Istanbul Travel Guide 

Straddling Europe and Asia, Istanbul offers a combination of historic sites and a vibrant mix of the old and new, be it architecture, culture and cuisine. 

An edited choice of the best places in town to lay your head.

Start here: a local's pick of the city's must sees and dos.

When is the best time to visit Istanbul?

Summer is a great time to visit Istanbul, averaging 25C with long, sunny days. These months are also host to a number of city-wide arts and cultural events. The winters are long (November to February) and can be wet but are also an opportune time if you want to avoid the crowds. In April, the annual Tulip Festival (Lale Festivali) takes place, when the flowers that are planted across the city magically bloom.   

Before you visit Istanbul

 

There are two major airports in Istanbul – the larger and relatively new Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side and the Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW) on the Asian side.

 

To get to the city centre from IST, you can take the new metro line M11. It takes around 40 minutes to get to the city centre. Alternatively, you can use the HVIST-5 bus, run by the HAVAIST bus company. Buses leave roughly every half an hour, with the journey time approximately 90 minutes.   

 

Alternatively, if you want to get a taxi, the main rank is just outside the terminal. IST taxis are metered and are divided into three categories: small, economical orange “C” type taxis; medium-value blue “D” type taxis; and premium black “E” type taxis. To get to the centre from Sabiha Gokcen Airport, you can take the HAVABUS Airport Shuttle, which runs a frequent service to both Kadikoy (taking about 60 minutes) and the Taksim (about 90 minutes). You can also get IETT Municipal Public Buses which are very regular but slower.

Getting around Istanbul

Public Transport in Istanbul

 

In order to use all public transport, you will need an Istanbul Kart. A smartcard that can be purchased and topped up at metro and bus stations. The metro is great for getting around the centre of the city, with the M9 line crossing the Bosporus straits so you can travel from Europe to Asia and back in a blink of the eye! If you’re looking to get to the old town, the best method is to use the T3 line on the old tramway route. 

Cycle Hire in Istanbul

 

If you download the iSBiKE app, you can use the stations that are available all around the Istanbul coastline to access bicycles. There are dedicated cycle lanes, which you will need to use in order to avoid the main roads. You will have to pay a membership fee on top of the cost of using the bicycle, but both are good value. 

 


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