istanbul city tour turkish airlines

Maddie Around the World

Maddie Around the World is a blog dedicated to solo female travelers and budget travelers. Check it out for destination guides and travel tips and stories!

The Complete Guide to TourIstanbul with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a free tour of Istanbul if your layover is longer than six hours? It’s called TourIstanbul, and you can book it directly at the airport! It is a great way to get out and see the city! I recently took a TourIstanbul tour when I had a 14-hour layover at the Istanbul airport. Keep reading for the complete guide to TourIstanbul!

What is TourIstanbul?

What does the tour include, is touristanbul really free, how to signup.

Is There Luggage Storage Available?

Is TourIstanbul Worth it?

Get a Free Hotel Room from Turkish Airlines

TourIstanbul is a free tour of Istanbul offered by Turkish Airlines. If your layover at the Istanbul Airport is longer than six hours and the times align, they will take you on a fully guided tour! Additionally, you must be flying on Turkish Airlines to be eligible for these tours.

They pick your tour based on your flight times, so some offer more than others. Either way, it’s a great way to fight that layover boredom!

If you are worried about returning to the airport on time, don’t stress! The TourIstanbul team has planned their schedules carefully to work with your flights. If something goes wrong with the timing, Turkish Airlines will book you on the next flight to your destination!

TourIstanbul provides a bus to the city, a meal, and entry fees into all museums/attractions. Tours range from a few hours to a full-day tour and have a variety of activities.

Unfortunately, my tour didn’t go into specific attractions due to timing. However, we saw iconic landmarks such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and many more. After sightseeing, we sat down and had a delicious multi-course meal where I got to try traditional Turkish food. They were even able to accommodate my dietary restrictions as a vegetarian.

Click here to check out the different tours that they offer!

It sounds too good to be true, but TourIstanbul is actually free! However, if you don’t have a visa to enter Turkey, you’ll need to pay for it. You can purchase it on-site at the airport or online in advance. I purchased my visa at the airport because I wanted to make sure that my flight to Turkey wasn’t delayed, and that I would have time to go on the tour.

I have a United States passport and paid around 50 USD for my visa. Click here to review visa information based on which passport you have.

Click here to learn about getting an e-visa in advance.

You can’t signup for TourIstanbul in advance. You have to visit the desk at the airport to register for a tour. Before heading to the tour desk, you must purchase your visa if you don’t have an e-visa. There are visa desks before passport control where you can buy one. Once you purchase it, follow the signs to exit the airport and proceed through passport control. The TourIstanbul desk is opposite of meeting point 4 by arrivals. Click here to view an interactive map to locate the TourIstanbul desk.

Once you locate the desk, you can speak with the agent to schedule your free tour! You will provide them with your ticket number so they can assign you to the tour that best fits your travel day. From there, you can hang out in that area until 30 minutes before your tour time. At that point, return to the desk to prepare for your tour! A guide will meet you and take it from there.

Is There Luggage Storage Avaliable?

If you are traveling with carry-on luggage, you can locate lockers next to the TourIstanbul desk. You can leave your luggage here for a small fee. As you will be walking around the city, I recommend storing your bags in the lockers where they will be safe. I left my backpack and suitcase here, and it was safely stored until I returned from my tour.

It is totally worth it! I love exploring new places, and there’s no better time to do that than when the only other option is sitting in the airport. I loved getting a taste of Istanbul and exploring some of its most iconic destinations. As a solo traveler, it was also a great way to meet others, as we sat together at large tables, and I met travelers from all over the world!

Get a Free Hotel Room From TurkishAir

Some passengers may also be eligible for a free hotel room from Turkish Airlines based on their layover time! You can not take advantage of the free TourIstanbul tour and the hotel room. Additionally, there are many more conditions to receive free accommodation. Check out the list below to see if you qualify!

If you are economy class, your layover must be longer than 12 hours. For business class, it must be longer than 9 hours.
If there was a shorter layover time offered, you are not eligible, even if that option is full! This means that you are only eligible if this was the best flight option offered by Turkish Airlines. For example, if you booked a flight that had a 12-hour layover, but there was also a flight with a 4-hour layover to your destination, you are not eligible.
If you are under 18 you must be accompanied by an adult.

Click here for more information on the Turkish Airlines website! To claim this offer, you must visit the Hotel Desk at the Istanbul airport.

Next time you pass through Istanbul Airport, take advantage of these great opportunities offered by Turkish Airlines! I love finding ways to maximize my flights! Have you been on a TourIstanbul tour before? Leave a comment below about your experience!

If you are booking flights soon, check out my article: “How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets in 2o23!”

Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Posted on March 21, 2022 By World Traveller 73

10 Comments

Turkish Airlines offers a free guided tour for its connecting passengers that have between six and twenty four hours in the city. The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul is a free complimentary tour that provides a guided tour with all meals (dependent on time) and all museum entries included. Would the tour stand up to a regular commercial offering ? Read on to discover our experiences.

This post is one chapter on our trip to the Republic of Tanzania and the Islands of the Seychelles. This trip was redeemed through Air Canada’s Aeroplan and enhanced through World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

If you enjoyed this post, please follow us here or on social media through Facebook , Twitter or Instagram for more travel tips and hacks on how to “Upgrade Your Travels”.

Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Turkish Airlines also offers a free semi guided tour of varying lengths. The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour departs from the airport to the airport. Since we had a 10 hour connection, it was the perfect escape and attraction to keep us occupied instead of waiting out the connection solely in the lounge.

Booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour:

The first step of booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour is to make sure that you can enter Turkey. In our circumstances, I had arranged our e-visas for entry to Turkey on the Turkish government website the day we departed the Seychelles. This is completely separate from the tour offering so you’ll have to make the necessary inquiries to determine your eligibility in order to enter Turkey.

The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul does not require an advance reservation. They have tours of varying lengths. It is recommended to review the schedule to align yourself with a tour that meets with your travel times, while allowing sufficient time to re-clear security.

We just presented ourselves at the Turkish Airlines E Tour Desk for booking. We located the Turkish Hotel Desk where we signed up for the 8:30 AM tour at about 7:35 AM. Our onward boarding cards were collected, and we were told to be back for 8:30 AM.

We ended up spending some time in the Turkish Airlines Arrivals Lounge Istanbul Atatürk prior to the tour. At about 8:15 AM, we headed back outside for our tour. Our names were called and we were each given a sticker identifying us as being on the tour. Our boarding cards were also given a sticker with a contact phone number in the event of an emergency. All in all, it was well organized.

I was surprised at the amount of people doing the tour. All in, there was a full coach of 48 people, in addition to a small van of 15 passengers. We lucked out and got in the small van, which made the trip go much better.

We started off on the coastal road. We ended up heading to the Galata bridge. It was a beautiful sunny day in Istanbul, which made the sights along the way all that more pleasant.

Visiting the Galata Bridge:

We parked directly on the Galata bridge where we had a fifteen minute photobreak. One of our younger youthful travellers mistook this bridge for the Bosphorus bridge and set off running end to end so that she could have a foot in Europe and a foot in Asia. She was late getting back to the van but it meant all that much more time for us to breath in some Turkish air.

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Palace:

After the Galata Bridge, we hopped back in the van and headed up the road to Dolmabahçe Palace. It was a nice spot to stop right on the water. The palace served as served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and 1909 to 1922

There was also a nice café on the shores of the Bosphorus although we didn’t indulge today.

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Mosque:

Right around the corner from the palace was the Dolmabahçe Mosque. It was commissioned in 1885 and was a beautiful spot. It was free of charge to enter, although MrsWT73 had to wrap. Scarves were provided free of charge.

We hopped back in the van for the last time for the drive back towards the airport. Instead of the coastal drive, it was direct through the city toward the airport area.

We were dropped off at the departures level. Overall, it was a pleasant way to spend 6 hours instead of being cooped up in a room with stale air. We got to leave with more pleasant memories of Istanbul. This was after stepping through the smoke pits at the grotty entrance to the Istanbul Atatürk Departures Hall.

We headed inside to eventually get onto our Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul – Toronto flight back to North America.

My Thoughts on the Turkish Airlines E-Tour at Istanbul:

The Turkish Airlines E-Tour is a great way to spend a long connection time. In addition to it being completely free except for your visa entry into Turkey, it beats spending time inside an airport waiting for your flight. The tours are set up to maximize your limited time in Turkey. I found the experience to be rewarding for a day tour, and since we had nice weather, it made for a pleasant day.

If you’ve taken advantage of the Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul, did you find it worth your connection time ?

10 Comments on “ Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour ”

When did you take this tour? Has Touristanbul started again?

We took this trip in Spring of 2018. I’ve been getting my posts on line thanks to the down time of the pandemic, so there has been a slight delay.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Turkish Airlines has re-instated the Istanbul ETour as of yet. One day hopefully…

Thanks for reading.

Yes, they have started Touristanbul again on 1st July 2022 after a break due to pandemic.

Thanks Ali.

That is great news for transit passengers with a long layover. It will add to the flying experience with Turkish.

I’m trying to understand something and I emailed Touristanbul but I don’t think they understand what I meant.

I’m planing on arriving in Turkey at 11.45 pm on the 28th November and take the 8.30 am tour on the following day. Can I leave the airport to sleep at an hotel and then come back on the 29th to join the tour? I’ve been in that airport before, but I don’t recall where the desk is, so I don’t know if I leave the airport I can go to the Tours desk again. Do you know?

When I participated in the tour, it was from the old Istanbul Atatürk Airport. My understanding is that the set up is similar at the new Istanbul International Airport.

When I went through, they were only checking both boarding passes and connection time. As a result, assuming you have enough connection time, you’ll likely be able to select any tour you want.

Travel safe! Hope that helps…

I have the same situation in a couple of weeks- could you ket me know how it Worked?

Many thanks,

We did it this week.

We arrived at 11.45 pm, get off the airport, went to an hotel nearby, got back on the following morning and met the touristambul at the arrivals floor. It was a great day. We got back to the airport around 5.30 pm, we had plenty of time till our next flight 🙂

I’m glad to hear that Cátia Barbosa has confirmed it.

When I went through, they didn’t really appear to be too concerned with the departure date; only that your ticket included an “inbound” and “outbound Turkish Airlines flight and that you met the allowable connection time.

Assuming it is open, I might recommend stopping by the desk on your way to the hotel, so that your sleep time isn’t wasted unnecessarily.

Travel Safe!

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Flying Turkish Airlines and Have a Long Layover in Istanbul? Take a Free City Tour

Last year, I booked a longer layover in Istanbul en route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from Madrid to experience a free city tour, as I had never been to Turkey and thought it would provide a great introduction. Of course, when I was booking all this, I wasn't expecting an attempted military coup , but I ended up going through with my travel plans regardless. In the end, I was really happy I went, and the tour was a fun and insightful experience.

Turkish Airlines and touristanbul make it easy for transit passengers to take advantage of the free city tour. The official details are as follows:

The tours are for passengers flying Turkish Airlines internationally with layovers of at least six hours.
To take the tour, you must present your boarding pass at the touristanbul desk in the international arrivals hall before it starts.
No reservations are needed, but you can email touristanbul or visit its website if you have questions ahead of time.
Some tours include free meals, like breakfast and lunch, depending on the length of the tour.
Itineraries vary depending on the length of your layover, so check to see which one works for you.

Since my layover was about 14 to 15 hours long, it gave me just enough time to do the 9:00am to 3:00pm tour. I'd originally hoped to do the one that lasted until 6:00pm, but was advised not to, as the lines at security and passport control were quite long and could have made me miss my connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. I landed at 5:00am, having taken a red-eye from Madrid, and promptly headed through passport control, which was a breeze since I'd completed my Turkish e-Visa online a few days before.

I headed to the touristanbul hotel desk at 6:00am and the agent took my boarding pass, registered me and told me to meet at the Starbucks next door at 9:00am.

After putting away my carry-on bag in left luggage ($7 per day), and indulging myself with a nap and a coffee, I headed over to Starbucks at about 8:45am. By 9:00am, we were on the bus. The guide handed back our boarding passes along with a free gift, a circular piece of fabric that could double as a scarf, headband or hat.

We also received a card showing instructions for the many ways it could be worn, which was a nice touch.

The tour was clearly popular, with 42 people from all over the world on our new and comfortable bus.

All tours are conducted in English, by the way, and our guide explained what was included:

Complimentary Turkish-inspired breakfast
A visit to the Blue Mosque
A stroll through the city center to see monuments such as the Hagia Sofia, the Hippodrome, the Serpentine Column and Obelisk of Theodosius
A visit to the Topkapi Palace
Free lunch, a fixed menu of traditional Ottoman cuisine
Transport back to the airport
Those staying on for the tour until 6:00pm could also visit the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar.

The bus left promptly at 9:02am, driving along the coastal road that connects the airport to the city center, and by 10:00am we were at our seaside breakfast spot. The tables and plates had already been set up to include cheese, meats, olives, bread, jam, honey and a boiled egg. Tea was available but not coffee, so if you need a java to get you through the day, have one before setting off on the tour.

