Date of visit: August 14, 2026 While it may seem silly to rate an airport, especially when you don't often get a choice in terms of where you're connecting, IST airport is actually a surprisingly well-appointed location, even at ungodly hours! We missed our connecting flight due to issues out of O'Hare and as such, we had a bit more time to explore the airport than we had planned. But given how tired we were after a nine hour flight plus the time difference that we really didn't get to see all that much of the airport. Like many European airports, it's a mixture of local brands and very high-end outlets with a little something for everyone. Avoid the food court at all costs! Seriously, even if you have a food voucher, you're better off buying something somewhere else--the Sbarro and Popeye's are disgusting and an affront to both of their brands. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Turkish voucher options. Beware! - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

IST was a huge airport. We flew Turkish Airlines four times during our first trip to Turkey and it didn't matter if the flights were domestics or international, we had to walk a long way to or from our gate. International departures guideline was three hours before flight but we got through all security, immigration and bag check in 45 minutes. It helped a lot having *G since we were able to use the dedicated lines and fastrack. The international Turkish Lounge was by Gate C1 so it was our first stop. A huge, nice lounge but very crowded at 5AM. Domestic flights recommended 2 hours arrival before the flight. Checkin areas were on the right side of the airport (only one terminal). The checkin process was slower as I didn't see the *G line. We completed all steps and sat down in the domestic lounge in around half hour. The domestic lounge for Turkish Airline actually had its own boarding gate where dedicated buses take passengers directly to their gates. Very convenient. International had a lot more lounge, food and shopping options plus the airport museum. Arrivals customs wasn't very busy in the afternoon and we cleared and claimed luggage in less than one hour. Much faster on the domestic side. To get to Istanbul and back we used Uber (exactly like the taxis but a fare range provided plus a booking fee). A little more piece of mind if you want a good idea of costs versus bitaksi (which provided a range too but we ended paying more when he deviated from the route). read more

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Much larger airport than I had imagined. A bit confusing when going through security. There are several to pass. There also two parallel lines that do the same thing, except one line might have one agent, while the others may have 2 or 3. We started at the first and realized there's just one woman working it. We moved to the next one when we saw that the other one was moving faster due to having multiple workers. At the actual gate, there's another security person checking your boarding card and passport to enter the enclosed area. Several entitled people decided they didn't need to wait and pushed to enter from the side, causing a scene. At boarding time, you have to show your passport and boarding card again. It's safe, but it's a lot of checks. Allow enough time. read more

One lf the most visited airport in the world. We flew with Turkish Airlines voted number one airline in Europe for the past five years. My God the service in business was out of this world. Istanbul Airport is an impressive, modern hub and a fitting gateway for flying with Turkish Airlines. The terminal is spacious, with a wide range of shops and places to eat. Its size means some walks between gates can be super long, so allow plenty of time for connections. Overall, the airport feels well equipped for international travel and offers a strong first impression of Istanbul. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Ok airport. Security is too many layer. One for getting to the airport and one for the getting to the gates. The moving of the line is good. But the entrance to the passport control is a bit long. Definitely for the entry to the country. I don't like there is not water fountain on the airport. I am guessing the tap water is not drinkable. Restaurant choice is ok. But the not spectacular. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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While there are definitely some airports I've been to that are...rustic Istanbul's isn't one of them, well this new one isn't. Despite it being the busiest airport in Europe I didn't feel that panicked rush that occurs when you're checking in. Yes, it definitely pays to have status with the airline but there were plenty of lines and plenty of friendly agents helping to check you in, take your bags and hand you your boarding pass quickly and efficiently. The terminals are for lack of a better word, grand. There were definitely plenty of shops that would happily separate you from your money if for some reason you didn't buy an oya or and lokrum in town. I don't know about you but I hate going to US airports any earlier than I have to; they're cramped, crowded and uncomfortable. I wouldn't mind spending a few hours here, and I did. The lounges are easy to find, check-ins there were great and they were just as expansive, comfortable and well-appointed. Airports like this makes me wonder what we're doing wrong in the US. read more

