The year 2018 saw the inauguration of Istanbul Turkey Airport comprising of many facilities as the largest international airport in Turkey, and has to date served more than 120 million passengers. Spanning over seven million square meters of land, it has two terminal buildings that work almost as different airports, which at the beginning can be pretty daunting. No worries, even though it is a large airport, with a little bit of research, you will find this airport fun to explore and easy to navigate hence making your travel experiences a positive one right from the outset.
Pre-Tour Planning- The Essential Nature
Begin with checking in online via your airline’s app in order to choose your desired seats and avoid wasting time. Arrive earlier in order to be able to check in your bags, as the queues may be long. Ensure that you keep your baggage tag safely for easy retrieval. Buy goods from duty-free shops after you land, and do not forget that the airport cut-off is 3 hours.
Touching Down Istanbul Airport
With your overnight flight coming down toward Istanbul, the first light of morning spreads across the skyline. You can see a city where history meets the present. The plane lands, and soon a bus takes you to the arrivals area. After a quick stop at the restrooms, you feel awake and excited. The city is full of new chances, and your adventure in its rich streets starts the moment you step out of the plane.
Immigration Verification
Istanbul Airport is quite easy to navigate, with signs in Turkish and English leading you to passport control. Escalators going down lead into two separate queues. One is for holders of Turkish passports while the second one is for foreign nationals. When your turn comes, you give the immigration officer your passport for scanning before standing for a short eye contact check with a camera. All clear and a deafening OOPH sound are then heard as an ink stamp is used on your passport. And thus begins your journey!
Immigration- Crucial Facts and Mandatory Documentation
You should have the following information at hand whenever you are clearing immigration borders:
Your passport, which must be no less than six months old from the date of arrival.
Also, make sure there is at least one blank page for entry and exit stamps (this is especially important for those who travel a lot).
A legible Visa or an e-Visa downloaded in your phone or a print out copy (if applicable).
Details concerning where you will be staying and the sites you will be visiting for the duration of the travel.
Luggage Retrieval and Beyond
Having passed the passport control in a matter of minutes, you step on the travelator heading towards baggage claim and in no time, find yourself at the duty-free shop. Trolley machines are located at every baggage conveyor belt making it easy for anyone who needs a trolley. If after 30 minutes your suitcase has not come out, do not panic; go to the information desk. Offer your passport, boarding pass, bag tag information, hotel information and your phone number. It may take a while but these methods guarantee that you will recover your luggage.
Declaration
Whether or not you are traveling with luggage, make your way down to the arrival section located within the first floor. If there are goods to be declared, kindly use the red passage. If there is no declaration necessary, you simply walk through the green passage to exit without any problem.
Readily Engage
Upon arriving in a foreign land, it is very crucial to be online with the rest of the world as you engage in your remote job, if any. Once you pass through the customs tunnel, take a right turn in search of service providers of mobile data. Turk Telecom is a wise decision as it has cheap options for customers and they will help you install it on your phone.
Monetary Matters
Then, you can easily perform currency exchange or use an ATM to withdraw cash. It is advisable to only exchange or withdraw cash that is necessary at the airport because cities offer more favorable exchange rates, giving travelers much more for their money.
Ground Transit
Traveling to the city center from this Turkish airport is not difficult as there are many means of transport.
Taxis provide a direct option, but they may be affected by the traffic.
Buses like Havaist are also cheap to Sultanahmet.
The new Metro Line M11 is fast and cheap as well.
If you want to have more flexibility, you can rent a car while private transfers are comfortable and convenient. Always use the official taxi ranks to keep away from unsupported taxis and excessive charges.
Obtaining the Lucrative Istanbulkart
While utilizing public transportation in Istanbul, it is important to keep in mind that cash, as well as contact-less payment systems, are not in use. One shall, therefore, procure an Istanbulkart, which is an all-purpose rechargeable transport card that can be used for even the airport transfers. While in the metro stations, yellow and black ticket vending machines can be found, two of which will accept cards while the other ones are cash only. There will be some waiting involved.
First-rate Amenities
Touching down at Istanbul Airport is rather quick, efficient and straight forward, the instant you land, everything is modern and in proper order. But even so, here are a few guidelines to follow at Airports in Turkey to make your arrival a more enjoyable journey:
• Make sure you look for the “Danışma” sign, as this is where help in various languages can be sought.
• Parents can also borrow prams, which make it easy to move around the airport.
• Clean toilets, free drinking water, and sleeping facilities at YOTEL are all available.
• Be prepared to undergo two security screenings, and
• Proceed to the Lost & Found department in case you lose something.
Istanbul Delights
Istanbul is teeming with culture and has a long historical background as well. Gaze at the beautiful interiors of Hagia Sophia, roam in the lively Grand Bazaar or step inside the Blue Mosque. Take a Bosphorus cruise in between sight-seeing, relish other experiences and appreciate what Turkish cuisine has to offer at local eateries to round up a perfect tour of the city.
Conclusion
Istanbul Airport can be described as simple and easy to navigate, such that one does not have a hard time upon arrival. Thanks to various efficient means of transport and quality services, this modern airport prepares a thrilling adventure in Istanbul. If you meet the requirements, you can avail of the Turkey visa on arrival, which is offered to certain travelers at the port of entry.
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