We only had about 20 minutes or so to enjoy breakfast, however, as the tour moved fast. From the breakfast spot, we walked a short way through the city streets toward our first tourist attraction, the Blue Mosque.

If you aren't properly dressed, the mosque will provide headscarves and items to cover legs and shoulders. I had a long dress, but you need to be nearly totally covered — my dress had slits along the calves, so I had to borrow a skirt to cover up fully.

You must then take off your shoes and place them in a plastic bag to carry around with you. As you might imagine, it took a bit of time for 42 tourists to go through the whole process, so we had only 15 minutes to walk around before moving on to the next location.

Covered in blue tiles with high, arched ceilings, the inside of the mosque was stunning. The people inside ranged from tourists taking photos to those who were praying. The outside of the mosque is just as lovely, with its signature minarets and stone courtyards.

With a brief stop to buy some corn on the cob, I then was able to take in what is apparently one of the oldest monuments in Istanbul, the Egyptian Obelisk of Theodosius and another important site, the Serpentine Column.

From there, we took a brisk walk to photograph the outside of the Hagia Sofia, which started off as a Greek Orthodox church, was turned into a Catholic church by the Crusaders, became an Ottoman mosque and is now a secular museum. In all, this was a beautiful representation of Turkish history.

I loved the overall vibe of Istanbul. I felt very comfortable and safe among the locals and the city center was picturesque and special.

Admission to Topkapi Palace is normally about $15 per person, but was included as part of the city tour. The palace itself was more like a small village, with floral gardens and several buildings and rooms each dedicated to specific artifacts like porcelain or ancient kitchenware.

We had about 50 minutes of free time to walk around, which wasn't nearly enough, but it still was amazing to see the beautiful buildings and charming gardens.

I stayed at the back of the group so I'd have enough time to enjoy the panoramic views of Istanbul and the famous Bosphorus Bridge, which connects Europe with Asia.

From there, I explored the Sultan's old rooms, which were beautifully preserved, the weapons room, with plenty of old swords and armor, and the Islamic Holy Relics room, which showcases important artifacts like what's reputed to be the staff Moses used to part the Red Sea. This room has been the site of people reciting the Quran since the 17 th century.

When the 50 minutes were up, we regrouped and headed down the palace stairs to eat lunch at a beautiful spot overlooking the water.

A typical Turkish lunch was served as a preset menu, including salad, juice, water, meat pastries, chicken and lamb shawarma, rice, vegetables and a sweet custard. There was also a vegetarian option available. The food wasn't incredible, but was still pretty good, generously spiced with the fact that it was totally free and came with awesome sea views.

After eating, it was time to head back to the bus and return to the airport. Those on the 6:00pm tour continued. We even managed to get to the airport on time despite the rush-hour traffic.

Though I am not typically a fan of big group tours, I love that Turkish Airlines offers this. It's a really nice way to take advantage of a long layover and get a brief peek at such a beautiful city. I loved how they arranged everything for you and included meals, too.

The tours are provided to pique interest in Istanbul and motivate visitors to return to the city later, and it totally worked. I can't wait to go back someday and see more of this incredible city.

Of course, if you are worried about the state of the country in today's troubling times, use your best judgment and check in with the US State Department for travel warnings and recommendations .

Keep in mind that if you have a longer layover and there are no earlier flights available, you can choose instead to get the free hotel offered by Turkish Airlines . But if you do that, you can't do the tour as well, so you'll have to pick which one you want most.

Have you ever taken the free Turkish Airlines city tour of Istanbul? Tell us about your experience, below.

All images by the author.

Daily Sabah

Transportation
News Analysis

Turkish Airlines resumes complimentary Istanbul city tour

By anadolu agency.

An aerial view shows Blue (Sultanahmet) Mosque and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque in historic district of Istanbul, Turkey, July 4, 2022. (IHA Photo)

National flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) has resumed its complimentary Istanbul city tour for its international transit passengers.

The "Touristanbul" facility will enable Turkish Airlines passengers with connecting flight times of six-24 hours at Istanbul Airport to discover the unique wonders of İstanbul, according to a statement from the flag carrier Monday.

Passengers are picked up from Istanbul Airport by a Touristanbul vehicle and taken on a tour that includes Sultanahmet Mosque, Ayasofya Mosque and Topkapı Palace accompanied by a guide and are brought back to the airport for the next leg of their flights.

Ahmet Olmuştur, Turkish Airlines' chief marketing officer, recalled that the service was suspended due to COVID-19 in 2020. "Our goal is to increase transfer passenger numbers and our market share with this privileged service," Olmuştur stressed. Some 349,738 guests have had the chance to discover Istanbul with the service since 2019, he noted. "We expect approximately 60,000 guests to benefit from the Touristanbul privilege until the end of the year."

Aiming to increase its share in the international transit passenger market and contribute to the promotion of Turkish tourism with this service, the THY initially arranged tours to explore Istanbul within the scope of the project it started in 2009. While the highest demand comes from Russia, Indonesia and France, passengers can join six different tours organized every day in accordance with their flight times.

Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933 with a fleet of five aircraft, currently has nearly 380 aircraft, including passenger and cargo planes. It flies to 340 destinations – 287 international and 53 domestic – in 129 countries. Last year, Turkish Airlines carried 44.8 million passengers, down nearly 40% compared to the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

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Free Istanbul Layover Perks by Turkish Airlines

In addition to shuttling passengers from place to place, many airlines around the world also assume the role (officially or unofficially) of a travel ambassador that promotes tourism within their home countries.

One of the most common ways for airlines to achieve this objective is to offer special perks and services to customers that are merely transiting through their hub airports, as a means to entice these customers to get out into the city, spend some of their tourist dollars, and hopefully continue flying with the airline in the future and perhaps even plan a return visit to their home country.

Turkish Airlines Layover Perks

You might be surprised to find out that Turkish Airlines operates flights to more destinations around the world than any other airline, but that’s indeed the case. Cities as far-flung as Buenos Aires, Mogadishu, Ulaanbaatar, Jakarta, and Yekaterinburg are all connected via the airline’s mega-hub in Istanbul, and the airline is constantly adding more destinations to its network.

With so many flights coming in and out, Turkish Airlines has much to gain by offering a comprehensive suite of services for transiting passengers during their Istanbul layover, and that’s exactly what they do.

The airline offers Istanbul city tours for all transiting passengers with a connection time of between six and 24 hours, as well as hotel accommodation services for economy class passengers with layovers of over 10 hours or business class passengers with layovers of over seven hours. Both services are complimentary.

I’ve flown with Turkish Airlines quite a few times recently, so I thought I’d share a detailed guide on how these services work and how you can take full advantage of them to make the most of your layover in Istanbul.

Free Istanbul City Tour by Turkish Airlines

Let’s begin with the complimentary Istanbul city tour, whose eligibility criteria are relatively straightforward. If you have a layover in Istanbul of between six and 24 hours, and if you’re flying with Turkish Airlines on both their inbound and outbound flights, then you’re eligible for the free city tour.

The program is also known as Touristanbul, and you can read all about it on the Turkish Airlines website . Six different tours are offered per day, and the exact sightseeing itinerary for each tour varies by the day of the week.

First, there’s a two-and-a-half-hour sightseeing tour that lasts from 8:30am to 11am in the mornings. This is the shortest tour by duration, and it’s my understanding that this tour doesn’t bring you inside any of the mosques, museums, or attractions, but rather mostly involves taking the tour bus from place to place and taking in the sights from the outside.

Then there’s three different six-hour guided tours, which are available from 9am to 3pm, 12pm to 6pm, or 2pm to 8pm. These tours will grant you access to a few of the attractions, and will also stop at certain sites for a little longer, allowing the tour guide to give you the backstory of many of Istanbul’s most important locales. These tours also come with a free meal, with the 9am–3pm tour providing both breakfast and lunch.

By far the most comprehensive option is the full-day tour, which lasts from 9am to 6pm. You get breakfast and lunch, entry to multiple important sites (like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, or Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts), and plenty of downtime to explore areas like the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Market.

Again, the exact tour schedule varies by day – for example, on Fridays, the full-day tour brings you on a Bosphorus Cruise, which is quite a unique and exciting thing to do when you’re in town.

Lastly, there’s the walking tour, which takes place from 4pm to 9pm. This tour involves taking the bus into the heart of Istanbul and walking around to all the major attractions in the area, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, followed by a complimentary dinner.

This was the tour I embarked on during my recent long layover in Istanbul, and I enjoyed it very much – since the Blue Mosque closes at 5pm, you still get to go inside if the tour is on schedule, and the time spent walking around central Istanbul from place to place was a lovely way to get a taste of urban life in the city outside of the main tourist hotspots as well.

I’ll be sure to publish a detailed post about my free Istanbul city tour when the time comes to write the full series for my round-the-world trip.

Complimentary Turkish dinner on the free city tour

There’s a few things to note about the free city tours. First off, Canadians require an e-visa to enter Turkey, so make sure to get that sorted out before your trip.

It’s a relatively simple application process on the Turkey e-visa website , and in my experience you don’t even need to show a printout of the visa or anything – it’s all registered in the system, so the immigration official can pull up your documents on their end.

Next, you can only choose one of the six tours to go on, so pick wisely if you have the choice. My layover in Istanbul began at 7am and lasted until midnight, so I could’ve chosen the full-day tour if I had the energy – but nope, I dozed off in the Turkish CIP Lounge until the early afternoon, so by that point I only had the 4pm walking tour left!

Blue Mosque, Istanbul

To sign up for a tour, you need to visit the Hotel Desk at the far right end of the terminal at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

As you exit through Arrivals and make your way there, you might be confronted by private tour operators offering you paid tours instead (some of these guys will even use the Turkish Airlines logo, masquerading as the official tour guides to lure you in). Pay them no mind and head straight for the Hotel Desk – you’ll want to arrive at least 20 minutes in advance of the start time, so that you can get fully registered before the tour begins.

Hotel Desk at Istanbul Atatürk Airport

Everything on the tour is entirely complimentary, from the sightseeing entry fees, to your meals, to the services of the tour guide (feel free to tip, though there was no real expectation of doing so).

You can of course bring some cash with you to spend at the Grand Bazaar or the markets, but as a valued guest of Turkish Airlines, you’re very much allowed – and encouraged – to see many of Istanbul’s amazing sights without spending a dime!

And lastly, given the vast international network that Turkish Airlines operates, these city tours can be a fantastic way to meet other travellers from all over the globe. You might be transiting Istanbul on your way from, say, Canada to the Middle East, while another traveller might be on their way from Africa to Southeast Asia, and yet another tour member might be headed from India to South America!

In a way that’s befitting of Istanbul’s historic stature as a cultural crossroads, the possibilities for serendipitous encounters with your fellow travellers – often the magic ingredient to a highly memorable trip – are very much boundless here on Turkish Airlines’s free city tours.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Free Transit Hotel by Turkish Airlines

The other option available to a certain subset of transiting passengers is the free transit hotel program, which you can also read about on its dedicated page on the Turkish Airlines website .

If you’re eligible for both, you can only choose one of the free city tour or the free transit hotel, so if you’d rather take your time to shower, nap, get refreshed, and then perhaps explore the city at your own pace, then the latter option might well be a better fit.

Given the cost of providing accommodation, the rules on who gets to receive a complimentary hotel stay are rather strict. Your inbound and outbound flights must both be on Turkish Airlines. Moreover, economy class passengers must have a layover time of 10 hours or longer to be eligible, while business class passengers must have a layover time of seven hours or longer.

Note that these layover times are calculated based on Turkish Airlines’s flight schedules, not based on the flights you’ve specifically chosen. Therefore, you’re only eligible for a free hotel Turkish Airlines’s scheduling has forced you into a layover time that meets the above criteria.

Any attempt, deliberate or not, to choose flights with a longer layover time, when you could’ve chosen different flights to get a shorter layover time, will not work.

An example should help illustrate. I was recently travelling from Paris to Hanoi via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. Looking at the airline’s schedules, there’s five daily inbound flights from Paris CDG, and one outbound flight to Hanoi.

Paris (CDG) – ISTANBUL (IST)

Istanbul (ist) – hanoi (han).

On my trip, I had booked Turkish Airlines Flight 1822 coming into Istanbul, since that was the only flight with award availability on my chosen date. Flight 1822 arrives at 4:40pm, and the departing Flight 166 doesn’t leave until 2:55am, so I had a layover time of about ten hours. That’s above the business class threshold of seven hours, and so I thought I would be eligible for a free transit hotel.

But I was not eligible. See, in this scenario, Turkish Airlines will say that I could’ve taken any of the later flights from Paris CDG to Istanbul, and I would’ve had a layover time of under seven hours. For that reason, my nine-hour layover time was not dictated by the airline’s schedule, so I was not eligible for a free hotel.

The fact that there was no award availability on any of the other flights was entirely irrelevant. For all that Turkish Airlines cared, I could’ve paid for those flights if I really wanted to.