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Yelp Review 2025 #214: Istanbul has two airports: IST on the European side and SAW on the Asian side. Istanbul Airport (IST) is one of the nicest airports I've been to in the world. However, when I arrived the A/C seemed not to be working. It was so hot and I was seriously sweating through my shirt. I've been on the international side and the domestic side of this airport, arrival and departure. The interior is nice. Lots of shopping and a few restaurants/ cafes. I went to the lounge so I didn't get to check out the restaurants. But I did go to Starbucks since I was running late for my flight and so I had to skip the lounge. Transportation from the airport was a bit confusing. I planned on taking the HAVAIST bus to Sultanahmet but the guy behind the ticket counter was super hard to understand so I missed the bus!Uber is not allowed at the airport which was another dilemma causing me to be an hour and a half behind schedule and 70 Euros poorer by taking a cab - worst option. It takes over an hour to/ from the city center so plan ahead. This airport has pet rest areas, some artwork, arcade and children's play area. read more

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We had a connecting flight through Istanbul Airport on our way to Frankfurt, and overall it was a very positive experience. The airport is definitely very busy, so be prepared for crowds. That said, everything is well-organized, and we were able to make our connection in no time. What really stood out to me was the virtual information kiosks--such a great concept! When we arrived, our gate wasn't showing, and we weren't sure where to go. Within seconds, we connected to a live person through one of the screens, and they helped us right away. It made the experience so much less stressful. The airport itself is beautiful, modern, and full of options--plenty of shops, cafés, and restaurants to explore while you wait. And I have to say, the Turkish people we encountered were incredibly friendly and helpful. If you have a layover here, take a little time to look around--it's a great airport despite the hustle and bustle! read more

This airport is extremely security conscious. You have to clear security twice before you get to departures. It is a very clean and very busy. It's an airport. There are so many options for purchasing duty free and gadgets. That's all. read more

We stopped here for a long layover, arrived hours in the morning. Our route was Atlanta- Istanbul- then onto Mauritius in February 2025. The airport was very clean and modern. Wifi isnt free at this airport so be aware. We did find restaurants upstairs that was still open. Thankfully because I needed some good coffee after that long flight, Lol! I would fly into this airport again if needed, Turkish Airlines not so good. I have reviewed that already. We did get a hotel to get some sleep and shower, before the next leg of the trip. Turkish hotels and cabs are inexpensive, so if you have the time I would keep this in mind. read more

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We landed in Istanbul from Amsterdam and went straight through customs and then to pick up our luggage. That was when we realized that not all of our bags made it to Istanbul. I pinged my AirTag and it still said it was in AMS so I asked a staff member for help. He initially brushed me off saying that sometimes the AirTag does not update right away. Um, no; you're wrong. After a second approach because I pinged it again and the luggage coming off of the plane had changed from a plane from AMS to a plane from LHR, he finally pointed me to the Lost & Found baggage office. There are actually two, one next to another, and each office deals with different airlines. Make sure to let them know which airline you flew with into Istanbul. After arriving at the right office, they looked up my baggage tracking information and indeed confirmed that it did not make it on the plane. They scheduled my suitcase to arrive on the next flight out which happened to be the same flight I had taken that day, meaning it would arrive 24 hours later than I had. So I had to leave the airport and wait for my bag to be delivered to my hotel. I did get my suitcase delivered to my hotel the following evening. So 3 stars for that experience. On our way out of Istanbul, our tour guide mentioned that we should leave the hotel 4 hours prior to our departure time. I changed my transfer pickup to 4 am as our flight departed at 8:05 am. While my driver tried to tell me that there would be no traffic, which was true, we were more worried about getting through security after dropping off our baggage. Istanbul Havalimani takes security very seriously. We went through 4 layers of security. First, they screen your bags for electronics when you enter the airport. Then you go to the airline desk to drop off your bags. We went to what looked like a Turkish Airlines desk with early check-in but were subsequently redirected to a much longer line for checking our bags. Unfortunately, they don't let you print out the labels and drop off your bags like they do at LAX. You have to go to the desk to drop off your bags which is highly inefficient especially when this airport is a Turkish Airlines hub. People from our tour group who left 30 minutes after we did, ended up ahead of us in the customs line. WTH? To sort of speed up the line at the baggage drop-off counter, they have staff come to check your passports and destination as you wait. Then you're directed to the counter to get your bags weighed and tagged. After that you go through customs to check/stamp your passport and then you get your carry-ons screened again for liquids. At the gate, they check your boarding pass and passport again before you board. So even though we arrived at 4:45 am, it took us over an hour and a half to go through all the security. We essentially had 30 or so minutes in the lounge before we had to rush to our gate that had not even been assigned yet when we arrived at the airport. We saw that the gate was assigned ~30 minutes before boarding though. Our tour guide was wrong, we should have left 5 hours before our flight departure because this experience was the worst airport screening experience I've ever had in all my years of flying. But maybe I'm spoiled by Global Entry/TSA Precheck. My timestamps are not even an exaggeration. 1 star for this experience, average 2 stars total. read more

