Istanbul Airport Guide: All You Need to Know About the Airport Functioning to Enjoy Your Pleasant Journey
Meet one of the largest and undoubtedly the most luxurious airports in the world, Istanbul International Airport! This striking hub accepts flights from all over the world, hosts dozens of airway operators, and provides its guests with an outstanding number of service options. Besides being innovative and newly constructed, this airport embodies everything a passenger dreams about when starting their journey from the airport.
So, if you are willing to visit or decide to depart from the airport of the city of Sultanahmet and Taksim Square, you probably need a reliable guide which controls and encloses all the main information about Istanbul Airport. Here we are to welcome you, providing you with a comprehensive airport’s guide which includes basic info about the airport’s facilities, services, and some tips which may come in handy for Istanbul Airport visitors so as not to lose their chance to explore that functional facility for aircrafts from all over the world.
Important information about the international airport in Istanbul – Turkey
Istanbul Airport opened its doors just in a couple of years ago becoming a true phenomenon. The airport’s project was created, inspired by the growth of passenger traffic since 2013. The construction of the airport was related to the implementation of modern technology solutions and an environmentally friendly background. Thus, up to 2023, Istanbul airport remains:
- Still, it is unquestionably the second airport among the busiest airports in Europe with only UK Heathrow Airport overcoming it in its operation.
- The sixth busiest airport in the world with only Dubai (DXB), London (LHR), Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), and Singapore (SIN) heading the list.
- As of April 2024, Istanbul Airport draw over 24,263,000 passengers this year with more than 60 million passengers annually in 2022-2023.
- Together with SAW the airport serve over 150 million passengers per year and enable arrivals and departures to and from 116 countries.
Let’s look at the airport’s building. It was constructed as a multi-floor environmentally friendly building with domestic and international flights under one roof at its numerous runaways and the control airport’s tower was designed in the shape of a tulip, a floral symbol of Turkey that symbolize wealth. Therefore, the airport has 5 runways and operates over 1,375 flights a day with the highest security.
Istanbul airport terminals
Istanbul Airport is the largest new terminal worldwide among modern airports. There are 5 piers for domestic and intercontinental flights in the airport’s airfield, 143 passenger boarding bridges, and two-side exits to the city area with fast access to taxis (taxi rental is available in the airport), metro stations, and bus stations for comfortable land transportation from and to IST airport’s complex.
Domestic terminal – airside and landside
On the departure floor of the Istanbul Airport, the facilities of the domestic terminal are allocated including 11 shops and 8 dining options (including Starbucks, Burger King, and local cafes and food courts) to meet the highest desires.
International terminal – airside and landside
On the international arrival floor of Istanbul Airport terminal, most international terminal shops are located. There are 25+ shops and 13 dining areas you can select from during your laydown at the airport.
Airport hotels
If you come to Istanbul airport as a transit zone, often you would face a long-downtime. For visitors from Canada, Argentina (Buenos Aires), Spain (Madrid or Seville) Beijing, or UAE flying to Europe with a transfer to their flights in Istanbul Airport, there is the best tip of the highest importance on how to spend time in comfort and choose the best transfers to the city using shuttle options or subway. Just book a commodious room in one of IST airport hotels. As there are no plenty of guesthouses, motels, or hostels nearby, Istanbul airport offers two absolutely comfortable high-class hotels right in it. These are Yotel Istanbul and Yotelair for your choices.
Do you know that Yotel keeps the palm as the biggest hotel in the airport area throughout Europe?
Finally, it’s not hard to find something outside and you can stay for a couple of hours in multiple lodging facilities and guest houses scattered near Istanbul Airport simply optimizing your time, i.e., in Continental Airport Hotel which is only six kilometers from IST center if you have a valid visa in your pocket.
Airport services
As one of the biggest world hubs, Istanbul Airport hosts numerous facilities and services required by its visitors from various destinations. Their disclaimer can be found on the airport’s website. As for specific airport’s services, well, you can rely on Istanbul Airport as you can expect on them, get and take them in full. The most in-demand ones in this airport building are as follows:
- Banking airport options which include multiple bank offices, payment terminals, and currency exchange offices which accept money from all over the world including China’s yuan (for Daxing visitors), Portugal’s euros, Czech Republic korunas, USA dollars and dozens of other currencies whatever you want. So you don’t need to pick local liras with you.
- Praying rooms for religious visitors coming to the airport and waiting for their flight.
- Healthcare and beauty services including emergency rooms, beauty parlours, pharmacies, and SPAs are the advantage that is evaluated by every guest. – Distinguishing high-tech airport services for remote checking-ins, boarding processes to be completed online, and, information kiosks to check the necessary information, etc.
- Free WiFi at the airport for short downtime (up to 1 hour) and additional paid WiFi services in all the terminals.
Airport parking
In case you travel by car and you need to fly from Istanbul airport, you need some services to accommodate your car thoroughly while you are away.
Fortunately, Istanbul Airport offers first-class parking services with a field capacity of 70,000 vehicles.
Do you know that the airport can boast of the world’s largest multi-tier parking facility?
There are multiple parking opportunities for car owners at the airport:
- Both valet and garage car parking slots of an overwhelming size.
- Subscription tariff parking plans for travelers who leave their cars for more than 7 days and up to 730 days at the airport.
- 24/7 video surveillance and the latest high-security measures for your car. – Vehicle maintenance, repair, and car wash.
- Moreover, additional discounts for car parking payments made through the official app are also available actually as well as car rentals.
Things to do in Istanbul airport
When you fly to the new Istanbul Airport, as usual, you have some time before your departure, or before you leave it to visit beautiful and exotic Istanbul. So, spend this time with the maximum pleasure, as the airport has lots of things to amaze even a sophisticated traveler. Here are some superior ideas about what to do and what to explore at Istanbul International Airport to unveil your concerns.
For all passengers:
- Visiting one of over 40 restaurants and cafés located in the airport.
- Enjoy shopping in multiple shops and duty-free stores. Each boutique of such type fascinates customers, and you can find anything you want in them, including your brightest mood after shopping.
- Spending time in sleeping zones and nap areas, which offer a cozy environment for everyone.
- In the end, you can visit one of the art galleries and museums in the new airport of Istanbul.
For families with kids: - Spending time in kids’ areas which include new aircrafts-themed playground areas, and lounge zones for kids and teenagers.
- Refreshing and relaxing at SPAs and shower facilities.
- Feeling ceased comfort in special mom&child rooms where everything for breastfeeding and for diaper change is available.
Special opportunities: - Praying rooms as Istanbul is a deeply traditional Muslim city which respects much the feelings and needs of religious people.
- Renting suits for extra comfortable accommodation in one of Istanbul airport grand hotels.
- Spending long-term layover on a tour from the new airport to the most popular Istanbul sites i.e. tours to Sultanahmet, Taksim Square, or any of the fabulous ferry tours across the Bosphorus with numerous impressions expected and guides telling you the most impressive tales about Istanbul. Istanbul Airport is already a top-grade new transportation hub which unites East and West and offers the highest levels of comfort for passengers who fly to or depart from it. Its impressive buildings and interiors can service over 90,000 passengers and its high ranks worldwide both official and unofficial, are the reasons that show that IST remains a one-of-a-kind new airport facility for all types of flights.