Now, contrast this scenario to my other recent trek through Istanbul, this time from Accra to Singapore. There’s only one flight to each of these destinations per day, and the scheduling meant that I’d arrive at 7:30am and leave at 1:55am.

Accra (ACC) – Istanbul (IST)

Istanbul (ist) – singapore (sin).

There were no alternative Turkish flights I could’ve taken to achieve a transit time of less than seven hours, and so I was indeed eligible for the free hotel (although I eventually opted to do the city tour instead).

Well, how can you verify if you’re eligible for a free hotel without going through all this trouble? The easiest way is to email the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk team directly at [email protected] . Give them your booking reference and they’ll be able to inform you immediately whether you’re eligible.

Turkish Airlines doesn’t let its passengers know in advance which hotel they’ll be staying at; instead, they simply say that business class customers will get a higher standard of hotels than economy class customers.

Reading about other travellers’ experiences on the FlyerTalk thread , it seems that business class passengers are often put in the Renaissance Polat Istanbul or the Radisson Blu , while economy class passengers tend to get put up in the Courtyard , the DoubleTree , the Holiday Inn , etc.

Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul

To attain your free hotel stay, again you’ll have to exit through immigration (meaning an e-visa might be required, of course), and then turn right to find the Hotel Desk. The agents there will verify your eligibility and assign you to a hotel, and then you’ll be picked up by a complimentary shuttle and brought to your complimentary quarters for the duration of your layover.

Lastly, keep in mind that if you aren’t eligible for the free hotel stay service, you can still book a room at the TAV Istanbul Airport Hotel , which has rooms both airside and landside. And if you have lounge access, you can of course simply choose to pass the time in the enormous Turkish CIP Lounge as well.

No one will begrudge you for napping in the lounge’s public seating areas (as I did), but if you want to doze off in the sleeping rooms, you’ll need to be travelling in business class with a layover time of between four and seven hours – and again, this is strictly enforced according to Turkish Airlines’s flight schedules.

Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge Istanbul

Capitalizing on their massive hub in Istanbul, an eminent tourist hotspot and a city of historic global significance, Turkish Airlines boasts some of the most valuable complimentary layover perks that you’ll find among any airline in the world.

Long layovers are often viewed as an unproductive and exhausting time-sink along the journey from origin to destination, but the airline addresses both of those concerns with their free city tour and layover hotel services. Make sure to take advantage on your next trip with Turkish Airlines!

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Extremely useful insight! Thank you for sharing! One note though – the time of layover has been changed from 10h to 12h for economy class and from 7h to 9h for business class. https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-ee/flights/hotel-service/

Sounds like not a very Canadian friendly option – $60 USD e-visa + not eligible for free accoms or tour if departure is from Canuckistan. Can someone confirm this?

Thanks. Very interesting. However, reading the "small font" info on hotel stay eligibility while in transit, it looks like passagers from Canada, including travelling business are not eligible to a free night. However, it is available if you are travelling from the US; sounds like the option then would be to start your TK journey out of an American city. Also, all legs on a ticket must be eligible otherwise, your plans for free hotel are void. https://www.turkishairlines.com/fr-ca/flights/stopover/

Well explained, thank you!

Are flights from Canada eligible for the stopover? Based on their cities and countries scope, I don’t see Canada listed as a departure country.

It is expensive for a short visit. Even China allows either 72 or 144 visa free stop-overs depending on the city. The thing that annoys me the most is it is only Canada that has to pay $60. Almost every other country on the planet pays $20. It is really a shame. I did a 3 week trip around Turkey a few years back and it would be wonderful to visit again. I have transited through IST over a dozen times in the past several years and would have planned an overnight stay every time and certainly several few days or week or two stops. Instead I picked the shortest connection time and waited in the HSBC lounge. I take some comfort in thousands of dollars of lost revenue for Turkey that got spent elsewhere.

I’ve looked into this a few times for my layover in IST this summer. How do you think the new airport will affect this free service? I’m really looking forward to seeing the city. It’s $60 US for the e-Visa, pretty hefty to enter for a few hours.

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Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines

Our plane from Bangkok landed at Istanbul New Airport (IST) around 4:00, as scheduled. We had an international fight with a layover of over 6 hours in Istanbul so we have decided to try Touristanbul - free Istanbul tour with Turkish Airlines .

The first thing you need to know is that you need to register for taking Touristanbul at Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk which is located at the arrival terminal of Istanbul Airport. It means that once you arrive at the airport, you need to pass through Passport Control / Immigration checkpoint to enter Turkey (depending on your nationality, you may need a visa for that).

Istanbul New Airport is huge and it’s quite a long walk from the gate to the immigration checkpoint. It took us almost 20 minutes to reach Passport Control. As it was an early morning and there was no queue, we have spent only 1-2 minutes to pass the immigration.

After passing the Immigration area, walk through the baggage claim area and exit to the arrival hall. Here you will just need to turn right and walk straight (many tour operators will offer paid tours on your way, just avoid them). You just need to walk all the way to the end and you will easily notice Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk there.

As it was very early morning, the staff of Turkish Airlines told us to come back about 7:00 as the Touristanbul counter was still closed. We went to find some breakfast and came back to the Touristanbul counter a bit after 7:00. The process of registration for the tour is simple and easy, just showing our boarding passes to the staff was enough.

Our connecting flight from Istanbul was around 16:00 so we have decided to join the sightseeing tour which lasts from 08:00 to 11:30. The staff suggested that we could take another tour (T02) which lasts from 08:30 to 15:00. However, we didn’t want to rush when coming back to the airport so we took the first option.

There is a luggage storage office nearby the hotel desk so we have stored our backpack there first. If you have a hand luggage and don’t want to carry it all around the city, you can leave it at the airport or keep it on the bus. Detailed information about luggage storage at the airport can be found here: Left Luggage at Istanbul New Airport (IST) .

There is a waiting area on the opposite side from the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk. The tour guide will come there to greet you and start the trip.

Free Tour Itinerary

Departure from Istanbul Airport
Following the Coastal Road
Yedikule Fortress
Old Samatya Armanian District
Yeni Kapı Harbour
Walls of Constantine
Eminonu District
Photo break on Galata Bridge
Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace
Taksim Square
Galata Tower
Golden Horn
Aqueduct of Valens
Returns to Istanbul Airport

7:55 Tour Start

The guide came to the waiting area, called our names and leaded us to the bus. We departed from Istanbul Airport exactly on time at 8:00 by minibus of Touristanbul , following the Coastal Road. It took about 1 hour to reach the city and we passed many important and spectacular sites of Istanbul on the way, including Yedikule Fortress, Old Samatya Armanian District, Yeni Kapı Harbour, Walls of Constantine, Eminonu District.

9:00 Photo break on Galata Bridge

Our first stop was Galata Bridge where we have spent about 15 minutes. The Galata Bridge is the most famous pedestrian bridge over the Golden Horn that connects the old historic town and Taksim area. You can see locals casting their rods, and fishing from both sides of the bridge.

9:25 Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace is a beautiful European style residence of the Ottoman Sultans on the Bosphorus. Its decoration is very luxurious and it witnesses the last days of the Ottoman Empire.

The entrance fee that is not included in the free tour is as follows:

Whole Palace: 90 TL
Official Part: 60 TL
Harem/Sultan’s Family House: 40 TL
Student: 20 TL
Child 0-6 years old: Free

You can skip the long ticket lines and enter the Dolmabahçe Palace with a guide by booking a visit here: Dolmabahce Palace Highlights Guided Tour w/ Fast Track Entry .

As this free Istanbul tour is hardly enough for decent exploration of the side of Istanbul that most tourists don't get to see, you can choose this 4-hour sightseeing tour of the city instead: Bosphorus Bridge, Camlica Hill, and Dolmabahce Palace Tour .

10:00 Leave from Dolmabahçe Palace

The bus left Dolmabahçe Palace and took a different route for getting back to the airport. This time the bus passed Taksim Square, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Aqueduct of Valens, Yeni Kapı Harbour and it took about 50 minutes to reach Istanbul Airport.

10:50 Istanbul Airport

The bus arrived at Istanbul Airport and dropped passengers off at the departure floor. We had to pass through the passport control and security check again to fly out.

Our experience

Overall it was a good experience and even beyond our expectation considering that joining this tour is completely free. The tour was well organized and really on time. We only took the half morning sightseeing tour which includes only short stops at each place but it is still better than just hanging around at the airport. If we will have a chance, we will try one of the free day-long tours offered by Turkish Airlines . The list of available free tours can be found here: Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines .

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Touristanbul review: Get your free city tour of Istanbul now!

May 8, 2023
Destinations , Europe

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Do you like going on free tours? We are guessing YES, and this post is going to show you how to get one in Istanbul, what the Touristanbul free tour is about, and how to go about getting it.

Read on for our review of Touristanbul tour!

Night view of Istanbul Touristanbul review

What's covered in this post

Short introduction of Turkey

Is touristanbul free, what is touristanbul, touristanbul visa requirements, where is the hotel desk, free hotel stay, touristanbul details, conclusion of touristanbul, logistics before visiting istanbul turkey.

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey, and no it is not the capital. It is also well known for Turkish baths!

It is somewhat better known than the capital Ankara, thanks to strong efforts by the tourism ministry and being an important commerce centre.

Made up of 15 million inhabitants, Istanbul is often regarded as the top metropolis in Turkey, and is the point where East meets West.

Turkey is right in the middle of the continents of Europe and Asia, and draws influences from both its neighbours, but it’s obvious there are stronger emphasis from a Asian point of view, as is evident from the fact that only 3% of its country in the European continent.

When in Turkey, make sure to convert your currency to the Turkish Lira as it is the official currency.

There are rarely any places that accept anything else, and if they do, you can be sure that the exchange rates will be exorbitant.

Its citizens are mostly Muslim, and through their industriousness, today occupy the 17th spot among the economies of the world.

If you are looking for accommodation in Istanbul, check out the best deals down below!

Booking.com

Yes! TourIstanbul is a free tour service offered by Turkish Airlines.

All you need to is fly into Istanbul with a connecting flight that is more than 6 hours and less than 24 hours and you automatically qualify for it.

Touristanbul is a free (tour gratis Turkish Airlines) service applicable for all international passengers passing through Istanbul. It is free and the only requirements is that the layover is between 6 to 24 hours. You will get a tour of Istanbul during this time.

Turkish airlines has been one of the top performing airlines in the world, flying to the most destinations of any airlines and consistently winning European Airline of the Year awards.

So it’s a bit strange that Skytrax, an airlines ratings agency, decided to drop them to a 3 star rating a couple of years back, which prompted Turkish Airlines to withdraw from the ranking agency.

Good job we say.

We know there are airlines ranked higher but not as good as Turkish airlines.

So as part of the country’s push to bring in higher tourism numbers, it has partnered up with its national airlines Turkish Airlines, to offer a Turkish Airlines Istanbul Tour to spend time in Istanbul, which incidentally is the tourism hotspot of turkey.

As part of the Touristanbul program which is one of many Turkish Airlines offers, travellers who have a short layover in Istanbul are entitled to receive an Istanbul Airport free city tour, which you can select from 6 different options.

If you have the free time and willing to stopover to tour Istanbul, you will be able to sign up for it at the hotel desk at the airport terminal.

No cash nor credit card required!

Do I need visa for Touristanbul?

To enter Turkey, you need to have a valid visa. (unless you are in the transit area, which you do not need one)

To find out if you require one, please visit the Turkey Ministry of Affairs site to ascertain.

If you need to apply for one, you may do so here .

Some nationalities are eligible for visa on arrival, but it does cost more than if you applied online.

Upon landing in Istanbul Airport, you will need to clear and exit passport controls.

Once you’re out, head to the right hand side of the building (while facing the exit), until you reach the Turkish airlines hotel desk. It’s less than a hundred metres away.

For those of you thinking about depositing your bags in the airport while you go for a tour, you have 2 options.

First, you can make a left turn after clearing customs and use the baggage service.

Or you can bring them along on the tour, where you can store your bags in the travel agency’s office. We chose the latter to save a few bucks.

When you reach the desk, be sure to get a queue number first! This step is important and cannot be missed out!

Some of you might have also heard about a free hotel stay offered by Turkish Airlines, but this is actually not part of a Touristanbul hotel offer, which is only for the tours.

However, if you will be having a stopover in Istanbul, you might be able to receive a free hotel stay if you meet the qualifying requirements.

For travellers transiting in Istanbul, they are entitled to receive a stay in a four star hotel in the city, or a five star hotel if they are a business class traveller.

However, as much as we know, the hotels are not revealed until you reach Istanbul and proceed for registration.

Although this benefit is pretty sweet, it does come with a number of terms and conditions (what’s new right?).

Over the phone conversation with a Turkish airlines representative, we found out that this benefit is only offered to passengers who have a transit time of over 6 hours and less than 24 hours, and it cannot be purposely chosen by the passenger.

What does this mean?

Say you are flying from Vienna to Thailand, and there are a number of flight options with regards to transit time in Istanbul.

If you choose the longest transit time just so you can enjoy this benefit, then you will be denied the privilege, as there’s a shorter option available.

