My wife and I have a connection on Turkish Airlines through Istanbul next month (Sunday Sept. 20). We got a schedule change from a short layover to a quite long one (6:35 am arrival, 1:15 pm departure to Bucharest). Desiring to make lemonade out of this lemon, it looks like Turkish Airlines offers complimentary city tours under the "Touristanbul" label for connecting passengers with qualifying itineraries, which it appears ours is for an 8 -11:30 am tour, assuming the incoming flight is on time. Does anyone have experience or tips about these tours? It looks from the website that you need to go to a desk in transfer area to register, then through Turkish immigration (no visa needed for US citizens) to meet tour at another desk, then go back through security and immigration on return for onward flight; taking our carryon backpacks with us on the tour. The tours look like whistlestop overviews, without going into major attractions like Hagia Sophia or Topkapi -- which is fine, we'll be jetlagged and I've been to Istanbul (although using the old Ataturk airport, not the new one) and seen those already although my wife hasn't, so a tour that just gives us some interesting commentary, fresh air and scenic views as a way to pass the time and get a glimpse of the city is fine. The airline website has a means of booking these tours online but when I've tried to do that it says I can't; maybe it's too soon, and it doesn't seem like advance reservations are needed in any event. The tours are described as complimentary but I assume a tip for the guide would be appropriate. Is what I've described consistent with others' experience? Thank you for any advice.
Posted by
Twin Cities of MN
7573 posts
Istanbul's airport is enormous, and is a fair distance from the city. I know nothing about the complimentary tour, but I feel like if the airline is hosting it, that'd be your best bet in terms of getting back by the necessary time.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3475 posts
I also don't have any experience with the tours but an 11:30 return to the airport is probably cutting it quite close - there is extra security (you go through before you actually go in airport) plus the actual security screening time and walking distances can be significant. As julesm noted if it's the airline arranging it then it is probably a better bet than trying to arrange it on your own. However it's a solid 45+ minute drive to/from the airport to the city center, so you'll be looking at the highway a fair bit of that time. I personally would look into a short stay hotel (there's an airside Yotel) or pay for a lounge to nap/freshen up and save Istanbul for a longer stay. I'd also suggest trying other forums (Tripadvisor, Reddit) to see if people have specific comments about Touristanbul - a quick Google search yielded some decidedly mixed reviews. Best of luck!
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
9663 posts
I don’t have experience with the tours, but I do have experience with long layovers at IST. There are quite a few options available.
They have quiet “ sleeping” areas where one can rest. Lots of shopping and restaurants . The IGA lounge is quite nice and included on Priority Pass if you have that with one of your credit cards. If not, it is one of the few lounges that it is worth paying for. Finally, there is a Yotel. You have to wait until you are there and see if availability exists, but you can rent in 4 hour chunks. You can take a shower, take a nap, etc. one advantage for a solo traveler is a secure spot where no worries about keeping track of your belongings while resting.
Posted by
OP
Virginia
450 posts
I appreciated the advice on this so thought I’d report back. Turkish Airlines is very good (everything on time, good food, service, comfortable seats for economy), but we didn’t do the Istanbul tour. Istanbul airport is huge and confusing, supposedly there was a tour desk in the transit area but couldn’t find it, time was passing and we were tired, and having to go through immigration and security twice to do a short tour didn’t appeal, so gave up the idea of a city tour and just stayed at the airport.
There is a museum at the Istanbul airport, which we did on our return connection from Romania (other post to follow on that). It’s in the area where the several concourses meet, upstairs. Like anything else there it’s not cheap (13 euro admission) but it is a surprisingly good collection of artifacts from Turkish history from Neolithic through Ottoman times. About an hour to see it thoroughly. Worth it if you have time.
There was an American couple in front of us on flight from Romania. On final approach to IST, a fairly large mosque was visible out the window. Wow, they said, there’s Hagia Sophia! It’s so great to see it even just from the plane! It wasn’t my business so I didn’t burst their bubble by telling them that Hagia Sophia was at least 20 miles away, greater Istanbul has literally thousands of mosques, and what they had seen was just an ordinary suburban one of recent construction in one of the new high rise developments next to the airport.
Posted by
Salem, Oregon, USA
3475 posts
Thanks for reporting back and pointing out the museum option at the airport. Good to know for next time!
Posted by
Chicago
1889 posts
I appreciate the museum info also. I may have a layover in the upcoming months!
Posted by
Southeast US, soon to be Kentucky
4358 posts
So kind of you to return and update your post. Thanks for sharing!