Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. It is also the centre for Turkey’s economic, cultural and historical hub. Istanbul is uniquely situated in the European continent as well as the Asian continent. Istanbul has up to 15 million residents which makes it one of the most populated cities in the world. The city has now adapted a more complex transportation network to accommodate their many residents. The city has also opened up their options to have more arts, music, film and cultural festivals held there.

Airports in Istanbul

1. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (ISL)

Istanbul Ataturk Airport is also known as the Istanbul Airport. It is the airport located on the European side. Upon building the airport, it was planned to be the largest in the world with 150 million annual passengers. The airport has duty free area, VIP lounges, bars, hairdresser and many other facilities such as medical services.

2. Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW)

Unlike the Ataturk Airport, Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located on the Asian part of the continental. Some of the airlines that operate here are Pegasus Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Borajet. Sabiha Airport is one of the largest airports in the country. The airport was built to take in the excessive amount of passengers that cannot be accommodated in Ataturk Airport.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Istanbul?

The best way to get cheap flight tickets to Istanbul is by using Traveloka. It is a search engine that will be able to pull out some of the best deals. Travelers will need to key in the desired destination, and the site will pull out the information from known airlines and compare the prices. Travelers will be able to see the best deals and make their way to Istanbul. Travelers who feel the rate are slightly higher may use the price alert feature where travelers will be notified if there is a better deal for flights to Istanbul.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Istanbul?

Istanbul is truly and all year round destination. The best time would be during Autumn and Spring. The weather is temperate with an average of 15°C. Spring would be in May. Here travelers would come to see the blooming of tulips throughout the month. Then during the month of Autumn, the city experiences light rain and beautiful sunset with the background of brown and yellow leaves. The off-peak season is between November to March. It is the winter season. The temperature is low so travelers would need to have rain coats, waterproof shoes and wind resistant umbrella. Travelers would prefer to avoid the city during this period. Therefore there are many discounts, lesser crowds and cheaper hotels. There is also no queue for attractions too. Istanbul is Turkey’s cultural capital. So many arts festivals are held here throughout the year. Some of the many festivals held here are Istanbul Film Festival, Sun Splash Festival or the music festival that showcases jazz, funk and soul music, International Sand Sculpture Festival that is held on the beaches of Istanbul. However, the most look forward to would be the month of Ramadhan. Here is where the Muslim would fast during the day and only eat at sunset. Travelers would be able to see the many foods sold for the break fast. Then there will be the Eid where all Muslims would dress up to celebrate the end of Ramadhan.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Istanbul?

1. Blue Mosque – Blue Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Camii is the gift from Sultan Ahmet to his capital. The name came from the fact that it is decorated with thousands of Iznik tiles. It gives the mosque a blue colour. It is said that the mosque is one of the greatest achievements of Ottoman architecture.

2. Kapali Çarsi – Istanbul is equally known to have great shopping culture as much as having great museums and monuments. The Bazaar takes up a quarter of the city. Here is where travelers may get all kinds of Turkish souvenirs and handicraft.

3. Hagia Sofya – Hagia Sophia used to be the house of worship for Greek Eastern Orthodox then it was the house of Roman Catholic. In 1453, it became a mosque until 1931. It was then closed and reopened as a museum. The place has many mosaics that was influenced by the multiple religion making it a place that is unique.