Next, you have to be flying to one of the destinations listed on Turkish airlines website in order to qualify for this.

If you are unsure, shoot an email over to the hotel desk for a clearer understanding. Here is their website that explains a bit further.

Not sure why they have such restrictions though, as it makes it pretty tough to qualify for this.

It seems only if your flight gets delayed or canceled then will you be able to receive the hotel stay.

We thought it makes more sense to offer to all travellers who has long transits, whether deliberate or not, to get the hotel stay.

If more of them are in Istanbul, then it makes sense they will spend more money there right? Isn’t that one of the important points of a tourism program?

Touristanbul allows you to receive a free city tour conducted by a travel agency partner of Turkish Airlines.

They are pretty experienced in Istanbul tours or Istanbul sightseeing tours.

There is no need to register online first or any sort of advanced registration. Simply head to the hotel desk upon arriving to register.

Tours are organised every day of the week and range from a 3.5 hours to half day tours of 6.5 hours.

Check the schedule here.

One cool option is the Touristanbul Bosphorus cruise, which is an Istanbul night tour from Airport.

Organisation of the tour was slightly disorganized.

Although it says at the tour counter (counter 1) that it opens at 6.30am, it was only around 6.40am when the staff sauntered in and started registration at 6.45am.

Take note: you cannot enjoy both the hotel stay and tour at the same time. So if you enjoyed the free hotel stay, you will not be able to take part in the city tour. And of course vice versa.

We were told to report back at a waiting area near the elevator 10 minutes before 8.30am, which we did.

The staff took a bit longer than that to appear and had to spend around 10 minutes just reading out names to confirm the attendance, which we estimated to be 100.

All these delays will have repercussions, which we will share a bit more later.

Once the group was confirmed, we were herded through the airport to the basement bus bay to board the tour coach.

The tour coach left the airport at 9.10am and the tour guide shared some general information about what to expect and a brief history of Turkey.

During the briefing, we were told that the journey into the city will take 50-60 minutes, and that guests were free to leave early and return to the airport on their own.

A letter of indemnity would be required in such cases.

She was also nice to share the ways to head back, which was either a taxi ride, or a shuttle service from in front of Hagia Sofia, that cost 18 lira.

We had over 7 hour layover in Istanbul, and signed up for the 6.5 hours tour, and it included the following sights and 2 meals:

Blue Mosque
Serpentine Column
Obelisk of Thedosius
Topkapi Palace

It was during this briefing that we received a disappointment: the tour that we signed up for, will only cover the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, due to shortage of time.

We were slightly bewildered. Lack of time?

But they are the ones who came late and took a long time to organize the buses.

So anyways, the sight of the city when approaching was pretty cool.

The remnants of the city wall were still present in many parts of the city and lends itself to the charm.

Looking out, you could see numerous minarets poking out from the city skyline, showcasing their uniqueness and beauty.

It was also clear that the country was trying to be more green, evidenced by the tree lined streets and wide green spaces where we could see families hanging out and relaxing.

Traffic in the city, just like any other, was rather heavy and drivers were pretty aggressive!

So maybe not considering a rental car here for us.

We stopped near the tour agency’s office to unload our bags and get ready to start the tour.

First stop was to bring us to breakfast, which would also be the location for our lunch. So basically for the tour, we walked in a loop back to the restaurant.

The restaurant is based inside a small building.

On the ground floor was a section selling local desserts and silverware, second floor is where you can find more silverware and rugs, and the restaurant is on the third floor.

The food was placed on the tables when we arrived and guests were free to choose any seats.

We were a bit concerned about the hygiene though, as the food was exposed and you could see some flies swarming around.

The food was basic, consisting of a small selection of cheese, a sausage and ham.

Bread was served in a communal basket, and various spreads were offered.

The servers came around offering us tea, which was quite nice as we really wanted something warm.

After a 40 minute breakfast, we headed off to our first location, the Blue Mosque.

Under the orders of Sultan Ahmet I, the mosque was designed and built and completed in 1617. It sits on a large compound, and the 5 domes and 6 minarets towers over the area, filled with grandeur.

Visitors are allowed to enter the mosque to learn more about its history and view its interiors.

Ladies will have to cover up their heads and shoulders though, and hence it would be wise be bring along a light scarf for this purpose.

The tour organisers might have anticipated this, and each of us were given a bandana during our ride to the city.

Makes a nice souvenir too! If for some reason you do not wish to use the bandana, there is a small booth outside the mosque that allows you to rent one.

After a short briefing and history of the Blue Mosque, we were given about 25 minutes to explore it.

It is also worth pointing out here, that the sights mentioned earlier under the program highlights, are all located within walking distance of each other.

If you decide you wish to skip the guided tour, you can walk on on your own and reassemble at the lunch spot.

However, this could mean you might have to pay for entrance tickets since you are not within the group.

So weigh your options here, whether you wish to see more or prefer a guided style.

Next up is the Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya as the locals call it. From the Blue Mosque, it was a very short walk through the park to get to Ayasofya.

We had looked forward to visiting this landmark, which had a tumultuous history.

It was originally a cathedral, which then was converted into a mosque, and in present day, a museum.

Thanks to being part of the tour, we were able to enter through the fast lane, whisking pass the long lines of tourists queueing for a ticket under the hot sun.

Inside the museum is where you finally see its massive structure and get a glimpse of its mixed history.

We had an hour here, and that is sufficient time to walk the ground level, view the exhibits, and watch a video presentation of the history of Hagia Sophia.

To get a better view of the museum, make your way up the ramp to the upper level. Take note though, the ramp up is slightly steep, so please ditch the heels!

From the upper floors, you get to see the layout and have a sense of how it would be like in the past.

The Hagia Sophia is truly unique that it was the house of 2 religions.

Hagia Sophia Interior 2 Touristanbul Review

The grounds outside of Hagia Sophia offers plenty of wide open space to rest and relax.

There are a number of street food vendors here that sells roasted chestnuts (much like in Portugal), snacks and beverages.

Our advice: buy your refreshments out here, rather than at the cafe inside Hagia Sophia.

You will thank us for saving you some change later.

When the hour was up, so was our tour. It was back to the restaurant for lunch before going back to the airport.

Lunch was fairly decent, and consisted of some rice, chicken and adana kebab.

If you are vegetarian, make sure to inform the tour guide as soon as possible as the cooking time might take a while.

It’s important for us to point out that tours are really not our cup of tea.

We signed up for this on a whim and thought that it would be a nice introduction to Istanbul, which it was.

You get to have some first hand knowledge about the sights and area from the tour guides, who were pretty knowledgeable and willing to share.

You get to save some money on transport and entrance fees, especially the fast lane to Hagia Sophia as it is extremely popular. When we exited, the line was over 50 metres long!

And not forgetting the 2 meals which were included in the tour.

That being said, we really couldn’t get used to being part of a tour group. Walking around in huge groups are just not our style, and the waiting times were just too long.

As we pointed out earlier, the tour was slightly disorganized and due to that, guests were not able to enjoy the full experience of the tour.

It wasn’t good to know we spent 7 hours with the tour and only saw 2 sights.

At the end, the tour did overrun and there were lots of panicky travellers by now.

Many had connecting flights that were going to start boarding and we were an hour away.

Buses came late and the tour guide ordered a smaller one to send those whose departure times were due back to the airport first. We were in this group.

By the time we reached the airport, the transit passengers made up of groups of families and couples sprinted in.

We hope they managed to catch their flights.

So overall, we felt that with some improvements in the organization, the tour would be a really great perk for travellers connecting in Istanbul.

Till then, we would not be heading back to the hotel desk any time soon…

The next time we are back, we will take our own time to explore, find new ones such as Dolmabahçe Palace, and write more reviews for you.

Check out our blog for more articles to inspire you to travel!

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Visiting Istanbul during a layover — what to do? Our complete guide to a short trip

D o you spend your layovers with a phone charger and three coffee cups in a row in some far-away corner of the airport? Well, it might indeed be a great time to binge-watch a brand-new Netflix series, but we believe that it can be used much more productively. How about checking yet another country off your bucket list?

Visiting Istanbul during a layover? Here is our easy guide to a perfect day trip. It is a place where you can have fun culturally and gastronomically during just a few hours en route to your next destination — speaking from experience here!

Article contents

Our “Istanbul on a layover” tips
Some perks if you’re flying internationally with Turkish Airlines
Getting to the city center
Our very own itinerary for: ● 2 hours in Istanbul ● up to 7–8 hours in Istanbul
Rundown of cafes recommendations

Our layover tips for Istanbul

How much time do you need for a layover tour? Well, we would recommend that you need at least six to seven hours , because you want to be able to enjoy the experience and not add to your stress, right?

It will take you around 45–60 minutes to get to the city by taxi — both from Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) — and around the same time to return to the airport. Remember that it is advisable to be there two hours before your flight to check the timetable, get your boarding pass, and proceed to your gate.

Making your way from the airplane to the airport exit will take you around 25 minutes, but you might also want to make a few quick stops first.

If you have lots of stuff on you, use the automatic luggage lockers (follow the signs “Emanet Bagaj”), which will cost you 115 lira / $3,8 for a carry-on locker and 240 lira / $8 for a checked baggage locker for 24 hours.

Lira is the official currency in Turkey, so you might need some cash for street markets or souvenir shops. You can find 24/7 foreign exchange desks starting in the baggage claim area, and there are ATMs in front of the Hotel Desk.

If out of all things to do in Istanbul during layover you opt for a good old nap on the cushy bed, or you arrive late at night, there might be a place for you in:

Yotel hotel ($300 a night) in IST airport
and in ISG Airport Hotel in SAW airport ($125 a night).

There are free to use nap zones in the airports and airport lounges as well: The iGA lounge in IST (costing €85 for 4 hours) and Plaza Premium Lounge in SAW (€50 for 4 hours).

If you want to do a tour in Istanbul, check out GetYourGuide or Viator — these are the leading websites for booking excursions in Turkey.

Turkish Airlines bonuses for short and long layovers

Important: These are only available for Turkish Airlines passengers of connecting international flights with a layover in Istanbul Airport for no less than 6 hours.

What I love about flying anywhere with Turkish Airlines is that they have a solid stopover program. We’ve used it many times on our way to the States, Africa, and Asia, so I’ve always been searching for the different things to do on a layover in Istanbul.

In short, you can take a free Istanbul tour during a layover or get a hotel from Turkish Airlines.

Turkish Airlines layover tour, or Touristanbul , offers free shuttle transportation, guided excursion in the city, coverage of museum fees, and breakfast and/or lunch serving. All tours last more than 3 hours, with the earliest one starting at 8 a.m. and the latest one starting at 6 p.m. You can sign up for the tour at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of Istanbul Airport.

A stopover program, in contrast with a layover, requires at least 20 hours between your flights. If this applies to you, and you have a long or overnight layover in Istanbul, you can benefit from a stopover free accommodation service. A 72 hour in-advance e-mail to the company is required, and depending on your departure state, you will contact a designated assistant.

Economy class passengers can enjoy one day in a four-star hotel from Turkish Airlines during long layover in Istanbul. Just to give you a flavor of what to expect, we were accommodated at 5* Akgun Hotel and at 4* Grand Yavuz Hotel Sultanahmet . If you are a Business Class passenger, you can receive a five-star hotel voucher for two days.

Check if you are eligible for these offers: ✔️ Both flights must be with Turkish Airlines’ ticket (codeshared or operated). ✔️ Minimum layover time in Istanbul should be six hours for the tour offer and twenty hours for a free hotel. ✔️ You fly from (and to) a certain country — keep an eye on their website when booking your trip (for a free accommodation). ✔️ You should also have a round trip booked (for a free accommodation). ✔️ You cannot receive both tour and accommodation on the same trip.

So, what if you are not eligible for a tour/hotel service? Should you just stay at the airport? No way! If you are not a great trip planner and ask yourself if you can visit Istanbul during your layover or what to even do there, here our article comes in handy. Take a couple of minutes to read it and then head to the center of this amazing city.

Do you need a visa for a layover in Istanbul?

If you want to leave the airport, you need to apply for a visa at the nearest Turkish representation in your country of origin before you depart. However, please check what the specific rules are that apply to your citizenship. Visas for Turkey can also be applied for online or for some countries it may be possible to obtain a visa on arrival.

If you are from Europe, you can travel to Turkey without a visa and stay there for three months within half a year. U.S. citizens must obtain e-Visas prior to their arrival. If you are eligible for an e-visa, you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales/Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

How to get to the city center?

Ok, you sorted the visa and the hotel question out, got rid of heavy bags and decided you are ready to explore. Now, how do you get from the Istanbul Airport to the city center?

There are a couple of transport providers you may opt for. Taxi is the quickest way that will take you to Taksim square, the center of Istanbul, for 1000–1200 lira / $32–$40. Don’t even try to open the Uber app as the yellow local taxi is the king in the airports of Istanbul. Just catch a driver at the exit and check if the fare meter is on. However, I suggest booking an airport transfer on your way back to avoid the well-known Turkish ritual of fighting for the right price with a taxi driver.