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Say Havalimani fast! Had to learn the word well for taxi drivers, to get me to the airport! I read a lot of praise for Istanbul's new, modern airport, but I was a tad disappointed. Didn't measure up to my expectations. Some parts are nicely designed and clean. Some, not so and super crowded lacking seating for all the travelers that spend time for their layovers here! Tip#1 - don't schedule a short layover here, meaning an hour or less. You won't make your connection. I am glad I didn't (don't love spending 6 hours in an airport after a transatlantic flight) because I would have missed the boarding by the time we reached the airport in a bus (from the runaway where we were left). So, I got to learn the airport. Lots of shops, ritzy brands, shiny stores. But lacking seating, we had to ask and find some lounges, pods for resting which were getting crowded with people sleeping on the floor! Or crash a gate till you find the number of yours (usually just an hour before boarding in European style). Our gate has changed after we went to it, it is a quiet airport so they don't announce changes at the gate, only via screens. So another TIP: keep checking your gate on TV screens even after you rest at your designated gate! Some water fountains, not enough. Bathrooms are a mixed bag - depends on the area you are at. Some harder to find, some cleaner and more modern than others. Since you are in Turkey, they offer the option of flash toilet or the Turkish type LOL. Food- everywhere (try a Simit- pretzel or a kebab if you have time for a donner joint hang out), you can pay by card or Turkish lira-s (they have exchange houses). There are tons of American fast-food chains from the classic McDonald's to Popeye's, to Burger King or Sbarro like in an American mall. Personally, not interested, but there are tons of options! Wi-Fi - if you travel with Turkish Airlines, you can log in with your ticket#. It works well and fast. Otherwise, they have kiosks (you'll see the lines) where you can get a code for free Wi-fi by using your passport. Staff isn't the nicest overall. To reach Istanbul, it takes an hour. At least, always traffic. They have orange cabs (at certain exits, check the airport's site) lined up to hitch a ride. I exchanged money for the ride (not the best course in the airport) but the drive took longer, they charge fees for tolls, etc. It was more than I had on me so I ended up paying with a card. On the way to the airport, another TIP! You need more than 3 hours for international flights for several passport checks and baggage security. Our cab was pulled aside and they checked the trunk (policemen with dogs). When you enter the airport you have to go through security right away, so you'll haul up those big suitcases you will check. It was a new one for us and confusing, but that's how it is. Then, check in. Turkish airlines has rows of counters, you need to check the one for US (at J). Passport control here (3 times). Then regular Border control for exiting Turkey and one more round of security for carry on-s. And one more round at the Gate! After that you can't go outside again the secured area, so use the restroom again (another TIP). Once again, not enough seating at gates, had to stand! Lots of adventures in the Istanbul airport, I had to learn everything via research and on fast-forward. Hope my tips will help navigate it easier. Would I use it again? Maybe! Especially after I have learnt some lessons and got their system more. Big, chaotic, crowded, foreign, exotic, with great food, people from everywhere, charming and annoying at the same time, like Istanbul itself! read more

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Massive airport that is very modern. Be prepared to do a lot of walking to get through security and to the gates. Travelers will have to go through multiple security checks and baggage screening so make sure you get there early enough. The airport has a lot of shopping for souvenirs and other items. There are plenty of restaurants and food options for places to sit down and relax. It is quite expensive for everything like most airports. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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I had two layovers at this airport, each for several hours. This airport is massive, modern, stylish, has restaurants offering many different cuisines, shops with beautiful goods, a relaxing lounge (for a price), ample seating, power outlets all over, even potable water stations! I love their live-screen assistant, who can direct you to whatever you need. Airports, like this one, offer a surreal experience, as it can be 2am, but the airport, like casinos, is a hubbub of activity. It's easy to become disoriented as to time of day. read more

