What to do at Istanbul Airport
Enjoy even the longest layover by spending time at Istanbul International Airport
Take advantage of the layover at Istanbul International Airport
Istanbul Airport receives flights from over 100 countries worldwide including JAN, MIA, AMS, etc. Thus, Istanbul airport’s passenger traffic is intensive, and lots of these passengers need to spend time during their layovers before the transfer to another flight or going home.
It’s amazing, but you’d have fun and enjoy very high comfort even without moving to the city from Istanbul International Airport! Moreover, the airport is often compared to a city-in-the-city as its construction supposes all kinds of terminals, facilities, and social services an average passenger may need during their grand layover between transfers at the airport.
Today, let’s find out in our guide a useful info what to do and where to go in Istanbul airport, which interesting locations to choose, avoid troubles, and how to make your time in the airport between your arrivals and departures full of joy and comfort.
As different airlines operating in Istanbul airport provide various layovers for their clients during their travel, it is better to plan your time in IST in advance by keeping in mind how long you have to stay in Istanbul before your connecting flight. Of course, if you have only a 1-3 hour gap between flights, or just four hours to wait, this question won’t worry you as this time is enough just to take a rest at the airport and check in to the next flight. Yet, what if you want to stay at Istanbul airport for longer? Let’s make a simple plan for various airport layover times.
6-hour layover in Istanbul
So, you have 6 hours before you depart from Istanbul Airport. What should you do then? First, be aware to reserve 1-2 hours for your check-in to the next flight. Please note this as it may allow you to relax and pass the procedure with no hassle.
Then, consider what are your private needs right now. As Istanbul Airport is located in Arnavutkoy in the European part of the city, opposite to the Asian side, the distance between the airport and the center where most sightseeings are gathered is long enough and even using metro transportation or renting a car it should take time to get there. Thus, it is better not to leave the airport and keep your focus on local amenities.
The best alternative is:
- To enter a lounge at the airport and spend time in it.
- Have some shopping in the airport duty-free stores.
- If you are with kids, you can take them to the kids’ playground to play free in the airport building.
- Take your meal or simply drink coffee in one of the cafes or restaurants.
All this can be accompanied by your necessary routines like taking a shower in special washing zones, surfing the Internet, working online, or chatting in social media using the airport’s Wi-Fi kiosks, or using ATMs and currency exchange offices for your convenient traveling.
8-hour layover in Istanbul
Likewise, the previous option, having only 8 hours of layover at the airport is not too much to visit the city center and enjoy impressive sites of Istanbul, so getting away from the airport is not the best decision. Yet, if you still want to leave IST, we offer you to explore the Arnavutkoy town and the Ottoman mansions it has in addition to the ideas we list above.
Do not forget: tourists who wait for flights connection at Istanbul Airport need to obtain a visa to leave the international terminal area and enter the city.
Instanbul
Situated on the Bosphorus Strait that separates Europe from Asia, Istanbul is, itself, a historical and cultural link between the East and West. Once known as Constantinople, this former capital…
Instanbul
Situated on the Bosphorus Strait that separates Europe from Asia, Istanbul is, itself, a historical and cultural link between the East and West. Once known as Constantinople, this former capital…
9-hour layover in Istanbul
Typically, the ideas on how to spend 9 hours in the airport don’t differentiate much from the previous option. Yet, we can really add something to it.
For example, in this case, it should be an excellent decision to rent a room in a hotel to sleep and relax in full privacy. Also, you can apply for the official business lounge and pay for it to work remotely and read some articles in digital newspapers while waiting for your boarding. We’ll enclose these options in detail further in this blog article.
Do you know a curious fact that there are two hotels in IST both owned by the same Yotel group? They provide accommodation in over 400 rooms for travelers.
10-hour layover in Istanbul
When you have 10 hours of layover, it’s bingo. It’s up to you to consider how to spare them depending on your tastes. For example, let’s find some additional ideas for your layover that sound like this:
- Take a visit to the Airport museum to look at art exhibitions;
- Rent a room in Yotel if your connecting flight waiting is at night as here are plenty of rooms with comfortable beds for each taste, prices, and habits;
- Spend time at the airport’s SPA areas;
With such a period of waiting, you can also explore Istanbul’s best sites. Just leave your luggage in the airport’s storage zone and pick up the subway, catch a bus, or find a quick taxi to get to Taksim Square, Galata Tower or Sultanahmet where the main sites are spread. As the airport is close to the Bosporus, you can also take a short tour of the seashore and meet the sunset here enjoying an unforgettable view.
