A long connection in Istanbul does not have to mean hours in a departure lounge. If you stay airside, our guide to Istanbul Airport VIP services covers the lounges, Fast Track and meet and greet for connecting flights. With our layover services, a guide and a driver meet you at the airport. One option is our Istanbul layover tour from the airport to Sultanahmet. They show you the best of the city in the time you have, then bring you back for your next flight. Whether you have a few hours or a whole day, we plan around your flight times. So you can relax and enjoy it.
How our layover services work
First, send us your arrival and departure times, your airport and how many of you are traveling. Then we check whether a visit is possible and suggest a plan. Before you fly, we check with you whether your passport needs a visa or an e-Visa to leave the airport.
On the day, your guide meets you in the arrivals hall after passport control. Next, a private vehicle drives you into the city, and your guide shows you the sights you chose. Finally, we bring you back to the airport with a comfortable margin before your next flight. For a plan by the length of your connection, read what to do on an Istanbul layover.
What you can see on a layover
- A short layover: a drive along the Bosphorus and a stop at a viewpoint or a café by the water.
- A half day: the old city with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome.
- A full day: the old city and a lunch of Turkish food, then the Grand Bazaar or a Bosphorus cruise.
- An overnight stop: a hotel, an evening in the city and a guided morning before your flight.
Cruise passengers too
The same idea works if you arrive by ship. For a day in port, see our shore excursions, timed to your ship’s schedule.
What we tell layover guests
- Left luggageIstanbul Airport has a baggage storage service, so you can leave big bags in the terminal.
- e-VisaIf your passport needs a visa, apply for the e-Visa online before you fly.
- Back earlyWe plan to have you back at the airport about three hours before an international departure.
- One great viewIf time is short, a tea by the water in Bebek or Ortaköy shows you the strait in an hour.
Our suggestion Check your connection time honestly. With less than six or seven hours, a visit to the old city becomes rushed. Then a view by the Bosphorus is the better choice.
Why book layover services with us
Time is short on a layover, so every minute counts. A private guide and driver mean no guesswork and no risk of getting lost. Besides, we follow your flights, plan around traffic and keep an eye on the clock for you. For more about the city, read our guide to Istanbul, and for arrivals without a tour, see our Istanbul Airport transfer.
Who it is for
Travelers with a long connection in Istanbul, business travelers between meetings and anyone who wants to see the city in the hours between two flights.
Step by step
- Send us your flights, airport and group size
- We check what is possible and suggest a plan
- Your guide meets you in arrivals
- We bring you back with a safe margin before your flight
What is included
- A licensed private guide
- A private vehicle and driver from and to the airport
- A plan timed to your flights
- Food, museum tickets or a boat on request
- An overnight hotel on request
Where we arrange it
Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen, with visits to the old city, the Bosphorus and nearby neighborhoods.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa to leave the airport on a layover?
The rules depend on your passport, so we check them for you before you fly and tell you whether your layover needs an e-Visa.
What can we see on a short layover?
With a few hours, a drive along the Bosphorus and a stop at a viewpoint or café; with half a day, the old city with Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome.
Where does the guide meet us?
In the arrivals hall, after passport control.
Can you help if we stay airside?
Yes. Our guide to Istanbul Airport VIP services covers the lounges, Fast Track and meet and greet for connecting flights.