Do you have a long layover in Istanbul and are you dreading the thought of spending hours at the airport bored? I have the bomb for you. When we were returning from the wild Mauritius back to Prague, we had exactly this long stopover. Instead of an expensive hotel or sweaty pants in the departure hall, we pulled out Turkish Airlines' best trump card – free program Touristanbul.
They will arrange transportation, a guide, entrance fees to the sights and they will feed you like a king. And the best part? It cost us exactly 0 CZK. Let's see how you can make the most of this luxury hack.
Conditions: What do you have to meet?
You don't need any special VIP membership to get on the bus for free and show you around the city. You just need to follow three basic rules:
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Correct ticket: Your flight must be operated by Turkish Airlines and the ticket number must start with three digits. 235.
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One reservation: Both flights (arrival at Istanbul airport and subsequent departure from Istanbul, for example, home) must be purchased as part of a single reservation.
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Time window: Your transfer must last between 6 to 24 hours (We had an ideal 12 hours, which gives you plenty of time to really experience it.) And you also need to have at least an hour and twenty minutes between returning to the airport from your trip and your plane departing.
Step by step: How to get from the airport to the hustle and bustle of the big city?
Forget about complicated online bookings weeks in advance. This is all about complete convenience and flexibility – you don’t have to fill out any forms in advance. But we made the booking directly on the website Touristanbul they did it for sure.
Land in Istanbul and go through the passport control: Once you get off the plane, follow the signs to passport control and officially enter Turkey.
Find the Touristanbul counter: In the arrivals hall, head to the area marked as Hotel Desk. Right next to it you will also find a dedicated Touristanbul counter. If you want to leave your backpack or other luggage, there is also a luggage storage right next to it (just be careful, it only accepts cash, but Euros are also fine).
- Show tickets and choose a tour: Just show the staff your boarding passes. Depending on what time you arrive and how many hours until your next flight, you can choose a specific trip; their offer is on the website, including times. Then you just wait for the guide to call your group and board the air-conditioned bus.
What will you experience? Our proven route
There are more programs throughout the day, but the most popular ones take you straight to the historical and cultural heart of Istanbul. We managed to catch these absolute top picks during our stopover:
Blue Mosque: An iconic building with six minarets that will captivate you with its monumentality and amazing atmosphere inside.
Hippodrome and German Fountain: A walk through the places where the history of old Istanbul was written, complemented by great stories from the guide.
Traditional shopping at the market: Endless colors, the scent of spices, tasting local sweets and true oriental haggling over the price.
What's in the "price"?
Absolutely everything. Bus, who will take you to and from the airport safely and on time before your flight, licensed English speaking guide, all entrances to monuments and even wholesome food (you will get either breakfast or lunch in a traditional restaurant). You will only take money out of your wallet if you want to buy a souvenir at the market.
See what our whirlwind trip looked like in real life!
Want to see exactly how this free ride through Istanbul works, what our bus looked like, and what we managed to sample? Watch my quick video on YouTube! I documented this entire travel hack step by step for you:
Don't waste your time sitting on boring airport seats next time you can have great bonus trip included in the flight price. The next time you click on flights with Turkish Airlines, Plan your transfer to be longer on purpose.! You can still go on a trip.
For more travel hacks and tips, check out the page Travel tips.