Even if you prefer going cheap, using the subway to get to the city center is out of question because it takes 1,5 hours or even more! To save some lira, I suggest hopping on Havaist bus which charges 150–170 lira / $5 for one way trip. Better check its timetables on official website in advance. You won’t need the Istanbul Card for Havaist airport bus — you can pay by cash or card directly to the driver.

Our very own itinerary — all the takeaways, tips, and tricks after 3 long and super fun layovers

Save this article on visiting Istanbul during layover, and embark on the most interesting trip you have probably ever had!

How to spend a short layover in Istanbul? Itinerary for 2 hours in the city

The Blue Mosque , also known as the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, will be your first stop. Apart from the fact that it is simply stunning (and Instagrammable), it is a unique religious building that has six minarets (or tall columns), which used to be considered to be too extravagant. It is also a functioning mosque, so you will have a full cultural and historical experience.

Its prime “rival” is Hagia Sophia , the biggest and most visited mosque in Istanbul. It is located right in front of the Blue Mosque, so you can tour both iconic sights without wasting time. However, you’ll need some money for Hagia Sophia, as from January 2024 it charges €25 for entering the mosque.

Interestingly, Hagia Sophia used to be a Christian church, then a Catholic cathedral, for some time even a museum, but later it was turned into a mosque. An important note: If you travel on a weekend, it is more reasonable to just admire the mosques from the outside. The lines are surprisingly long even early in the morning.

Topkapi Palace is another must-see location. It was the residence of Ottoman sultans, and today, the museum boasts a wide collection of armor, royal garments, and manuscripts. There are also hundreds of chambers, yet only the most important (and luxurious) ones are open to visitors. Therefore, touring the palace will not take the whole day and can easily be put on your agenda. I would tell you to buy tickets in advance, as lines can literally take hours, but… surprisingly, they don’t have an official online seller. The entrance fee for the museum+harem+ Hagia Irene Museum is 1500 lira / $49.

And while you are there, add a stop at Gulhane Park , which is the largest urban park in Istanbul. Translated, it means “the house of roses”, and also hosts an annual tulip festival. The park is an ideal place to take in beautiful greenery and multiple monuments and see how the locals live as they enjoy running or walking with their kids.

From your grand finale, the Eminonu Pier , you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Bosphorus, the iconic Galata Bridge, and the Asian side of Istanbul, as well as the fresh breeze and the hustle and bustle on the capital’s embankment. We suggest that you make a pit stop here as well. Coffeetopia Eminonu serves decent coffee and mouth-watering cheesecake at a reasonable price. After that, you will feel recharged and ready to go back to Sultanahmet , with lots of memories and a phone filled with happy pictures.

If you plan on having a proper vacation in Istanbul, check out our related posts:

Things to do in Istanbul — what you can squeeze into 3 days in the city? (actually as many as 25 attractions!)
Where to stay in the city for the first time?
What about…renting a car in Turkey?

How to spend a longer layover in Istanbul? Itinerary for 3–5 hours in the city

If you are lucky enough to have several hours more at your disposal, you can spend more time exploring the pier and the surrounding area.

Not only is Galata Bridge an appealing tourist attraction, but it is bursting with different markets and restaurants. It is literally a crime to be there and not try the famous balik ekmek (a sandwich stuffed with fish). So, either choose any cafe under the bridge that catches your eye or cross the Galata Bridge, looking for a not-so-hidden gem called Balık Dürümcü Mehmet Usta . 140 lira ($4,5), up to twenty minutes of waiting and you get a wonderful fish wrap.

One of the fun activities would be to take a subway funicular (or the Tunnel) from Karakoy to Beyoglu (only 17,7 lira / $0,6). Then, take a walk to Taksim Square and Istiklal Street , which is a vibrant trade district. Immersing yourself in the streets of Istanbul, with sunglasses on, a coffee cup in your hand, and a bunch of souvenirs in your bag, sounds like a perfect main character moment. Feel like a real local and take the tram down the main street (similar to San Francisco).

Istiklal Street is also a busy part of the city, thanks to the many embassies and world-famous brand stores that you can find here. From here, take a bus from Findikli Mimar Sinan Universitesi stop and return to Sultanahmet.

Other sights that you might want to visit are Dolmabahce Palace (1250 lira / $40), the largest palace in Turkey that represents a mixture of European and Ottoman culture and design, and the observation deck at Galata Tower (650 lira / $21). You can also explore the Grand and Spice Bazaars. These are such huge markets with many fascinating things to buy and look at, so don’t get too carried away.

Safety in Istanbul

Istanbul is a relatively safe city, yet extremely crowded and loud. That being said, keep your eyes on your pockets and bags, as you would do in any mainstream touristic destination.

Traffic is crazy, many streets are narrow, and pedestrians are not prioritized, unfortunately. Be attentive and yes, you might need to run through the crosswalks here and there.

Finally, although you will walk a lot and your shoes will get kinda dusty, under no circumstances should you accept the services of local shoe polishers. This is an infamous “shoe shine Turkish scam”, and a free or cheap offer turns out to be more expensive. Not a nice situation, especially if you are short of cash.

Where to eat in Istanbul?

If you are a major coffee fan, there are lots of options. EspressoLab and Kronotrop are famous chains, and Kitabevi Cafe also hosts a bookstore, so you might spend a little bit more time there scanning the shelves.

Kebab and yummy Turkish dishes can be found in many restaurants, such as Tomtom Kebab or Asmalı Mescit Dürümcü . There are also multiple pastry shops, where you can check out desserts and, for sure, baklava (for example, Mustafa 1864 and my favorite Köşkeroğlu Karaköy Ömer Köşkeroğlu ). Street food tracks with fried chestnuts, corn, and simits are also worth stopping by.

Traveling to Turkey in September (2024): Our review

Traveling to Turkey in August (2024): Our review

Where to stay in Istanbul, Turkey? Our guide to the best areas of the city

Newly opened hotels in Turkey: Best resorts for your trip in 2024

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Your Resource for Better Travel

Here’s How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul

For business class passengers, if your layover is:

Between 1 and 24 hours, you will qualify for lounge access.
Between 4 and 7 hours, you will qualify for a free day room in the business class lounge.
Longer than 7 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel.
Between 6 and 24 hours, you will qualify for a free day tour of Istanbul.

For economy class passengers, if your layover is:

Longer than 10 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel.

NOTE* For free hotel rooms, both your arriving and departing flights must be on Turkish Airlines metal. Codeshare flights do not qualify. But for free day tours, you can have a combination of both Turkish Airlines-operated and codeshare flights. Additionally, you are only permitted to receive a day tour or a free hotel room per layover, not both. In other words, you can get a free hotel room on your outbound and a free day tour on your return. Or vice versa.

Last week, I showed you how to get your free transit hotel through Turkish Airlines. Today, I’m gonna show you how to get a free day tour of Istanbul during your layover.

As I stated earlier, the rules are quite simple. All you need is (1) your transit time must be between 6 and 24 hours long and (2) both your arriving and departing flights must be with Turkish Airlines (or codeshare-operated flights). That’s it. No reservations or pre-booking is required. However, the most important thing is that you obtain a Turkey travel visa. You must get a visa prior to your arrival in Istanbul. Here’s how.

Review: Fairmont Maldives Grounds, Amenities and Dining

Upon your arrival in Istanbul, proceed to the passport control desk with your travel visa in hand. Get your visa verified and passport stamped, and then make your way to baggage claim. Clear customs and walk out to the arrivals hall. Make a right-hand turn outside the door and walk all the way down to the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk. It’s located adjacent to the Starbucks, across from the Turkish Airlines Arrivals Lounge.

Here, you can sign up for any of the tours departing the same day. Just sign up for the tour hat you want at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the tour. For example, if you wish to sign up for a 9:00 AM tour, you must sign up by 8:30 AM. The agent will then take your boarding pass and hand it back to you prior to the start of your tour. Signups open at 7:30 AM.

There are different tours scheduled for different times and different days of the week, so depending on the day of your arrival, you may get a different tour than another person. But typically, your tour will explore the old quarters of Istanbul. On this trip, I did the Tuesday tour from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

I don’t know what the capacity limit is on each tour but it looks like they are pretty flexible. On the tour I did this morning, there were enough guests to fill up a standard tour bus, which is a lot of people. As for your luggage, you have two options. (1) you can leave it at the checked luggage counter located right next to the Hotel Desk, or (2) if you only have hand luggage, you can take it with you and store it at the tour operator’s office. I opted to check my luggage as it seemed like a more secure option than #2.

At the tour departure time, your tour guide will meet you in front of the hotel desk and escort you to the tour bus. You will then drive to the old quarters of Istanbul. All the tours are walking tours so you will not want to carry any bags; a small backpack at most with your valuables but I wouldn’t lug around electronics or anything like that. Your first stop is the Istanbul Walks tour office. You can store your bags here if you want.

You will then walk from the office to a local restaurant for a very modest breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a hard-boiled egg, bread, side condiments, coffee and tea. As I said, it was very modest.

Your tour will begin at the Hagia Sophia. The admission fee for the Hagia Sophia is included and you will be allowed 30 minutes to explore on your own after a brief history lesson.

From the Hagia Sophia, you will then walk to the Blue Mosque, where you will be allowed an opportunity to explore on your own. There is no fee to enter the Blue Mosque.

You will then exit the Blue Mosque and explore the outside Hippodrome area.

You will then have lunch at a local restaurant. Unlike breakfast, this 3-course traditional Turkish meal was really tasty. Lunch started with a bean salad, bread and an Ayran drink. This was followed by the main dish, which was meatballs and rice, and dessert.

From here, you will walk back to the office, collect your bags and then drive back to the airport.

Turkish Airlines Free Day Tour Bottom Line

Overall, this was an enjoyable day and I was really happy I got to experience this free tour. It allowed me to leave the airport, kill some time in between flights, learn about Turkish history and explore a tiny piece of this amazing city. This was such a great experience and I loved how easy and convenient it was. If you qualify for a tour, I would highly recommend it over hanging out at the airport.

UPDATE* The information provided above was for the Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The main airport has transitioned to the new Istanbul Airport so the process for obtaining a free day tour stated above no longer applies. However, I imagine the process to be fairly similar at the new airport. More information on the free Turkish Airlines Istanbul day tour can be found here .

Have you guys taken advantage of Turkish Airlines’ free city tour? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

The other related trip reports in this series:

United Polaris Lounge, San Francisco
Turkish Airlines Business Class, San Francisco to Istanbul
Here’s How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul
Here’s How to Get a Free Transit Hotel in Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 Business Class, Istanbul to Seychelles
DoubleTree Allamanda Resort and Spa, Seychelles
Hilton Seychelles Northlome
Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 Business Class, Seychelles to Istanbul
LOT Business Class Lounges, Warsaw
LOT Polish Airlines Business Class, Warsaw to Los Angeles

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About James Dozer

Aviation geek, fitness dork and overall nerd. Giving you the best information on miles and points so you can take better trips and live better stories.

See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours

Article By: FTFstaff

We really appreciate what Turkish Airlines has done to make families feel welcome, by offering free sightseeing and stopover tours in addition to in-flight toys, family entertainment and healthy dining and drink options on their Trans-Atlantic flights.

Yes! A few well-guided Istanbul city tours are available, absolutely free, for passengers in transit with a minimum six-hour layover. With so many sophisticated Istanbul family attractions we think you’ll appreciate the sightseeing time, even if you’re enduring a long layover after a very long trans-Atlantic flight.

And despite the current political problems (please check the travel information pages of the U.S. Department of State before booking), Istanbul continues to enjoy a relative tourism boom.

Leave the Airport for a City Sightseeing Tour

So here’s the deal: Turkish Airlines is making your layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport even more productive by offering Touristanbul free tours of 6-9 hours in length, focused on the most significant historical places, for guests transiting Turkey who’ve purchased tickets on Turkish Airlines. Join it at the Airport’s Hotel Desk at the international terminal; passengers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. There’s no need for an advance reservation (ask questions at [email protected] ), making this a great wait-busting option for those whose flights are unexpectedly delayed.

After you book the tour (and they’re given several times daily in English most weekdays), you and your family will be picked up by a private tour guide. Whatever luggage is not checked can be stored at the airport for a nominal fee. Unfortunately, there is no special service for the mobility impaired.

All expenses for transportation, meals (and they have vegetarian options) and museum fees will be taken care of by Turkish Airlines .

Make an Overnight Stopover to Enjoy Istanbul

Since it began in 2018, the Stopover service has served transfer passengers departing from US gateways and flying onward, internationally, from Istanbul. The airline also offers complimentary overnight accommodation to certain passengers on routes where no connecting flights are available within 12 hours of arrival in Istanbul.

If you have more than 20 hours of connection time in Istanbul, your family will receive complimentary accommodations in centrally located neighborhoods and the opportunity to explore more of Istanbul. Economy class passengers will receive a one night stay at a 4-star hotel in Sultanahmet, while those flying in business class will enjoy two nights at a 5-star hotel in Taksim. Travelers will receive accommodation vouchers from Turkish Airlines’ authorized staff after completing the flight booking process.

