning you reach the fair in 30–40 minutes by public transport or 15–25 minutes by car. Teams of 4–5 share the Two-bedroom apartment (2+1); the building has a lift and security cameras.

A checklist for first-time fair visitors

• Have you confirmed your fair dates in IFM's current event calendar?
• Do you have the organiser's opening hours and registration details?
• Have you noted the Halkalı direction on the Marmaray and the Atatürk Havalimanı direction on the M1A?
• Have you looked at the route from the station to the fair entrance on a map?
• Is your Istanbulkart ready?
• If you are driving, have you asked the organiser about the parking layout?

Running through this list the evening before makes the first morning easier. For the early details, see our expo morning plan post too.

Where to stay

Our address and the distances around it are on the location page. To ask about availability for expo week, just send your dates and the number of guests; call +90 532 655 43 32 or message us on WhatsApp in English.

Common questions