Istanbul is a historically popular city in the country of Turkey. It is known as Byzantium and Constantinople in history. Istanbul is a transcontinental city, stretching into two continents from Europe to Asia in the Bosporus Strait. The city is between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Istanbul is one of the world's populous cities, having around 15 million residents. It is also the fourth largest city proper and largest European city. Istanbul is popular for its history, being a crossroad between Europe and Asia, Christianity and Islam.

Airports in Istanbul

1. Istanbul Airport

It is an international airport on the European side of Istanbul. It was just newly opened in October 2018. The Istanbul Airport is planned to be the main international airport serving Istanbul after it is fully operational. Istanbul Airport is replacing the current main airport, the Ataturk Airport, due to the growing numbers of domestic and international flights coming in. Currently, Istanbul Airport only handles Turkish Airline flights. The airport has not fully replaced the Ataturk Airport, yet.

2. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport

An international airport on the Asian side of the city. It is one of the largest airports in the country. This airport was built to help with the demands on the current primary airport in Istanbul, the Ataturk Airport. In 2017, more than 31 million passengers were going through the airport. The Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is connected to the city via several transportations option including a metro line and shuttle buses and coaches.

3. Istanbul Ataturk Airport

The main international airport, serving Istanbul. It is also the biggest airport in Turkey. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is the 11th busiest airport in the world, handle more than 60 million passengers in 2015. Due to the fast growing of domestic and International air traffic demands, the Istanbul Ataturk Airport will be replaced by the new Istanbul Airport when it is 100% operational. The Istanbul Ataturk Airport will only handle aeroplane repairs and cargo shipments after the replacement.

How to Get Cheap Flights to Istanbul?

Flying into Istanbul can be very expensive unless ones know where to find a great and legit deal for the flight tickets. Traveloka is a search engine for hotels and accommodations all over the world. They also have an inexpensive and awesome deal on flight tickets for any destinations in the world. Just head over to the Traveloka website or their mobile apps, punch in the related keywords and let the website do their magic. Traveloka will show the best deals, suitable for one's budget. Price still too expensive? Use their price alert feature that will notify when the ticket price drops into the preferred range. Traveloka is the best option for getting the best deal to go to Istanbul.

When is the Best Time to Fly to Istanbul?

Depending on one’s main reason to go to Istanbul, the best time can be any time of the year. Istanbul and Turkey experience four seasons, with hot summer and cold winters with snow. Istanbul is in the transitional climatic zone and cannot be classified as a single climate. However, Istanbul has persistently high humidity with around 80% every morning. The best time to go to Istanbul for sightseeing is during spring and fall season. Weather is pleasant, and the temperature is at a comfortable degree. Crowds peak in late May, so if lots of people are not something to look forward to, opt for the earlier weeks. International Tulip Festival is also happening during spring, starting in April. Fall, on the other hand, will bring the vibrancy of colours to the city. There will be drizzle once a while and give great effect to the city. Winter is the off-season where there are barely any visitors. One can get cheaper accommodation and no lines when visiting popular places such as the Topkapi Palace. Summer, on the other hand, is the peak season. Crowds from all over the world come visiting the city, despite the sweltering heat. Several festivals are happening throughout the year such as the Istanbul Bibliopole Festival in March, the Jazz Festival during the summer and the Coffee Festival in September.

What are the Top 3 Things to Do in Istanbul?

1. Hagia Sophia – A church that turned into a mosque and now a museum. This is one of the world’s greatest architectural achievements, with 65 meters tall and 43 meters wide. Inside of the museum, it is covered with the Byzantine mosaics including one of Christ flanked by Emperor Constantine IX and his wife, Empress Zoe.

2. Topkapi Palace – A huge palace, consisting of pavilions and kiosks with huge lush green courtyards. It was the primary residence for several generations of sultans, for almost half a century. This huge palace is now a museum with showcases of weapons, jewels and clothing.

3. Bosphorus Cruise – The best way to get an overview of the city from both European and Asian sites. There are three types of cruise available, with the sunset tour being the most popular ones during summertime.