20-hour layover in Istanbul
Staying in the airport for 20 hours is not a good idea. So, especially if you have Turkish citizenship or a valid visa, you have carte blanche to explore Istanbul’s beauty. We offer you to leave your baggage in a hotel room if you booked one, pick up one of the taxis and move to the Asian part of the city to enjoy its best sites. Besides, you can book in advance a worthwhile trip on boats to sail crossing the Bosphorus and along the Golden Horn to look at the most picturesque landscapes of East and West you ever saw at once and feel the relaxed character of Istanbul.
1 day layover in Istanbul
With 24 hours to expect, you can take all the options we listed and even learn more. In this case, you definitely can go shopping in the city at the fabulous Istiklal Street or spend a couple of hours at a traditional Turkish market (bazaar) buying local souvenirs and delicious sweets the country of Turkey is famous for.
Do not forget that you need to return back to the airport no later than 1-2 hours before departure for domestic flights and no later than 3 hours before you board an international flight (for example to Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Prague (Czech Republic), Paris, Lisbon, New York or Madrid). Always reserve a little bit more so as not to pass your check-in at the last few minutes and fill in all the documents timely.
What can you do in Istanbul airport?
There are various things to do at the airport as its officials meet the needs of diverse visitors. For example, here is a special policy for seniors and disabled people which offers them quicker passing of check-ins, buggy transportation, and other privileges i.e., special lounges for people with disabilities including mental states.
Others might also expect something unusual, as the airport offers extra levels of comfort for everyone.
Shopping at the airport
Istanbul Airport is one of the leading airports in terms of the availability of shopping facilities. It’s truly a giant duty-free area with dozens of stores as well as numerous shops allocated in all parts of the airport. In case you are out of money, ATMs and currency exchange spots are at your service.
Airport museum and exhibitions you can visit in IST
Turkish government makes the airport the #1 spot for cultural acquaintances. Tourists can familiarize themselves with rich Turkish culture right at the international terminal area where the largest airport museum is allocated. Here you can see over 316 masterpieces from ancient times to the modern era exhibited at 1,000 square meters of museum. Besides, regular art expos and IGA photo exhibitions are held in the airport so you can track them on the airport’s site page or in its official application.
Eat & drink: which options are available in Istanbul Airport
Long layovers are normal, yet they require you to decide on your dining. Fortunately, in IGA, there are multiple cafés, bars, and restaurants which meet the highest expectations of gourmet. Enjoy local culinary traditions in Cafe Yanimda or spend your leisure time at Bottega Bosphorus tasting vines, try original Turkish coffee with a simit at the cafe which name is Cay Saati. There are dozens of dining facilities both local and international, so, if you are a Starbucks or Burger King fan, you’ll find food and drinks you are used to in the airport too.
Istanbul Airport’s nearby attractions
Istanbul is a total delight. This beautiful city sophisticatedly combines trains of modern Western culture and traditional Eastern one. If you’ve got a long layover at the Istanbul Airport ahead of you, don’t miss a chance to visit the city’s best amenities. It’s almost impossible to spend time walking Istanbul’s streets without exploring the following sightseeing:
- Views and sites in Sultanahmet – here the fabulous Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Museum, Topkapi Palace, and Basilica Cistern are located, so taking a taxi to this part of Istanbul brings you the highest pleasure.
- Taksim Square is another destination worth your attention. It’s a real modern Istanbul in its essence and the biggest shopping area in the city.
These destinations in the city center can be reached by taxi, by bus, and by subway. Yet, if you are not sure about your ability to orient in a new city, it is better to choose one of the tours provided directly from the airport by local guides.
Popular tours from Istanbul Airport
Among touristic options offered to Istanbul airport’s passengers, one-day tours to the most beautiful locations are the most popular and affordable ones. You may select a tour accompanied by guides to one of the districts we mentioned above and besides, do not pass by ferry tours or boat tours which bring you the most Instagrammable views of the cityscape and Bosphorus from the board of a boat.
If we wrap all the things to do in Istanbul Airport, you’ll see that there are almost limitless opportunities to have a good time for all your layovers, no matter if you have just a couple of hours to wait, or you need to spend a day or more expecting for your departure.