Istanbul · IST
35 minutes to city center. 5–72 hours of layover time.
LayoverScore™
IST
Connection times, lounges, and transit rules for IST.
Min connection time
Same terminal
60min
Different terminal
90min
LOUNGES
Turkish Airlines Business Lounge
Terminal Main · Turkish Airlines Business Class, Miles&Smiles Elite Plus
IST Lounge (formerly Primeclass)
Terminal Main · Priority Pass, Lounge Key, Mastercard Black
DAY ROOMS
No day room data available.
Istanbul Airport (IST) opened 2019 and is enormous. Allow extra connection time. US passport holders need an e-Visa (~$50) to enter Turkey, but can transit airside without one. City center is ~45 min by Havaist bus.
TIME
83
THINGS TO DO
108
VALUE
98
STRESS
0
Grand Bazaar in 5 hours: 4,000 shops, Turkish coffee, zero jet lag after.
Istanbul (IST) is a genuine transit hub with a city worth exploring. 35 minutes gets you to the center. 5–72 hours of layover time.
Highlights nearby
Hakkıoğlu İzgara Köfte
food
1 min walk
Elmalar Nargile Cafe
food
1 min walk
Elmalar Nargile Cafe
entertainment
1 min walk
Janjanli Cafe
entertainment
1 min walk
Aestambul Istanbul Day Tours
sight
1 min walk
Turkish And Islamic Arts Museum
sight
1 min walk
Getting around
Plan your 6h
- 09:00Transit to city center35 min
- 09:35Aestambul Istanbul Day Tours90 min
- 11:05Walk between stops15 min
- 11:20Hakkıoğlu İzgara Köfte60 min
- 12:25Return to airport35 min
- 13:00At gate120 min
- 15:00Head to gate
Logistics
Drop your luggage. Don't drag it around the city.
Istanbul Airport Left Luggage
Istanbul Airport, Arrivals level and Domestic terminal
$7/bag
5 min walk
From the terminal to the good part.
Metro M11
Gayrettepe, Taksim, Sultanahmet
M11 to Gayrettepe, transfer to M2 for Taksim and beyond. Runs frequently but involves a transfer.
90 min
$3.00
Havaist Bus
Taksim, city hubs
Direct buses to Taksim, Beylikdüzü, and other city hubs. Runs every 30 min. Cheaper than taxi.
70 min
$3.00
Taxi
Taksim, Sultanahmet, Besiktas
Metered yellow taxis. Faster than bus in off-peak hours. Confirm meter is running before departure.
55 min
$30.00
No city pass available for this city.
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