Gorgeous airport, but a little hard to navigate. I had layovers here both ways to/from the US to Saudi Arabia. On the way 'out' I barely had time to see the airport, as our plane was delayed so I had a tight connection. On the way back, though, I had a several hour layover (much of which was spent enjoying the Turkish Airlines lounge). The airport is gorgeous, though-lots of natural light and shops all over. Their signage leaves something to be desired, though, as I had a hard time finding the Turkish Airlines lounge. Be prepared to walk a lot, especially if you're going between terminals. Also, on my way out to Saudi Arabia, I did not go through security on my layover-I did have to scan my boarding pass to enter the International Transfer area of the airport, but no security. On the way back, however, I actually went through security twice. Once was to enter the terminal where my set of gates was, and another was at the gate itself. I know the security at the gate is a US thing (I've experienced that on other flights back to the US), but the security in the terminal threw me as I didn't have to do it on my way out. If you have a long layover, it's a nice airport to spend some time in. But be prepared to hoof it and (maybe?) go through security multiple times? read more

This is a huge new airport with great shopping! Easy to follow signage. Good food options. Not too much walking to get around. Loved it. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Big airport! - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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One of the most beautiful airports ever. You won't see it until passing an initial security screening at the entrance and then a very thorough second one prior to going to the gates. They have every high end boutique and smaller shops for anything needed before leaving Istanbul. The check in process for Turkish Airlines can be challenging as it is by where you are going rather than one desk that handles all flights. Staff were very helpful. read more

With a husband who is a native of Istanbul, I have been here a few times and for a giant airport, I think it's pretty great...especially if I compare it to my home international airport of JFK. From an arrivals standpoint, it's good. Of course my plane always seems to park at the very last gate so it's quite a walk to passport control but there are lots of moving walkways and it's clearly marked. Last time I was there it took less than five minutes to get through passport control and by the time I got to my luggage carousel, my bags were there. I will ding it a little bit because once I came out into the arrivals hall, the signage for the official taxi stands were not good. I took pictures of all the signs and texted them to my Turkish husband and asked if they said where the taxis were located but they didn't. Luckily I remembered from my prior visit where they were so I went to the right after exiting customs and went down a couple of doors and then when I exited, I saw the official taxi (taksi) stand. Make sure you go to the place where the official taxis are...they are queued up and there's a little booth although it wasn't manned when I was there. They have a variety of taxi types at the airport and I took the black "E" type taxi, which was a large Mercedes van that could have seated at least six people. It was about $75 to my hotel near Taksim. If you don't have a lot of bags you could get a smaller orange "C" type compact-car taxi or turquoise "D" type medium size sedan taxi and it would be cheaper. Depending on traffic, it can take 30 minutes to well over an hour to get to Taksim Square area. From a departures standpoint, it's easy to get dropped off. When you head in, you'll go through a security checkpoint where you have to put your bag through an x-ray machine and take off watches, metal belts, etc. Then you'll be able to check in at the airline desk. There are several giant monitors which will tell you which aisle you'll check in at. If you get there really early (more than 3 hours ahead of your flight), the desk might not be open if you're flying an airline that operates limited flights (KLM in my case during my most recent departure). After you check in, then you'll go through passport control and then ANOTHER security checkpoint, so hope you didn't put all of your metal accessories back on. Once through there, you're in a beautiful shopping mall. Luckily, each time I've been there with time to spare I've been able to access the Priority Pass lounge, although that can be crowded and there may be a line to get in. However, there is plenty of food and shopping if you're not visiting a lounge. Heading to the gate, you may need to go through another security check but once through, you can wait for your plane although there may not be much seating. I have to say, I'm a fan of this place. There are thousands of passengers passing through here daily and the place is much more organized, efficient and appealing compared to large airports in the US like O'Hare, Atlanta and the aforementioned JFK which has been in a permanent state of chaos for all of the nearly 30 years I've lived in NYC. Istanbul is an amazing place and this is an outstanding airport. read more

