Hello! We are flying from the US to Athens, but with an overnight in Istanbul. We arrive at 4:30 on Monday afternoon and do not fly out for Athens until 8:30 the next morning. We're not crazy about spending the night in the airport, so I was wondering what we could see in those limited evening hours, could we see something of the city? Should we stay close to the airport in a hotel, or try downtown? Just looking for some advice, as I've never done an overnight transfer before. Thanks!
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10328 posts
You can take the train and metro into the Sultanamet section, luckily traveling in the opposite direction of the rush hour traffic. The Grand Bazaar, museums, and mosques will be closed by early evening, but you can dine and walk around the Hippodrome or another area. You need to check to see what time the metro starts to get you back to the airport in the morning, or you could still stay at the airport after spending the evening in the city. Maybe someone else can address the possibility of a boat ride during that time period.
Posted by
Cary, NC
687 posts
Assuming you arrive on time it will still take you some time to buy a visa, clear passport control and collect your luggage, plus you need to be back at the airport by 6:30 the next morning. I would sleep near the airport - I stayed here: http://www.wowhotelsistanbul.com/?lang=EN - I got a reduced rate as I had a Turkish Airlines boarding pass. Once you're checked in at the hotel you're waking distance from public transport into Istanbul.
Posted by
Bellevue, WA, USA
811 posts
if you arrive late and tired you should check in a hotel near the airport. check with the hotel desk at the airport they can find you one. make sure you negotiate the price. if you feel have energy, you should ask the hotel desk at the airport to find you a place near the taksim square (make sure you ask them to provide transportation to/from hotel). the sultanhmet area is famous for the grand bazza and the mosques, but since you arrive late, the bazzas are going to be closed and the area around mosques are going to be quiet. the taksim square area is busy till very late in the night, so you can hangout at bars, smoke, or get good food at fair price.