IST - Istanbul

This is the larger of the airports in Istanbul and is a fairly new addition to the city's capacity, built as expansion at the other options was not practical. It has grown as a hub ever since with 76 million passengers in 2023. Its website is www.istairport.com/en/?locale=en

Parking

The airport states it has the world's largest for up to an hour. multi-level parking facility under one roof.

It operates a valet service at the CIP Terminal entrance - then on return you can utilise an app called Find My Car to return to your vehicle. This is bought as a subscription service - for over seven days parking you would utilise a fifteen day subscription, and for over that it would be a thirty day subscription. There is also a day rate for shorter stays. The subscription service must be purchased within three hours and there are manual payment kiosks or you can utilise the departures information desk or pay by mobile.

Alternatively you can park your vehicle yourself.

Car parks are colour coded and then there are floors within them - purple and turquoise (closer to Domestic Departures and Arrivals), blue, red and yellow (closer to International Departures and Arrivals).

Details are provided for the best and worst locations. For the best, on level P5, it is ninety metres to the terminal. For a wheelchair user it is estimated to take three minutes. For the worst, on level P1, it is seventy-five metres to the lifts then 125 metres to the terminal. For a wheelchair user it is estimated to take ten minutes.

Drop Off

The airport site notes that the Open Parking Area is free for up to fifteen minutes.

Alternatively the multi-storey car park is TRY90 for up to one hour. It is also noted that if you are parking your on car in the multi-storey that you can drop the rest of your group and baggage at the CIP Terminal entrance first.

Security 

Some information can be found on the Passenger Departure Guide page, items 5 and 7 (scroll down and these are shown on the left of the page) www.istairport.com/en/flights/airport-guides/departing-passenger-guide/

Restaurants and Bars 

There are a range of restaurants in the airport.

International Airside - Arby's, Bottega, Brewmark, Burger King, Caffe Nero, Carl's Jr., Carluccio's, Cay Saati, Chocnette, Crousty Co, Cuisine Anatolia, Cups & Clouds, Deli Aux Pain, Enva, Godiva, Gram, Jackie's, Kaimakk, Max Brenner, McDonald's, Mood Up, Movenpick, Mvnch, Nusr-Et, Obica, Pasa Doner, Pidem, Pierre Herme, Pizzeria Enzo, Popeyes, Refresh, Rey Organic, Sbarro, Shake Shack, Simit Sarayi, Slim Chicken's, Starbucks, Subway, The Gang Foods, The House Cafe, Tickerdaze, TRT World Cafe, Via Kiosk, Vivanda Burger, Yo! Sushi

Domestic Airside - Backhaus, Bi Coffee and Bar, Burger King, Cafe Yanimda, Cay Saati, Cups & Clouds, HD Doner, HD Iskender, High Born Coffee, Malatya Pazari, Pidem, Popeyes, Sbarro, Seferi, Simit Sarayi, Starbucks, Via Bakery, Via Kiosk

Landside - Bite, Burger King, Caffe Nero, Cay Saati, Cups & Clouds, Eat & Joy, Enva, HD Doner, Komyuniti Bar & Restaurant, Max Brenner, Mvnch, Pidem, Popeyes, Sbarro, Seferi, Turcuisine

Shops 

There are a range of shops and the full details can be found here www.istairport.com/en/services/shopping/stores/?locale=en

International Airside - Ambassador Spa, Atasay, B&G, Bisse, Bluemint, Boss, Bottega Veneta, Brandy's, Bvlgari, Cartier, Celine, Colin's, Cube, D'S Damat, D&R, Dior, Ecco, Emporio Armani, Fendi, Furla, G Shock Casio, Guard Leather, Gucci, Hermes, IN Street, Ipekyol, Kigili, Konyali Saat, Lacoste, Lamy, LC Waikiki, Lee Wrangler, Lego, Levi's, Longchamp, Loro Piana, Louis Vuitton, Luxury Square, Luxury Timepieces, Machka, Mavi, Michael Kors, Moncler, Montblanc, Nike, Old Bazaar, Omega, Pandora, Parisli Cemil, Paul & Shark, Penti, Pierre Cardin & Cacharel, Prada, Ray Ban, Saat & Saat, Saint Laurent, Salvatore Ferragamo, Samsonite, Sunglass Hut, Swarovski, Swatch, Tamer Tanca, Tissot, Tumi, US Polo Assn., Unifree Duty Free, Vakko, Vilebrequin, Xpress Spa, Zegna, Zen Diamond