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I have never been more disgusted by how my husband and I were treated by employees. I required assistance because I was injured and unable to make it to my connecting flight fast enough on crutches . I was taken by wheelchair off the plane and dropped off where a buggy would come pick up me and my husband who was told to stay with me. We waited for over a half hour and no one showed up, with our connecting flight leaving soon and it being far away we started to worry. My husband found an employee and he assured us that a buggy will be there shortly and again told my husband to wait with me . Soon after , A buggy flies right me standing there on crutches. My husband and I yelled for him to stop and eventually another customer also helped yell since it's very apparent we needed help. The driver stopped and was clearly mad, didn't back up to me but told me to hurry up and get on and then told my husband he couldn't ride with me and would have to RUN to our gate since by now we were cutting it close. The buggy sat at least 10 people and I was the only one on that buggy. He picked up one other person who he was also rude to and he dropped me off at some handicap section that wasn't near my gate and told me to wait here and gave my boarding pass to the absolutely vile employees at the desk. I asked for his name and he wouldn't allow me to take a pic of his badge, I know the spelling is wrong but his name was Sefa Akrin. He told me to go ahead and tell his manager, taunting me. I then stood there with my crutches waiting for someone to help Me, I asked the people at the desk what was going on because my flight is leaving soon and I was told " no it's not " with an attitude. They had my boarding pass behind the desk and they just sat there, my flight was now boarding . I told them to give me my boarding pass and she rolled her eyes and asked my name and then threw the boarding pass at me. I then on crutches had to go down a level and hurry to my gate that was still a good bit away. Several buggy's and wheelchair operators passed me while I struggled getting to my gate. I finally made it just in time. Absolutely disgusting behavior and I never want to step foot in that airport again . Was it because I was a woman? Or American ? Or both? I know they get away with this treatment all the time and it's terrible. read more

I promise you people who plan cities ask themselves what is the worst possible place we can put an airport. Istanbul is no different. They have two international airports 45 minutes to the west of the city and 45 minutes to the east of the city. You'd think with centuries of history behind them, someone in urban planning school might've looked at a map and thought, "Hmm, maybe one airport per side of the city isn't ideal?" But no. The Istanbul Airport is what happens when you give a five-year-old a SimCity budget and a Red Bull. Stylish, massive, completely impractical, but hey, at least there's a Gucci store next to your gate, right? Two airports, two continents, zero logic. Classic Istanbul. read more

Huge roomy airport, great duty free shopping if you have the time and you're not changing planes in the USA (it doesn't matter if it's sealed Duty Free no matter what they tell you, TSA will confiscate it all). Count on a full 2 hours from drop off in front to sitting in departure gate. Excellent security from a safety perspective but there's a check coming in before luggage drop, again before departure gates amd again a possible random check at the departure gate. Not a lot of charging plugs. Worst on time departure rate in the world (ORD is second). When you enter, look at the board to see where your luggage drop and check in is, the vast majority in the middle are for hometown Turkish Airways. Once you are done with that long line find the immigration and security check line for departures, then once through that look on the departure board to find departure gate. There's a helpful estimate of how long it takes to walk there, it can be a long way. Then pause before you go into the departure gate area because you'll be stuck there until departure. read more

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It's a huge airport. Make sure you have a plenty of time as it is a lot of working. Plus great places to eat. Get there early and explore this airport. It's very clean. read more

This is only for the duty free stores. Do NOT buy anything at the duty free stores here. The prices are 3 times higher than outside. For example Dubai chocolate only costs $2 per bar, at duty free is $5.9 Euro! Other items as well. Get souvenirs out side. read more

I had a stopover at Istanbul Airport on my way to Africa, and I've gotta say, it's one impressive place! Built in 2019 for a whopping $12 billion, this airport is massive and honestly one of the most stunning modern airports I've ever seen. It's a major hub connecting Europe and Africa, and it totally lives up to the hype. The shopping and food options were an amazing. we spent hours exploring and eating, and everything was delicious. The staff were super friendly and helpful, which made the whole experience even better. They've got showers to freshen up, which was a lifesaver after a long flight, and the food we had really hit the spot. If you're flying with Turkish Airlines and have a long layover, you can even score a free city tour or a hotel stay, which is such a cool perk. All in all, it's a fantastic hub for long flights--I'd happily stop here again! read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Such a beautiful terminal - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

Our stay in Istanbul was a seven hour layover at the airport. Unfortunately, we didn't get outside at all. The airport is impressive. It is very large and open all night. We arrived at 10:30 AM and boarded our flight out at 6:30. Here are a few highlights: 1. They have reclining chairs available if you want to lay back. They don't recline all of the way so you cannot lay flat. That's okay, though. 2. The stores are open all night, including the Duty Free shops. If you need to do some midnight shopping, you will be in luck. The Duty Free shops seem to be more expensive than other airports I've been in. 3. They also serve food all night. Since we had a ten hour flight and would get home at 7 AM, we stayed up all night drinking Turkish Coffee (yum) and snacking. We were tired and had no trouble sleeping when we flew out. Overall, this was one of the best airports I've been to internationally. I look forward to the time we fly into Istanbul again when we can actually leave the airport. read more