For more information about arranging the Stopover, please visit Turkish Airlines site or email [email protected] and let us know what you saw.

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

5 Replies to “See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours”

I did a private layover tour from the new airport with realistanbul-tours.com and it worked very well. The new airport is a little bit far from the city center and there is no metro. You can take a taxi and join a walking tour or asked them to pick you and drop you back to the airport too.

Istanbul layover tour is a great service to use the best of your time in Istanbul Airport. However if you like to have a private attention and flexibility, you can check private tour services of ISTANBUL LAYOVER TOURS. They are offering the layover tours from Istanbul International Airport.

If you do not speak Turkish, avoid the airlines no matter how good that deal seems. The customer service is non existant.

We had a multi-leg trip with Turkish Airline from Rome to Istanbul to Cairo to Athens. We only ended up taking the flight from Rome to Istanbul.

Their flight from Rome to Istanbul was comfortable and relaxing. The staff was cordial. We only had carry-ons because of the horrible experiences other users have had.

Our overall experience with management, however, turned out to be extremely frustrating and awful. Our first interaction with them was when we tried to cancel our Istanbul to Cairo part of the trip because the US department highly suggested that no US citizens should travel to Cairo. We had called Turkish Airlines prior to the trip, but the staff spoke limited English and didn't understand that we wanted to cancel only one leg of the trip. They would planning on canceling the entire trip which we didn't want.

We then decided to keep the trip but use one of the layovers that was originally intended from Cairo to Greece but stops at Istanbul to get to our final destination- Greece. However, due to their international rule and regulation, they canceled our entire trip leaving us no way to get to Greece. They didn't inform us via email or phone like many other airlines do. We found out the day before we were supposed to leave when trying to check in for our flight.

We accepted the fact that there was nothing we could do but when we asked on the phone what we could have done to have prevented this, the manager started yelling that she couldn't help us, and that it was our fault for losing the tickets. We asked again. She admitted that she couldn't understand our question and started shouting at us that it was our fault and hung up on us. I was furious.

Looking at the other posts, I think the moral of the story is – Do NOT book with Turkish Airlines unless you speak Turkish. The staff's English is very limited, and trying to change flights or dealing with management is just a pain, ends up with customers losing money and valuable time.

I've had such bad experiences with the customer services at Turkish Airlines. ON the phone, the managers who are supposedly "English" do not understand simple sentences and when they don't, they get frustrated and hang up on you.

someday i will go to Istanbul for Holiday….

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ISTANBUL LAYOVER TOURS (ILT) offer you to take the opportunity of making the best of your time during a layover in Istanbul.

Istanbul Layover Tours specializes in offering city tours from both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) for transit travelers. We believe that a layover in Istanbul is an excellent opportunity to make the most of your time rather than waiting at the airport. Istanbul, as one of the world’s most vibrant cities, offers a wealth of cultural and fun experiences during a brief stopover.

Whether you have a short layover of 7– 8 hours or an extended one of 10 – 12 hours, including overnight stays at Istanbul Airports, simply provide us with your flight details via our contact form. We’ll promptly return with the best layover tour ideas and options that fit your schedule. Alternatively, you can instantly book one of our popular private or shared layover tours and activities hassle-free.

Private Istanbul Layover Tour

24/7 private istanbul city tours from istanbul airports.

Explore Istanbul privately from Istanbul Airports, anytime, with your personal guide. Istanbul Layover Tours offer full flexibility for you, your family, friends, or your group to choose top places to visit and things to do. Make the most of your Istanbul transit time.

ISTANBUL LAYOVER TOUR: Private Tours

Istanbul Layover Morning Tour

1 Day Istanbul Layover Tour

Istanbul Layover Night Tour

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Private Tour From Cruise Port

Istanbul layover tour: private tours from istanbul airports & hotels, %100 personalized, including pick-up & drop-off, istanbul layover tour reviews, discover why travelers love our tours.

Explore our reviews on Airbnb, TripAdvisor, Google Business to see why over 750 travelers have rated us with five stars in last 10 years . Our guests’ experiences come alive in their testimonials, detailing the exceptional service, unique itineraries, and unforgettable experiences we provide.

Things To Do During a Layover in Istanbul

Istanbul airport layover tour & popular activities by the time of day.

Make the most of your layover at Istanbul Airport with our tailored layover tours and activities, designed to fit your schedule and interests. Our tours are grouped by time of day and total layover duration, offering visitors various activities to explore Istanbul during their layover. Whether you want to discover the city’s highlights, enjoy a traditional Turkish meal, or take a scenic cruise along the Bosphorus, we have the perfect tour for you.

Morning Layover Tour in Istanbul

If your flight lands at Istanbul Airport while the city is still waking up and historical attractions are not yet open to visitors, don’t waste your time sitting in the airport. Instead, take advantage of your early arrival with our specially crafted morning layover tour.

Experience a Traditional Turkish Breakfast and Tea: Start your day with a delicious traditional Turkish breakfast, a feast for the senses with a variety of cheeses, olives, jams, and freshly baked bread, accompanied by a cup of strong Turkish tea.

Visit Top Historical Sites: After breakfast, explore the top historical sites of Istanbul. Marvel at the ancient monuments of the Byzantine Hippodrome, admire the stunning architecture of the Blue Mosque, and immerse yourself in the history of the Hagia Sophia and Basilica Cistern.

Shop at Famous Historical Bazaars: Explore the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, offering a wide range of traditional handcrafts, jewelry, carpets, and souvenirs. Don’t forget to haggle for the best prices!

Make the Most of Your Early Morning Layover: With our morning layover tour, you can cover thousands of years of history in just a few hours, all before your next flight. Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of Istanbul, and return to the airport refreshed and enriched by your experience.

Advantages of An Early Morning in Istanbul

Start your day early to beat the crowds and enjoy the historic peninsula in the peaceful light of dawn
Experience the enchanting morning quiet at Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque in Sultanahmet Square, immersed in their historical atmosphere.
Visit the Basilica Cistern and discover the traces of the Roman Empire.

Duration Needed: It is for layovers starting from a total of 7 hours or longer between connecting flights. This allows you to explore the city’s highlights, immerse yourself in its culture, and make the most of your time in Istanbul before returning to the airport for your next flight.

Afternoon Layover Tour in Istanbul

Afternoon Layover Tour in Istanbul: Explore the City’s Charm

As the day progresses, Istanbul comes alive, offering a perfect opportunity to explore its vibrant culture and rich history. Here’s how you can make the most of your afternoon layover:

Visit Topkapı Palace: Spend your afternoon exploring the lavish Topkapi Palace and its beautiful gardens.

Discover Suleymaniye Mosque: Visit the Suleymaniye Mosque, an architectural masterpiece and one of the largest mosques in Istanbul. Admire its impressive dome and serene courtyard, and learn about its significance in Ottoman history.

Explore Neighborhoods and Markets: Wander through the historic neighborhoods of Istanbul, soaking in the local atmosphere. Visit the Spice Market, a bustling bazaar filled with exotic spices, sweets, and souvenirs.

Enjoy a Ferry Ride on the Bosphorus: End your afternoon with a relaxing ferry ride on the Bosphorus. Admire the stunning views of Istanbul’s skyline and iconic landmarks from the water, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Evening Layover / Night Layover Tour in Istanbul

If you’ve arrived at Istanbul Airport late afternoon or evening and think the city has started to wind down, think again. Istanbul is a vibrant 24/7 city, and you’ll be surprised at how lively it remains even late into the night.

Culinary Experience: Turn your layover into a culinary adventure by exploring Kadıkoy Food Market, where locals shop for the freshest Turkish food. Sample a variety of delicious dishes and immerse yourself in the flavors of Istanbul.

Explore Istiklal Street: Take a leisurely stroll down bustling Istiklal Street from Taksim Square. This vibrant pedestrian street is lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes, offering a lively atmosphere and a glimpse into Istanbul’s modern culture.

Enjoy the View: Before concluding your stopover tour, don’t miss the stunning view of the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia illuminated at night. These iconic landmarks take on a magical quality after dark, providing a perfect end to your evening in Istanbul.

Advantages of an Evening Layover / Night Layover in Istanbul:

Experience Istanbul’s vibrant nightlife and bustling markets.
Enjoy the city’s culinary delights with a visit to Kadıkoy Food Market.
Explore the modern side of Istanbul with a stroll down Istiklal Street.
Admire the beauty of Istanbul’s iconic landmarks illuminated at night.

WHAT WE OFFER

Istanbul layover tour guides: english speaking – local guides with degree in history & tourism, licensed tour guides in our team.

Enjoy the privilege of exploring Istanbul with an English-speaking, professional, accredited, and licensed tour guides. Our guides are officially recognized by the Ministry of Tourism & Culture, ensuring you receive not only insightful commentary but also a premium experience. Benefit from skip-the-line access at various sites, allowing you to bypass the usual crowds and dive straight into the rich history and vibrant culture of Istanbul. This exclusive access ensures a smoother and more engaging tour, maximizing your limited time during your layover. Experience Istanbul’s iconic landmarks without the wait, and make the most of your brief visit to this enchanting city.

Hi, My name is Mevhibe. I am a professional tour guide since 2007. I had my university degree on Tour Guiding / Tourism Management in Erciyes University between 2002 - 2006. I am an experienced tour guide on Istanbul tours and activities. Personally, I am a huge fan of Traditional Handicrafts and Turkish Food. I am here to share all my knowledge and expertise to make your layover unforgettable. Hope to see you soon!

Hello, I'm Burak. I've been working as a tour guide for the past 10 years. My career began after obtaining a degree in Tourist Guiding from Cappadocia University. Since then, I've had the opportunity to assist countless travelers in exploring various destinations, aiming to enhance their experiences and create lasting memories.

Hello / Merhaba, My name is Latif. I am a professional tour guide since 2006. I studied 4 years Tour Guiding in Cappadocia College between 2002 - 2006. Since then, got the chance to host hundreds of traveler from all over the world and worked with different theme travel companies and tours. Beside of being a licenced tour guide, I am a foodie and never miss the chance to transform the tour into a culinary experience.

Explore Multi-Day Turkey Layover Tours with ILT – The Most Popular Turkey Tours

Experience Turkey’s best destinations with comfortable accommodations and transportation choices in our 2-3-4 day

Stopover Tour Packages.

Small Group Layover Tours – Avoid Crowds, No Airline Qualifications Required!

While Turkish Airlines offers free airport layover tours through their ‘touristanbul’ stopover package for passengers meeting specific requirements and having layovers of 6 – 24 hours in Istanbul, we provide small-group tours with a maximum limit of 4 people if you don’t qualify for the airline’s free tours or prefer smaller, less crowded groups. Unchanged: While Turkish Airlines offers free airport layover tours through their ‘touristanbul’ stopover package for passengers meeting specific requirements and having layovers of 6 – 24 hours in Istanbul, we provide small-group tours with a maximum limit of 4 people if you don’t qualify for the airline’s free tours or prefer smaller, less crowded groups.

Airport Transfer with Experienced Drivers and Meet & Greet by Welcome Hosts

Book hassle-free and reliable arrival / departure airport transfers with Meet & Greet Service at Istanbul and Sabiha Gokcen Airports.

WHAT WE OFFER

Private istanbul layover tour – 24/7 private istanbul city tours from istanbul airports.

Book hassle-free and reliable arrival / departure airport transfers with Meet & Greet Service at Istanbul and Sabiha Gokcen Airports.

Looking For Multi Days Turkey Layover Tour? Check out the most popular Turkey Tours by ILT

Experience the best destinations in Turkey with a range of comfortable accommodation options and transportation choices available in our 2-3-4 day Turkey Tour Package during your extended layover.

Looking For Overnight Layover Hotel with a Stopover Tour ? Don’t know Where to stay during Istanbul Layover ?

Your flight is arriving late evening and leaving the next day afternoon? Then, let us offer you with our Istanbul Stopover Package including Stopover Hotel and Istanbul Stopover Tour to make the most of your time in Istanbul. Find the best match layover accommodation depending on your arrival / departure airport.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is istanbul layover tour.

Istanbul layover tour is a sightseeing & guided tour that takes place during a layover in Istanbul’s airport. It typically includes a visit to some of the city’s famous landmarks and attractions.

Can I leave the airport during layover in Istanbul?

Yes, you are allowed to leave Istanbul Airport during a layover as long as you are exempt from visa requirements or have obtained a valid visa.

What is the minimum layover duration to leave the airport for the tour?

Recommended minimum layover duration is 7 hours for travelers whose flights are connected and have their boarding pass with them. We can accommodate business travelers with shorter layover duration. To be on the safe side, you may consider a tour when you will have plus 8 hour layover in Istanbul.

How do you calculate the available time for a layover tour at Istanbul Airport?

In total 3 Hours; Subtract one hour from the total layover time for airport procedures, such as customs and security, and add two hours to ensure enough time to go through security and reach your gate. The rest can be used for a fun trip from Istanbul Airport.