Domestic Airside - Alix Avien, Altinbas, Avva, B&G Store, Boyner, D&R, Dunyagoz Optik, Eve Shop, Gant, Guess, HT Silver, IN Street, Konyali Saat, Lacoste, Nautica, Panco, Penti, Ren, Saat & Saat, Samsonite, So Chic, SuperStep, Tobacco Shop, Trio Store, Turkcell, Vodafone, Yves Rocher

Landside - Afrika Evi, Air Mobile, Airport Wi-Fi, Art House, Be4 You Go, D&R, Fenerium, Flowers, Gifts of Istanbul, I Love Bazaar, Levent Lostra & Gift, Njoy, Oh My Gift, Parisli Cemil, Pasabahce, Sahin Gift Shop, Sahin Hediyelik, Slipper Shop, The Art Of Soap, Tobacco Shop, Turk Telecom, Turkcell, Unigift, Vodafone, Wifist

Lounges 

Loungers appear limited at Istanbul.

International Departures - IGA - restricted access

International Departures - Youth lounge - for ages 15-30

Domestic Departures - IGA - restricted access

There are also Sleep Pods, 0700-1900, €15 for one hour.

Assistance 

It is normally recommended that you make contact with your airline or tour operator 48 hours before travel. Details of the assistance available can be found here www.istairport.com/en/flights/airport-guides/iga-cares-accessibility/?tab=1&locale=en#accessibility

Hotels 

There are not that many hotels particularly near the airport.

Onsite

Yotel (airside)

Yotel (landside)

Under four miles

Hampton by Hilton

For hotels at the airport just click the image below.

Shuttles 

None identified

Immigration

For any information about visas for Turkey/Turkiye you should only refer to the official government information to ensure you are checking the most up to date information www.mfa.gov.tr/visa-information-for-foreigners.en.mfa

Reclaim

In the reclaim area check the boards for which carousel you need to attend.

Customs 

For any information about bringing things into Turkey/Turkiye you should only refer to the official government information

Taxis 

There are three taxi types available.

Orange C - cheapest option (TRY950 to Aksaray or Besiktas for example)

Turquoise D - 15% more expensive

Black Luxury E - 70% more expensive

Stands are at main stands of Departures at the Plaza section.

Buses and Coaches 

There are local buses for Istanbul and coaches for further afield.

Havaist - leaves the airport from Transportation floor -2, arrives at entrance gates for departures 1, 2, 3 and 4. There are eleven routes to the city centre.

IETT - leaves the airport from Transportation floor -2, arrives at entrance gates for departures. There are five routes to the city centre.

Seyahat - leaves the airport from Transportation floor -2, platform 18, arrives at entrance gates 1 and 2 for departures. Typical fares are Corlu TRY260, Edirne TRY400, Izmit TRY300, Bursa TRY300.

Rail and Trams 

There is a Metro stop at the airport and the line runs from Gayrettepe to the airport (stop Istanbul Havalimani) on line M11. This costs TRY20.19 and takes about forty-five minutes, with three trains per hour.

Routes 

No details are held on the airport website but Istanbul is a major hub for domestic flights and is increasing its reach around the world all the time, so you can expect an extensive list of destinations.

Maps 

You can find a map here www.istairport.com/en/airport/maps/airport-map/?locale=en

Terminal Transfer 

There are a number of information desks and self-service kiosks to identify where you need to go - whether transferring from International to Domestic, Domestic to International or within the same area. There is also an app.

The transfer routes are all walking (assistance is available) and are very well signposted with approximate times on the signs.

Car Hire 

Multiple companies are available at Istanbul

Avec, Payless, Elitcar, Ulger, Sixt, Green Motion, 5S Otomotiv, Rent Go, Cizgi, Eva, Cimli, Castle, Avis/Budget, Central, Hertz