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I used to think Costco was purgatory on earth, but it might just be this airport. So disorganized with flight schedules. Be prepared to run from concourse A to F, with minutes to spare. Actually wonder if this is some sort of game. Istanbul Airport is probably my least favorite airport, and sad as most abroad are solid compared to American ones. Tis a shame because while it is huge, there's not a lot going on for it. First off the Turks are nice folks. Had to laugh when some locals said, "we're familiar with that look of frustration." Standing in huge lines, with no communication before boarding, didn't help either. You won't find many bathrooms, or places to rest here. Currency is volatile elsewhere, but $12 for two water bottles? $50 lunch for two at McDonald's? Madness. The communications via screen or audio announcements is laughable. They have a very high mall here, if that's something that interests you. read more

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Airport was clean and had nice shops. It's hard to review airports. It's not like we always have a choice when we travel! But I will give a special mention to the popup lounge so we could grab a soda and to the shop called LC Waikiki -- it's so cheap and awesome! Like H&M but cheaper! I was in desperate need of a hat (I was on my way from Içmeler, Türkiye to Napoli, Italy) and found a super cute straw had for £4.99. I LOVE when that happens!! read more

Pros: Airport is big, spacious, and well equipped with dining and shopping options. Cons: The people working at this airport are generally so incredibly rude and terse. This might be a cultural difference, perhaps based on language, but I had multiple encounters where the staff would not answer questions or were dismissive. Really unpleasant experience, which is sad, given that Turkish Airlines gives a good product. read more

Seriously one of the most impressive and efficient airports I've ever been to. Unlike other airports of this size, which are usually split into several terminals connected by some sort of transport, IST is one gigantic terminal. You're welcomed by a series of check-in desks that extend almost to the horizon. One of the nice features that they included are areas to weigh and repack your luggage before checking in. Beyond security is a sea of international fast food options, not to mention shopping and lounges. Scattered around the gate areas are relaxation areas with recliners and lounge chairs (though good luck finding an empty one!). Overall, a great airport experience both coming and going. With many Turkish Airways layovers there, even if you can't visit the city, you'll be plenty happy in the airport. read more

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While pretty and glitzy on the surface (and the sheer amount of amenities saves it from 1 star), this was the worst airport experience that I have ever had. Repeatedly my flight was listed at the wrong gate, and I had to trek long distances back and forth just to find out that they had the wrong gate posted. Worse yet, when I tried to seek information from airline or airport employees, they acted as if it was a huge burden to have to do their jobs and provide any assistance to customers. When other customers tried to point out the signs were wrong, they were treated as if they were stupid. Customer service was non-existent, and the delays were lengthy and without any explanation. I will go out of my way to avoid this airport and Turkish Airlines in the future, even if the business lounge was pretty nice. read more

Second time at the new Istanbul airport which opened in 2019. The airport is huge...it takes long walks and distances to get from many different gates and/or concourses. The duty free shops are very busy and varied. At the old airport, it was so easy to find the Istanbulkard machines...in this new airport it was almost impossible to find one...so what we did, is we went to the metro station and got our card there. From the new airport you can get to Taksim square by taking the M11 line to the end and then connecting to the M2 line towards Yenikapi. You can then get off at Taksim or continue towards the old town area. All scheduled commercial passenger flights were transferred from Atatürk Airport to Istanbul Airport on 6 April 2019, following the closure of Atatürk Airport for scheduled passenger flights.The IATA airport code IST was also transferred to the new airport. The new airport served more than 76 million passengers in 2023, making it the 2nd-busiest airport in Europe of 2023, after Heathrow Airport and it was also the 7th-busiest airport in the world of 2023 in terms of total passenger traffic and, by serving more than 58 million international passengers, the 6th-busiest airport in the world in terms of international passenger traffic according to ACI World traffic values. It serves up to 114 countries and is the hub for Turkish Airlines. read more