Is it possible to go on a tour during a 7 hour layover in Istanbul?

Technically, it is possible to go on a tour during a 7-hour layover in Istanbul. However, flight delays or traffic congestion if any on that day can significantly reduce the available time and downgrade overall experience.

Is 8 layover in Istanbul long enough for a city tour from airport to the major sites?

8 hour layover in Istanbul is a good time to leave the airport and have a quick look what the city offer. Any longer layover than 8 hour, such as 10, 12 or 14 hour layover in Istanbul, gives you a proper chance to cover more ground and experience the city in depth.

Istanbul Layover Guide

What To Do on a Layover in Istanbul

Exciting Activities to Try During a Stopover in Istanbul

Grand Bazaar

Layover in Istanbul Airport

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Tour schedules & details

T01 08:00-11:30 Sightseeing Tour
T02 08:30-15:00 Half day tour
T03 08:30-18:00 Full day tour
T04 12:00-18:00 Turkish History Tv Series Tour
T05 16:00-21:30 Evening tour
T06 18:30-23:00 Bosphorus tour (operating between 01 May-31 October)
T07 18:30-23:00 Shopping tour (operating between 1 November-30 April)

Departure from İstanbul Airport

Dolmabahçe Palace

Turkish Breakfast

Taksim Square

Aqueduct of Valens

YeniKapı Harbour

Eminonu District

Photo break on the Galata Bridge to capture views of the Historical Peninsula

Golden Horn

Balat with ancient houses

Fener Greek Orthodox College

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church

Arrival at İstanbul Airport

Blue Mosque

Hippodrome: German Fountain

Egyptian Obelisk

Serpentine Column

Walled Obelisk

Ayasofya Mosque (Outside Visit)

Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

Pierre Loti Hill& Coffe house

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Byzantine City walls

Ayvansaray Sahaba Tombs

Church of St Mary (Panagia-Blachemae)

Bulgarian St Stephen Church (Outside Visit)

Ahrida Synagogue

Fener Greek Orthodox College (Outside Visit)

Patriarchate of İstanbul

Ortaköy Square

The Statue of Liberty

Consulate General of France

Aya Triada church

Saint Antonine Church

Galata Mevlevihane

Galata Tower ( Outside Visit)

Golden Horn and Bosphorus Cruise

Dolmabahçe Palace ( Outside visit )

Topkapı Palace

Grand Bazaar

Spice Bazaar

Caferaga Medrese

Visiting Historical castle and palace sets

Forging activity

Archery activities

Traditional glass art workshop

Show Time (Journey of Turkish People in the History)

Column of Constantine

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Tomb of Mahmud the 2nd

Dinner in the courtyard of the Dolmabahçe Palace

Bosphorus Cruise

Dinner in the courtyard of Dolmabahçe Palace

Shopping at Galataport

As TourIstanbul, we reserve the right to change itineraries listed above in case of unexpected weather conditions, heavy traffic, major events in the city, etc.

About Touristanbul

If you have a connecting international flight in İstanbul, and a layover between six and 24 hours, you can take advantage of our complimentary Touristanbul service to discover İstanbul.

You can select one of the eight tours offered by Touristanbul according to the time frame best suited to your flight arrival and departure schedule. During the tours, you can visit İstanbul’s most notable historical sites and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience.

After landing at İstanbul Airport, you will be picked up by a vehicle and driven back to the airport at the end of the tour.

Although the tour times are carefully arranged and planned, if a guest is unable to make their flight in cases that are our responsibility, we will ensure that the passenger reaches their destination smoothly via the next flight.

How to book Touristanbul

If you are on an international flight that connects through İstanbul with a layover between six and 24 hours, you can enjoy the Touristanbul. After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport or from our Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area.

Passengers can take advantage of free tour using their ticket number only ıf issued by Turkish Airlines ticket number starting 235. Touristanbul is available for Turkish Airlines’ flights including codeshare flights.

Before visiting Türkiye, you can obtain an e-visa at www.evisa.gov.tr/ website. Please check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Türkiye.

If you are eligible for an e-visa you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Where can i find the Touristanbul desk?

Discover i̇stanbul.

Enjoy your meal

See you soon.

All about Turkish Airlines’ Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers Flying between USA and India

We do mostly purchase itineraries with a short layover (2-3 hours) for long-haul international flights between USA and India. If our connecting flight happens to be delayed at a transit airport, we feel out of breath. How would it be if you are offered a complimentary tour of the transit city during a long layover? Amazing! Isn’t it? If you get good deals for Turkish Airlines’ USA to India flights with a minimum 6-hour layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, just grab it. Turkish Airlines offers Touristanbul, a guided Istanbul City tour for free to its international passengers in transit.

Turkish Airlines’ Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers

If you are flying Turkish Airlines from USA to India, and if your itinerary has a layover of 6 hours or more at Istanbul International Airport, you should not miss the free Istanbul sightseeing tour. Why not make your layover at Istanbul a travel diary full of ‘selfie’ moments at some of the historical landmarks in the city, rather than waiting for the connecting flight?

Visa Requirement for Touristanbul Program

Do I need a Turkish visa to get on a (free) tour of Istanbul while in transit? Getting on a city tour, though during a layover, means exiting Istanbul airport and entering the country; hence, it requires a Turkish visa. Indians having a valid US visa or Green Card (lawful residence permit), a UK or Ireland visa, or a Schengen visa, are eligible for a single-entry e-visa to Turkey. You can obtain an e-visa from Turkey Government’s e-visa portal or Turkish Airlines’ counter or desk at the departure airport.

Turkey is a visa-free destination for US citizens

US citizens are exempt from the visa requirement to visit Turkey as the country granted visa-free travel access to the United States. If you are a US passport holder, you are eligible for visa-free stay in Turkey for up to 90 days in a period of six months. Not just for Americans, Turkey is now a visa-free destination and transit stopover for Canadians as well. So, as a transit passenger with a US/Canadian passport, you can take advantage of the visa-free entry to Turkey and embark on a sightseeing tour during your long layover.

Suitable for family travelers, backpackers and solo trippers; the Touristanbul program covers all expenses for meals, transportation, tourist site entry fees and museum tickets. It is focused on Istanbul’s historical places, heritage sites, natural tourist attractions and beautiful restaurants. No advance registration for the program is required. You can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in Istanbul Airport’s International Arrivals Terminal. If you check in your baggage for the connecting flight, you can keep the bags at the airport’s baggage storage facility for a nominal fee.

Turkish Airlines’ unaccompanied passengers under 18 years of age are not eligible for the free Istanbul City tour, Touristanbul. There is something more exclusive for passengers of Turkish Airlines’ business class flights.

Indian Eagle travel, cheap flights to India from USA, cheap US-India flight tickets

Bosphorus Experience for Turkish Airlines’ Business Class Travelers

It will definitely be a cherry on the cake for Turkish Airlines’ passengers who have got cheap business class flight tickets to India or other destination via Istanbul. Yes, your itinerary must include at least 7-hour wait time at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. As part of the Bosphorus Experience in the city of Istanbul, you can have an exclusive, luxury motorboat ride on the Bosphorus River and drink to breathtaking views of the historical landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, the Maiden’s Tower, Galata Tower and Topkapi Palace. Turkish Airlines’ business class travelers in transit can have an unforgettable tryst with the city’s unmatched grandeur and magnificence while dining at any of the waterfront restaurants of Çırağan Palace Kempinski.

Turkish Airlines’ Overnight Stopover Program for Transit Passengers

What to do if your Turkish Airlines flight to India or USA includes connection time of 20 hours or more in Istanbul? You can sign up for Turkish airlines’ free Stopover Program for international transit passengers , regardless of your travel class. Passengers of Turkish Airlines’ economy flights to India or USA are eligible for complimentary one-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel. Those traveling on Turkish Airlines’ business class flights between USA and India will get complimentary stay for two nights in a 5-star hotel.

How to apply for free hotel accommodation under the Istanbul Stopover Program?

Once you have booked a US-India round-trip itinerary of Turkish Airlines through Indian Eagle , a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora, you are needed to follow a process detailed here . The airline will issue a hotel voucher to you after you provide your PNR/ticket number, valid email ID, phone number and your preferred room type (single or double) at least 72 hours prior to your departure from the country of travel origin. The stopover program can be availed for either onward or return trip.

What are the best tourist places to visit in Istanbul during a stopover?

Unique in geography and rich in history, Istanbul is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with an unmistakable old-world charm to it. The city is a treasure trove of historical, cultural and architectural wonders. Two of the unmissable tourist attractions you must visit during a Istanbul stopover are the iconic Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque – the masterpieces of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture respectively. Also, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Square, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, and Kariye Museum are havens for history and architecture enthusiasts. The colorful Grand Bazaar is the ultimate hunting ground for shopaholics whereas the Bosphorus Cruise immerses you in the beauty of Istanbul skyline on laidback evenings.

I have a long layover at Istanbul Airport both during my onward travel from US to India and return trip. If I apply for Touristanbul, will I still be eligible for Free Istanbul Stopover while returning?

No. You can only avail one of the two free programs offered by Turkish Airlines. No passenger can apply for both Touristanbul and Free Istanbul Stopover for the same itinerary.

My flight got canceled due to operational reasons and I had to reschedule my travel. Should I rebook Turkish Airlines’ stopover program?

Yes, you need to rebook the stopover program and free hotel accommodation service. Your current booking of Turkish Airlines’ free stopover program will be automatically cancelled in case your flight is cancelled due to operational reasons.

My US-India itinerary involves Turkish Airlines’ codeshare flights with IndiGo. Can I apply for the Free Istanbul Stopover Accommodation service?

Yes, Turkish Airlines’ US-India itineraries involving flights operated by its codeshare partner, IndiGo, qualify for the Free Istanbul Stopover Accommodation service. You can avail the free stopover program either during your onward trip to India or return journey to the USA.

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Where East Meets West: How To Book A Free Stopover Hotel In Istanbul

Turkish Airlines offers free stopovers in Istanbul, and complimentary hotel stays for stopovers over 20 hours.
You can get free accommodation for up to three nights, depending on your travel class and where you are flying from.
The program is exclusive to passengers traveling from or to destinations outside Trkiye.

Booking a free stopover when flying long-haul is a great way to break up your journey and explore a new city at little to no cost. Several airlines offer free stopovers when you connect through their hubs. Some offer free accommodation and airport transfers, while others let you handle the costs of staying in the city. Turkish Airlines has one of the more attractive stopover programs, so let's look at how it works.

Booking an Istanbul stopover with Turkish Airlines

The Stopover in Istanbul program gives travelers a unique opportunity to explore the city before flying to their final destinations. If you are connecting via Istanbul, you can enjoy free accommodation for up to three nights (depending on travel class and origin airports) with the airline's hotel partners.

Only passengers with a connection period of 20 hours or more are eligible for the stopover program. The voucher required for the stay is issued after the application is complete. To apply for the program, you must e-mail the following details to the address corresponding to your country of departure on Turkish Airlines' website .

Name and surname
Reservation code
Ticket number
Desired accommodation dates
Preferred room type
Telephone number
E-mail address

The program is only available for passengers connecting from Istanbul. You must apply for the service at least 72 hours before your first flight . Free accommodation is available for round-trip tickets as long as your outbound and inbound flights are on the same itinerary. The Stopover Accommodation Service can only be used once on either flight. All flights must be operated by Turkish Airlines.

Analysis: How Stopover Programs Benefit Both Airlines & Their Passengers

Spending a few nights in istanbul.

Istanbul is a popular tourist destination famous for its history, culture, and iconic landmarks. It is also an ideal connection point , given Türkiye's unique geographic location between Asia and Europe. Flying on Turkish Airlines means you have access to more international destinations than any other airline . Its network covers over 290 international destinations in more than 130 countries.

To qualify for a stopover in Istanbul, your trip must start and end in the same country. Depending on where you are flying from, you must check if your destination is eligible for the program. For example, if you are traveling from Ethiopia, the program is only available for flights to Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Qatar, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. If you are flying from another country like the UK or Italy, many more destinations are available.

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Economy class passengers can stay one free night in a 4-star hotel , while business class travelers can stay up to two nights in a 5-star hotel . However, the rules are slightly different for passengers traveling from the US.

Getting to and from the airport

While accommodation is free, you will have to cover your own visa fees and travel costs around the city as well as to and from the airport. Although Istanbul Airport is about 21.7 mi (35 km) from the city center, you can easily access it by using various transportation methods. You can choose from the following transportation options:

M11 Metro: Operates between Gayrettepe and Istanbul Airport.
Havaist airport buses: Operates between Istanbul Airport and several points in the city.
IETT: H-1, H-2, H-3, H-6, and H-8 buses operate to Istanbul Airport.
Private car: The airport is located on the D20 highway and can also be reached from the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge via the North Marmara motorway.
Taxi: Operate 24/7 between the airport and the city center. Transportation takes about an hour, depending on traffic.

