Travel Information about Istanbul
The easiest way to get to Istanbul is to fly directly to the Ataturk International Airport. Ataturk International Airport (Atatürk Havalimanı) lies 25 km in Yesilkoy, on the European side of the city. Turkey's international airline company name is Turkish Airlines (THY) and Turkish Airlines direct flights form 120 destinations to the world. Several major airline companies fly direct to Istanbul. Sabiha Gokcen Airport is second biggest airport in Istanbul on the Anatolian side of the city. A lot of charter firms use Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Trains also well established services between Istanbul and several European cities.
Istanbul hasnt got direct ferry sailing to Europe but cruises usually include one day stopover for sightseeing in Istanbul.
Arriving by air
And you will use other airline companies in Turkey to flight other cities in Turkey or a lot of European cities. (AtlasJet, Pegasus, Onur Air)
Ataturk Airport
Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located at Yesilkoy in European side. First builted is the Ataturk Airport. (You can visit Ataturk Airport Guide page to reach to this airport) You will find a perfect airport terminal in Ataturk Airport. Duty free shops open 24 hours where, on arrival as well as departure. You can find, perfumes, alcohol, watches, textile, sweets and cosmetics. There are also gift shops, banks, cafe, mosque, retaurants, pubs, bars, 24 hour banking facilities, an Airport Hotel for short stays and a tourist information office.
Sabiha Gokcen Airport
Sabiha Gokcen airport is the newest airport in Istanbul. There are also gify shops, duty free, banks and a tourist information office.
Transport From the Airport
You will find taxi outside of the arrival hall. It is cost 40 usd to go to city center.
Buses depart every half hour between 6 am to midnight. The bus stop is marked Havas situated outside the main doors at the arrivals hall.
Alternatively there is a suburban rail service from Yesilkoy to Sirkeci, also bandy for Sultanahmet. The fastest way to go city centre is use to tramway.
Arriving by train
Istanbul has 2 main line train stations. Sirkeci Train Station on the European side and Haydarpasa Train Station on the Asian side. Trains from Europe arrive at Sirkeci Station. Trains from Anatolian city or Middle Eastern cities terminate at Haydarpasa Station.
You will find all details about Turkey trains and stations in our Trains page.
And Istanbul is the last station on Orient Express. The Orien Express no longer runs as far as Istanbul. At present the only direct train route is from Thessaloniki from Greece.The main overland route is from Munich via Salzburg, Vienna and Budapest, which is a journey lasting two and a half days.
Arriving by coach
If you want to travelling by coach you will arrive at Esenler coach station. It is 10 km. to city centre. Esenler is the main terminal for the domestic connections to Anatolian cities.
And some Turkish companies operate direct services from several European cities to Istanbul.