İstanbul Havalimanı - Airports Near Me - Istanbul, 34

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Perhaps we are lucky but our experience here has been exceptional. Upon arriving, we came through passport control with no lines but it was after 10pm. The workers looked like they could care less which is fine with me. Stamp that shit and move on!! It's a very long walk to the front of the airport. We took a taxi to the city and it was pretty affordable and we made it in 40 minutes. Traffic at midnight was surprisingly dense. Taxis are plentiful at the main entrance of arrivals or you can haggle with all the taxi vendors as you exit the airport. We also flew through domestically while on our trip and came through the day after Ramadan ended. The airport was very quiet. We arrived at 8am and experienced no lines or waits. We didn't have bags to check and we had our boarding passes on our phones. We left the Conrad hotel and 40 minutes later we were through security. That would never happen at a major US airport even if your hotel was on-site. Baggage scanning is a bit slow here and more nuanced. Lots of removal of items and visual inspections. Some elements are easier as you scan your boarding pass to enter the screening line. No one checked our passports or ID before we arrived at our gate. I thought the signage was well done and made it easy to identify domestic and international portals. The walk to the end of G terminal where our flight was took a good ten minutes. So much shopping. It's truly like a modern bazaar. Food of all types and lots of coffee. The lounges are nice and new and relatively affordable and not for just elite status flyers. Plenty of seating at our gate and some power outlets. Drinking fountain near the bathrooms at gate G11. Birds live inside the airport. Probably got in during construction and nest and breed and they chirp and fly around. The airport is impressive. Vast expanse of gleaming glass and metal. It feels like something to be proud of and many have mentioned the time allotment to walk between gates. There are moving walkways and every walkway is wide and built for a long term growth perspective. We've been through some big and small airports across the globe and this is one is one of the finest. read more

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Wow!! What an airport! I had a 2 hour layover here in Turkey and a 9 hour layover coming home and what an airport to be "stuck in." There's SO MUCH to see here, it's crazy. This airport is huge, clean, has tons of lounges you can buy access to and is just so well-kept. I did have to do a bit of walking with a huge backpack which wasn't fun, but I took my time since I had such a long wait. There's got to be like 100 duty free shops here-- literally there's one every 10 steps in any direction. I bought a free trinkets at a few of them and quickly realized they mostly all had the same things. I bought a few local treats to try and some small souvenir jewelry for decent prices. They have a good sized food court that had a lot of American "regulars" like McDonald's and Popeyes. I did try Popeyes... definitely wasn't the same as in America, but I was hungry and it was good enough. Vendors were flagging people down to sell their products left and right but it never felt super aggressive. I did partake in a lounge while here so I was able to rest a bit between flights, have a shower and some food. Definitely recommend this airport ! read more

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My family and I had never been to Istanbul before. We had a massive layover here on a connecting flight to Asia. We went on a city tour in the morning and then spent almost 12 hours at the airport afterwards. It is a very big, nice, modern airport. Plenty of large duty free shops, expensive eateries, etc. My family and I had no issue with finding comfortable chairs to nap on or outlets to charge our phones. To compensate for such a lengthy layover, our airline provided all patrons complimentary meal vouchers. Each participating vendor would have a pre selected menu choices that you could redeem your voucher for. I scanned the menus for all the vendors and there was nothing that was safe to eat with my gluten sensitivity. I asked a cashier if I could pay the difference and she said no the vouchers had no cash value substitutions allowed. I thought I could get away with a burger without the bread, but was still symptomatic afterwards. I had no options. TLDR; nice airport although if you have a meal voucher, you're out of luck if you have gluten food allergen read more

OH MY GOODNESS!!! Through out my many decades of traveling. I have to say that the Istanbul Airport in Türkiye is the most beautiful airport I have ever been to I felt like I had been transported into a fairytale. My layover was seven hours and although there were sleep rooms/areas and sleep hotels within the airport, I didn't even feel sleepy because there was so much to explore and I was so much in AWE!!!. They really have catered to full customer service experience on a whole. From the designer stores to just a simple as their duty free stores, this airport is the most stunning I have ever been in. A lot of airports claim to be 24 hours,, but this airport truly It is 24 hours. They had a plethora of restaurants open even at 3 o'clock in the morning all the stores are open. There were little office cubicles for people who need to work. There are areas for kids that to play during layovers. It is Just spectacular, well thought out design. if you ever have the chance to go to Türkiye, or even pass through the airport, you will not be disappointed ABSOLUTELY AMAZING . read more