Things to do in Istanbul

When stopping over in any city , it's always a great idea to visit places closer to the city so you don't risk missing your next flight or spending too much time traveling to and from the activities. One of Istanbul's main attractions is the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, a major cultural and historical landmark. There are various tours available to explore the Mosque, but Istanbul has so much more to offer.

You can explore the districts of Istanbul, both on the European and Anatolian sides, where each street has a different story. These include places like Emirgân, BeyoÄlu, NiÅantaÅi, and KadÄ±köy. You can also walk around the streets and sample original street food and Turkish delicacies. Alternatively, you can connect with a guide and visit historical sites and distinctive avenues that host the city's social life.

Turkish Airlines also has a layover program for passengers with layover times between six and 24 hours . For this one, it offers Touristanbul, a complimentary tour service for exploring the city. The airline notes that passengers cannot benefit from the Stopover in Istanbul and the Touristanbul service at the same time.

Flying from the US via Istanbul

As previously mentioned, some of the stopover rules slightly differ for passengers traveling from the US. Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul from 13 US airports, with the 14th coming in June . This includes some of the busiest gateways, like Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), Los Angeles International (LAX), New York (JFK), and Washington Dulles (IAD).

Unlike all other departure countries, US travelers can use the stopover accommodation service when traveling to all international destinations via an Istanbul airport transfer. Furthermore, economy class passengers from the United States can stay in a hotel free of charge for two nights, while business class travelers can spend up to three nights.

While the stopover program is not available for codeshare flights, passengers traveling to and from the US on Turkish Airlines codeshare flights with IndiGo can benefit from the stopover service, provided that US stopover rules apply. For all departure countries, including the US, the service is not available for passengers connecting from Istanbul to domestic destinations. Furthermore, free accommodation is not available (N and R classes) for free tickets,

What do you think of this story? Have you ever booked a stopover in Istanbul? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Where East Meets West: How To Book A Free Stopover Hotel In Istanbul

Turkish Airlines celebrates 91st anniversary

Türkiye's flag carrier continues its legacy as the airline flying to most countries worldwide.

Turkish Airlines celebrated its 91st anniversary on Monday, continuing its legacy of flying to the most countries worldwide with up to 350 destinations.

Türkiye's flag carrier was founded on May 20, 1933, with only five aircraft, and 24 staff members, including seven pilots.

The number of aircraft went up by one in the next year, with a passenger capacity of 64.

Türkiye's first international flight took off in 1947 from Istanbul to Athens.

New international destinations were added in 1951, including Lefkosa, Beirut, and Cairo, with a fleet of 33 aircraft.

In 1956, Turkish Airlines joined IATA, the global trade association airlines.

The airline added five Viscount 794 aircraft to its fleet, ushering in a new era of Turkish aviation history as the airline switched from piston-powered engines to jet engines.

The corporate logo, of Turkish Airlines, designed by Mesut Manioglu in 1959, was inspired by the wild goose, known to make intercontinental flights at altitudes of 9,000 meters and up.

The employees of the flag carrier increased from a measly 30 to over 4,000 in 40 years.

By its 50th anniversary in 1983, Turkish Airlines was carrying 2.5 million passengers every year in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia.

A new brand for cargo transportation was established within Turkish Airlines, called Turkish Cargo, at the beginning of 2000.

Domestic flights by Turkish Airlines from Sabiha Gokcen Airport were launched in 2005.

The international airline rating firm Skytrax raised the stars awarded to Turkish Airlines to four in 2007.

AnadoluJet, the sub-brand of Turkish Airlines based in Sabiha Gokcen Airport, started flights in 2008.

Skytrax chose Turkish Airlines as Europe's best airline in 2011.

-Turkish Airlines flies to most countries worldwide

Turkish Airlines became the airline flying to the most countries worldwide in 2012, reaching 200 destinations, and Skytrax recognized the flag carrier airline's efforts and rewarded it with awards of “Best Airline in Europe,” and “Best Business Class Catering.”

The number of destinations of Turkish Airlines reached 264 in 2014, becoming the world's fourth most-reaching airline.

As Turkish Airlines hosted 500 million passengers by 2015, Skytrax named the flag carrier Europe's Best Airline for the fifth consecutive time, and continued doing so in 2016 and 2017, as well.

Turkish Airlines carried 750 million passengers across the skies by 2018.

The flag carrier changed its uniforms for staff as it moved to Istanbul Airport in 2018.

Turkish Airlines became the world's 10th largest airline with a fleet of 350 aircraft in 2019.

Türkiye's flag carrier airline received the APEX World Class Award in 2021, which was the first time an airline received the award.

Turkish Airlines saw its billionth passenger carried by April 2023, and it was awarded the APEX 5-Star Global Airline award.

While Turkish Airlines had only 65 aircraft in 2002, the number increased to 100 in 2006, 200 in 2012, 300 in 2016, and 456 in 2024.

The flag carrier airline aims to have the youngest and the most modern fleet in all of Europe.

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Buying suit for a wedding - Istanbul Forum

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Hello everyone,

Question 1: Is it possible to have a tailored suit made within 4 days?

Question 2: Approximately, how much does a tailored suit cost currently?

Question 3: Can you recommend me where to buy the suit?

Question 4: Are there any other countries where I might get better quality at a better price?

Thank you very much.

3 replies to this topic

" Are there any other countries where I might get better quality at a better price?"

But if it costs you hundreds more to get to country X than turkey, surely the saving on the suit becomes irrelevant...?

Have a look at Vakko and D'S Damat stores.

https://www.vakko.com/en/men/tuxedos-c-3020104

https://www.dsdamat.com/smokin-damatlik-tum-urunler/

You can also find quality tailored suit stores around Nisantasi.

https://www.marcel-butik.com/en

Thts really helpful. Thank you very mich.

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COMMENTS

Touristanbul
Touristanbul is a complimentary tour service offered for Turkish Airlines passengers with international transfer flights. Passengers who have a connecting flight from İstanbul and have a layover time between 6 and 24 hours can benefit from Touristanbul and start exploring the city. As of April 22, our 12:00-18:00 tour will continue as the ...
Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul City Tour Program
Turkish Airlines' Touristanbul complimentary city tour. Touristanbul is the name of Turkish Airlines' program that offers a free city tour if you have an extended layover at Istanbul Airport (IST). Here are the basic things to be aware of: This is available to international Turkish Airlines passengers when you have a connection of six to 24 hours
Touristanbul
per adult (price varies by group size) 2023. Best of Istanbul: 1, 2 or 3-Day Private Guided Istanbul Tour. 4,048. Public Transportation Tours. from. $200.00. per group (up to 8) Istanbul Highlights Half Day Small-Group Guided Tour with Drinks.
The Complete Guide to TourIstanbul with Turkish Airlines
TourIstanbul is a free tour of Istanbul offered by Turkish Airlines. If your layover at the Istanbul Airport is longer than six hours and the times align, they will take you on a fully guided tour! Additionally, you must be flying on Turkish Airlines to be eligible for these tours. They pick your tour based on your flight times, so some offer ...
Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour
Turkish Airlines also offers a free semi guided tour of varying lengths. The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour departs from the airport to the airport. Since we had a 10 hour connection, it was the perfect escape and attraction to keep us occupied instead of waiting out the connection solely in the lounge.
ISTANBUL CITY TOUR BY TURKISH AIRLINES
ISTANBUL CITY TOUR BY TURKISH AIRLINES. Review of Turkey Travel Group. Reviewed January 5, 2013 . I recently used the free city tour given by Turkish Airlines. The tour starts at 0900 hrs from the turkish airlines hotel help desk near the exit ( close to the Starbucks coffee outlet )and ends at 1800 hrs. You can also avail the half day tour.
Take a Free Istanbul City Tour During Your Layover
Join a free city tour during an extended layover in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines and touristanbul make it easy for transit passengers to take advantage of the free city tour. The official details are as follows: The tours are for passengers flying Turkish Airlines internationally with layovers of at least six hours.
Touristanbul: Turkish Airlines Free Istanbul Tour
Turkish Airlines passengers who fly via Istanbul and have a layover of 6-24 hours there are able to tour the largest city of Turkey for free. You can book a flight with a stopover at Istanbul New Airport (IST) and go on the free Turkish Airlines tour of Istanbul. You can get a really good flight deal for your trip on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
Turkish Airlines resumes complimentary Istanbul city tour
National flag carrier Turkish Airlines (THY) has resumed its complimentary Istanbul city tour for its international transit passengers. The "Touristanbul" facility will enable ...
Free Istanbul Layover Perks by Turkish Airlines
The airline offers Istanbul city tours for all transiting passengers with a connection time of between six and 24 hours, ... Free Istanbul City Tour by Turkish Airlines. Let's begin with the complimentary Istanbul city tour, whose eligibility criteria are relatively straightforward. If you have a layover in Istanbul of between six and 24 ...
Review of Touristanbul
Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines. Our plane from Bangkok landed at Istanbul New Airport (IST) around 4:00, as scheduled. We had an international fight with a layover of over 6 hours in Istanbul so we have decided to try Touristanbul - free Istanbul tour with Turkish Airlines. The first thing you need to know is ...
Touristanbul review: Get your free city tour of Istanbul now!
Touristanbul is a free (tour gratis Turkish Airlines) service applicable for all international passengers passing through Istanbul. It is free and the only requirements is that the layover is between 6 to 24 hours. You will get a tour of Istanbul during this time.
Istanbul on a layover: Our itinerary for up to 8 hours in the city
In short, you can take a free Istanbul tour during a layover or get a hotel from Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airlines layover tour, or Touristanbul, offers free shuttle transportation, guided excursion in the city, coverage of museum fees, and breakfast and/or lunch serving. All tours last more than 3 hours, with the earliest one starting at 8 a ...
Here's How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul
Between 6 and 24 hours, you will qualify for a free day tour of Istanbul. Longer than 10 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel. NOTE* For free hotel rooms, both your arriving and departing flights must be on Turkish Airlines metal. Codeshare flights do not qualify.
Free Istanbul City Tour
Leave the Airport for a City Sightseeing Tour. So here's the deal: Turkish Airlines is making your layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport even more productive by offering Touristanbul free tours of 6-9 hours in length, focused on the most significant historical places, for guests transiting Turkey who've purchased tickets on Turkish Airlines.
Private Guided City Tours
Istanbul Layover Tours specializes in offering city tours from both Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) for transit travelers. We believe. Email Us +90-544-585-98-51; Login; Sign Up ... While Turkish Airlines offers free airport layover tours through their 'touristanbul' stopover package for passengers meeting specific ...
Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul Transit Hotel Program
Basics of Turkish Airlines' transit hotel program. Turkish Airlines offers passengers with extended transit periods a complimentary hotel stay. Keep in mind that in addition to this, passenger can also take advantage of a free Istanbul city tour, which is a great way to explore one of the world's most vibrant cities.. As you'd expect, there are some terms to be aware of when it comes to ...
Touristanbul
During the tours, you can visit İstanbul's most notable historical sites and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience. After landing at İstanbul Airport, you will be picked up by a vehicle and driven back to the airport at the end of the tour.
Turkish Airlines Offers Free Istanbul Tour and Overnight Stopover to
4 thoughts on " All about Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers Flying between USA and India " Pravin Wani 2018-10-03 at 1:39 pm. I am travelling with family during May 2019 to England. Can we avail the free Istanbul city tour if we book Turkish Airlines flight? What is the minimun criteria to avail the city tour?
10 Things To Do On A Layover In Istanbul, Türkiye
Indulge in Turkish cuisine by booking a food tour in Istanbul to experience the culture and traditions through food. ... two continents within one city. Cost: From ~10 Turkish Lira ($0.50 ...
Where East Meets West: How To Book A Free Stopover Hotel In Istanbul
Turkish Airlines flies to Istanbul from 13 US airports, with the 14th coming in June. This includes some of the busiest gateways, like Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson (ATL), Los Angeles International ...
Turkish Airlines celebrates 91st anniversary
Türkiye's first international flight took off in 1947 from Istanbul to Athens. ... As Turkish Airlines hosted 500 million passengers by 2015, Skytrax named the flag carrier Europe's Best Airline ...
Buying suit for a wedding
My experience with Turkish Airlines Free Hotel or tour 5:09 am; Free hotel for stop over by Turkish Airline 3:57 am; Uber service in istanbul is good ? 3:56 am; ... What are the different modes of transport from the new Istanbul Airport to the City; ISTANBULKART, How to get it and how to use it. ...
Galatasaray must wait to seal Turkish league title after home loss to
Galatasaray's Lucas Torreira, left, slides for the ball against Fenerbahce's Fred, during a Turkish Super Lig soccer match between Galatasaray and Fenerbahce in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, May 19, 2024.

The Complete Guide to TourIstanbul with Turkish Airlines

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Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour:

Visiting the Galata Bridge:

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Palace:

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Mosque:

My Thoughts on the Turkish Airlines E-Tour at Istanbul:

If you’ve taken advantage of the Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul, did you find it worth your connection time ?

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Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines

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7:55 Tour Start

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9:25 Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace

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See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours