Ataturk Airport is one of the busiest airports in Europe and is a gateway to this fabulous city. Spanning two continents and with a multitude of history and culture, you’ll need a lot of time there to see it all. Hire a car to experience the chaos of Taksim Square then head to the Topkapi Palace to see the famous emerald immortalised in the Michael Caine thriller ‘Topkapi’.
For something completely different, head under the square to the ancient Roman water cisterns where there’s now a café and often live music under one of the busiest parts of the city.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport Mini Guide
The Airport
You will find Ataturk International Airport 15 miles west of Istanbul and it is one of two airports that serve the city. Last year it handled over 32 million passengers making it one of the busiest in Europe. Accessing the airport is quick and easy, and once here, you’ll find over 6,000 parking spaces either covered or open air together with valet and disabled parking.
How Can I Get There?
Over ninety airlines fly there as it’s a major transportation hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkish Airlines are the main carrier but budget airlines such as easyJet also fly there. The majority of the flights are scheduled and some are seasonal.
How to Get to Your Destination
There are a number of ways to reach your final destination. The easiest is take the Metro or light railway from the airport which stops at a number of places, including the central bus station, before terminating at Aksaray. A shuttle bus can take you to the ferry bus at Bakirkoy which will then stop at various wharves in and around the city. Havas operate a shuttle bus from the airport in conjunction with Turkish Airlines.
There are many municipal buses but they are often overcrowded and unreliable. The most convenient is the route that takes you into Taksim Square. There are many car hire companies at the airport whose desks are located in the arrivals public area. As the airport is so busy it is recommended that you pre-book a vehicle and send a group member through to complete final paperwork to save long queues whilst others collect the luggage. Leaving the airport to get to the city and other destinations is easy. The airport access road takes you onto the coastal highway then onto the D100 which has access to the Trans European Motorway system.
Public Information
You can find the information desk in the arrivals/departures public area. It can deal with airport enquiries, accommodation and onward travel details.
Facilities
There are banks and a currency exchange office at the airport on both the public side and airside parts of the terminal. Additionally, there are several ATMs around the airport.
Shopping here is interesting with the shopping area set out like a bazaar. Most sell only traditional Turkish goods and souvenirs but a second section sells fashion, accessories, gifts, toys, books and more. The duty free shop here is large and has an extensive range of items from alcohol products to tobacco, cigarettes and cigars plus chocolate, perfumery and electrical goods.
There is a wide range of places to eat there to suit all tastes and budgets from the fast food outlets to café snack bars and on to haute cuisine dining either of an international or local flavour.
There is a medical centre there called PortClinic which is staffed by qualified doctors and nurses. You’ll find it off the main public area.
Wi-Fi is available free of charge in the lounges but is payable elsewhere across the airport on a pay per use basis.
There are six mosques across the site for worship.
Extra Assistance
Ataturk International Airport is disabled friendly and has staff dedicated to helping passengers with reduced mobility get through the airport experience. There are also Braille keypads for lifts and telephones and tactile pathways for accessing the important parts of the airport. If possible you should give the airport 48 hours’ notice of your arrival so they can help fully but if this isn’t possible general assistance is available. Please ensure you inform your airline well before travelling so that necessary steps can be taken to assist you on board the aeroplane.
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