Getting to Istanbul
Planning your trip to Istanbul? Whether you’re arriving by plane, train, bus, or cruise, our guides provide everything you need to know about getting to the city hassle-free.
Find information on major airports (IST & SAW), visa requirements, airport transfers, best flight options, and alternative travel routes. Whether you’re traveling from Europe, the Middle East, or beyond, we help you choose the easiest and most cost-effective way to reach Istanbul.
How to Get from Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) to Taksim?
If you’re landing at Sabiha Gökçen Airport and heading to Taksim, here’s the good news. This is one of the simpler airport routes in...
How to Use HAVABUS Sabiha Gokcen Airport Shuttle (First Timers)
HAVABUS looks simple on paper. A shuttle bus from the city to Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). Fixed routes. Predictable stops. In real life, it’s...
Top 11 Reasons to Visit Istanbul: Why You Should Visit Istanbul?
Istanbul rarely needs convincing. Most people arrive curious and leave slightly attached.It is a city that reveals itself in layers. History sits in plain...
Istanbul Airport Metro M11 Guide: How to Use It (First Timers)
The Istanbul Airport metro M11 is modern, fast, and clean. And yet, it’s where many first-time visitors feel the most lost. Not because the...
How to Get from Istanbul Airport to Besiktas: Best Ways for First Timers
Getting from Istanbul Airport to Besiktas is often trickier than getting to Taksim. Not because Beşiktaş is far. It isn’t. But because Beşiktaş plays...
How to Get from Istanbul Airport to Taksim: Best Ways for First Timers
Getting from Istanbul Airport to Taksim is not difficult. Deciding how to do it is. You land at Istanbul Airport (IST), step into a...
How to Use HAVAIST Istanbul Airport Shuttle (First Timers)
Here’s a small truth most first-time visitors discover late. The HAVAIST Istanbul Airport shuttle is simple to use. People still miss it. Not because...
How to Get from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet: Best Ways
Getting from Istanbul Airport to Sultanahmet looks simple on a map. In real life, it’s a sequence of small decisions that either feel smooth...
Best Time to Visit Istanbul: A Seasonal Guide for Every Traveler
Most first-time visitors ask the same question, usually later than they should. When is the best time to visit Istanbul? It sounds simple. It...
How Much Does It Cost to Visit Istanbul in 2026? Full Trip Cost
Here’s the funny part. The Istanbul trip cost is rarely decided by one big splurge. It’s decided by tiny defaults. A taxi when you’re...
How to Buy a Turkish SIM Card in Istanbul: Airport vs City, eSIM vs SIM
Most first-time visitors assume buying a Turkish SIM card is a five-minute task. Land, show passport, get data, move on. That’s the expectation. The...
How to Get Free Wi‑Fi in Istanbul: Hotspots, Airports & Safe Access
Here’s the thing most first-time visitors learn five minutes after landing. Istanbul asks a lot from your phone. Maps. Messages. Booking confirmations. QR codes....
Galataport Istanbul Guide: Cruise Port, Attractions, Layovers
Here’s something first-timers don’t expect. Galataport Istanbul feels central, polished, and easy. And yet, time slips faster here than almost anywhere else in the...
Visiting Istanbul by Cruise Ship: First-Time Guide for a Short Stay
Here’s a quiet truth about visiting Istanbul by cruise ship. The city doesn’t meet you at the gangway. It meets you after timing, crowds,...
Electrical & Video Norms in Turkey (Istanbul Guide for Travelers)
Electrical and video standards are not the most exciting part of planning a trip to Istanbul, but getting them wrong can be annoying fast....
Top Things to Do at Istanbul Airport (IST): First-Timers Guide
The first surprise at the Istanbul Airport isn’t how busy it is. It’s how much there actually is to do once you stop rushing. Most...