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It's a long story, but Gayle and I recently experienced 2 different arrivals and 2 different departures to and from IST. One was an economy round trip and another business. On one occasion we went through a long passport control on arrival and another experienced an easy international transfer. We had one basic economy check in where we had to move stuff in our bags around to make weight. Through all this efficient confusion, our experience with Airport/Turkish Air staff was mixed: - The economy check in guy was friendly, helpful, and understanding. - Passport control and security folks were professional and hard working. - Staff at the gate got the job done, with Security always in mind. But one one guy could have gone back to the plane and retrieved my jacket. - The "Care Point" folks (I had the item left behind issue) were unprofessional and not helpful at all. The good news was that I could get my jacket at Lost and Found. The bad news was that I needed to wait an hour, then go to the public side of IST to that office, then go back through the long lines of Security and Passport control. The agent then advised that I would then miss my flight and that they were not in any position to help with any reticketing issue. The biggest smile I got from that guy was when I pointed out that Turkish was setting me up for failure. I'm sure he'll be a manager one day. The airport itself is huge and initially disorienting. I did do a little shopping, but sometimes it was hard to know where to begin or go. And the Turkish Air Business Class Lounge? Phenomenal! As Türkiye is such an intriguing country, I really hope that we pass through this Airport again. Fingers crossed though that there are no glitches that force me to deal with "Care Point" Turkish Air. read more

I love this colorful and serene airport. Beautiful retail shops, high end architecture throughout, many coffee shops, numerous seating areas. Lots of charging ports everywhere . Many moving walkways as it's a big airport. Some areas are very quiet and peaceful if you're hanging out for a flight. read more

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I wouldn't recommend Istanbul airport for transiting to others countries. I would rather pay an extra or make longer stop over rather to transit to Istanbul airport. It is a very big airport and receive millions of people from so many countries. They are quite obsessed with security which is normal because of the affluent of tourists. It seems staff are being quite pushed and stressed and are underpaid. I have traveled to many countries due to the nature of my job and I have never seen so many miserable people and unhappy as in Istanbul airport. In my case, in addition, I had a very unprofessional lady who looked like she is not used to international visitors. On 28/02/2026, Saturday, about 20:15 I went for the passport control to the post 45, and an unhappy lady, not only had exhausted and unwelcome face, but she checked page by page, first slowly, and then a bit quicker. Then she said: Other document. I thought: ? Perhaps driving licence, national ID (I am Spanish). I gave to her and she said: Orher document! Turkish passport! My face was epic. Turkish passport? I don't have. I am Spanish. Then, she starts checking the pages again and shout: SAUDI ARABIA????? And stared at me. Yes, I travelled to Saudi Arabia as well. Jeddah, Riyadh and Medina (They were much more professional and efficient than Istanbul airport by the way). She made a call and made me go to another agents. Then I headed to 3 gentleman which they were professionals. In 2 minutes they checked the passport and all good. I asked what happened to the lady. The gentleman said the lady couldn't find the stamp and she became quite nervous. I just said: Ok, thank you. I thought: Why is she working then in passport control? Is she has not much knowledge or get nervous, anxious and she is unfriendly, why does Istanbul airport let her work in that position? She should give some more training and especially, manners, education of how to treat people. As I wrote before, I have travelled from many airports and I have never experienced such as embarrassing unprofessional attitude and little competence. I have been to countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kuwait, Bahrein, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, China and South far I can say with total accuracy from own experience that it has been one of the most ridiculous situation due to the lack of knowledge of a passport agent. I actually asked for a supervisor to let the situation know as she is giving a bad reputation to the airport. About the rest features of the airport, it is nice, tidy and clean. Good selections at Duty free but over priced. Restaurants inside airport are quite expensive as well. In general, all duty free airports are expensive, but Istanbul, undoubtedly, is one of the most expensive I have ever seen. Small bottle of water, 10€, a small can of red bull 10€ or a random average small bottle of beer, no premium, for 20€. It becomes cheaper to order inside the plane (no joke) read more

The airport is huge and beautiful. There are lots of shops, with duty-free stores near almost every gate. There are also plenty of restaurants, so lots of food options. The lounge is big with many food stations, but there aren't many gluten-free choices. It's really crowded, If you're a woman traveling alone, be careful. They stopped my daughter twice, thinking she was alone. Once they saw she was with family, they backed off. Just something to watch out for. read more

What an awesome airport! Arriving in the city at night was something else. The city is huge and so beautifully lit up! Finding our way to the connecting flight was a breeze. We popped into a shop for a quick gift and then made our way to the lounge to grab a bite, relax, and stretch out a bit. read more

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