Travel_Accommodation
Istanbul, the bustling metropolis of Türkiye, is a city full of charm, where the past goes hand in hand with the present and every step brings to light a relic of times gone by. At the crossroads of two continents – Europe and Asia – this spectacular city has absorbed the best of both worlds. With its beautiful historic landmarks, quintessential cuisine, vibrant nightlife, festivals of art and music, celebration of faith, labyrinths of marketplaces and shopping arcades, the beating heart of Istanbul, and the soul of Bosphorus under the watchful eye of the Maiden’s Tower is a traveller’s dream.
Entitled as one of the most dynamic cities in the world, Istanbul is literally a metropolis. It is a transcontinental city straddling two continents by its inland sea, Marmara. One of the world’s busiest waterways, the Bosphorus, is situated in northwestern Türkiye between the Black Sea and the Marmara sea. Connecting the two seas, Bosphorus also separates Istanbul to two sides known as European side and Asian side. Istanbul is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also became a hub for contemporary artistic developments and creative industries. Istanbul’s cosmopolitan spirit –diverse and intercultural- is proved by the fact that nearly 75,000 companies dealing with international trade, which makes the city also a financial capital.
Useful Tips
Language
The official language is Turkish. English is usually spoken in touristic areas.
Time zone
Türkiye time (TRT) zone varies within UTC/GMT+3h according to the region. In June CET+1, GMT+2.
Voltage
Electrical system in Türkiye operates on 220 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz. The power plugs and sockets are of type F, thus you will need a voltage converter and plug adapter to use U.S. appliances.
Telephone Calls
The dialing code of Türkiye is 90. Each city has a different code. To make international calls, you need to dial country code, city code, and the remaining numbers.
Currency
Local currency is Turkish lira (TRY). Dollars and Euros can be easily exchanged in hotels, authorized banks, and exchange offices. International debt and credit cards (Visa and Master Card) are accepted in most places.
Tax
Taxes are included in the labels.
ABOUT TÜRKİYE
A country of in depth history and culture, the Turkish Republic is located where the three continents of the old world, Asia, Africa and Europe, are closest to each other and straddle the point where Europe and Asia meet. Because of this geographical location, the mainland Anatolia has witnessed the mass migration of diverse peoples, shaping the course of history. Home to countless civilizations, Anatolia has developed a unique synthesis of cultures, each with its own distinct identity, yet each linked to its predecessors through insoluble threads. As a modern nation in an ancient land, Turkey today is the inheritor and conservator of such an essential, shared heritage of humanity.
Hotel Costs in Istanbul:
Mid range: EUR 110 - 120
Upper range: EUR 140 - 170
Luxury range: EUR 195 - 230
Recommended Hotels:
- The Marmara Taksim
- Barcelo Hotel
- Occidental Taksim Hotel
- Point Taksim
- Sofitel Istanbul Taksim
- Nippon Hotel
- Avantgarde Taksim Square Hotel
- Ramada By Wyndham
- Taxim Hill Hotel
- Midtown Hotel
- Konak Hotel
Istanbul has always been a meeting place and a cross point destination. Located at the crossroads of East and West, Istanbul offers easy air connections. Getting to and from Istanbul has never been easier. With a capacity of far over 25 million travelers per year Istanbul is surprisingly within reach - in fact, it's less than a three-hour flight from most European cities.
Istanbul Airport houses an Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Centre and it provides service in compliance with the EU standards. This centre, established over 700,000 square meter area located between the two parallel runways, offers services to Turkey at international standards and promises hope for the future of Turkish aviation sector. Having become an emerging business line in Turkey, aircraft maintenance and repair sector will have the opportunity to become the leader of the industry worldwide thanks to the centre established.
The Istanbul Airport strengthens Istanbul, the center of a vast geography from the East to the West, with its extremely high capacity, various kinds of facilities and sound infrastructure opportunities. Having a strategic location considering the transfer routes, Istanbul acts as an attractive hub for transit flights between the USA and Europe, as well as the Middle East, Central Asia and North India.
Today, the Istanbul Airport launches flights to a total of 146 destinations at various continents within 3 hours connecting 120+ countries, 60+ capital cities, 250+ international and 50 domestic destinations. When the airport is put into operation in full capacity, the number of flight destinations will exceed 350.
For more information on Istanbul Airport, please click here.
The city is reachable via ship from Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries, and is in addition a major port of call for cruise lines and chartered yachts. Via land, several rail lines connect Turkey to neighboring countries as well as many bus lines which easily and affordably connect Istanbul to other cities across Turkey, Europe and the Middle East. Highways represent another increasingly viable alternative to getting in and out of Istanbul.
Airport Transport to /from City Center
The airport being quite far from the city center, the taxi ride to Taksim or Sultanahmet may cost you a bit; it will be around 350-400 TL.
To find them, get out of the airport and pick one that is in the line. Taxis in Istanbul are yellow or light blue, do not ride in the car of anyone else. Please note that the maximum number of passengers in an Istanbul taxi is 4.
Be careful, not all Istanbul taxis are honest, especially in touristic areas, sometimes they see the tourists as a way to make some extra Turkish Liras, so one advice, always go by the meter and don't try to negotiate!
The Havaist shuttles:
These are the shuttles belonging to the municipality of Istanbul. You will find them at the exit of the airport. The shuttles operate almost 24/7. It is the best option to reach the city center. The ticket for Taksim costs 18 TL, payable only by "Istanbulkart” and the ride takes about 100 minutes. You will find the machines just in front of the shuttle stop from which you can buy or reload this public transport card which you can then use for all means of transport in town. The shuttle makes several stops on the way, (4.Levent Metro - Zincirlikuyu Metrobus - Beşiktaş - Taksim), most people stop in Taksim.
Once in Taksim Square you can take a taxi or public transport to get to your hotel. To see all the other Havaist trips and fares: http://www.hava.ist/Home/Index_en
İstanbul's second airport, Sabiha Gökçen, is located in the Anatolian side of the city. From Sabiha Gökçen, there are also several ways to get into the city.
There is the Havataş bus service to Kadıköy and Taksim.
Departure Point in Kadıköy is Kadıköy Rıhtım İETT Bus Stops.
It takes approximately 1.5 hours from/to Taksim to/from Sabiha Gökçen and this period may vary according to the traffic density. Routes are as follow;
Departure: Taksim-Beşiktaş- Bosphorus Bridge -Tem Access Road-Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Return: Sabiha Gökçen Airport -Kavacık-FSM Bridge-1.Levent-Zincirlikuyu Metrobus- Dolapdere-Taksim
Ticket Price: 52.5 TRY
You can take the public bus run by IETT. The E10 line goes to Kadıköy. From there you can take a ferry if you plan to continue to the European side
For more information about Sabiha Gökçen transportation, please click here.
For more information about how to transport within the city, please click here.
Istanbul falls in the Eastern European Time Zone. Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 3 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+3).