istanbul free city tour turkish airlines

Maddie Around the World

Maddie Around the World is a blog dedicated to solo female travelers and budget travelers. Check it out for destination guides and travel tips and stories!

The Complete Guide to TourIstanbul with Turkish Airlines

Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a free tour of Istanbul if your layover is longer than six hours? It’s called TourIstanbul, and you can book it directly at the airport! It is a great way to get out and see the city! I recently took a TourIstanbul tour when I had a 14-hour layover at the Istanbul airport. Keep reading for the complete guide to TourIstanbul!

istanbul free city tour turkish airlines

What is TourIstanbul?

What does the tour include, is touristanbul really free, how to signup.

Is There Luggage Storage Available?

Is TourIstanbul Worth it?

Get a Free Hotel Room from Turkish Airlines

TourIstanbul is a free tour of Istanbul offered by Turkish Airlines. If your layover at the Istanbul Airport is longer than six hours and the times align, they will take you on a fully guided tour! Additionally, you must be flying on Turkish Airlines to be eligible for these tours.

They pick your tour based on your flight times, so some offer more than others. Either way, it’s a great way to fight that layover boredom!

If you are worried about returning to the airport on time, don’t stress! The TourIstanbul team has planned their schedules carefully to work with your flights. If something goes wrong with the timing, Turkish Airlines will book you on the next flight to your destination!

TourIstanbul provides a bus to the city, a meal, and entry fees into all museums/attractions. Tours range from a few hours to a full-day tour and have a variety of activities.

Unfortunately, my tour didn’t go into specific attractions due to timing. However, we saw iconic landmarks such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and many more. After sightseeing, we sat down and had a delicious multi-course meal where I got to try traditional Turkish food. They were even able to accommodate my dietary restrictions as a vegetarian.

Click here to check out the different tours that they offer!

It sounds too good to be true, but TourIstanbul is actually free! However, if you don’t have a visa to enter Turkey, you’ll need to pay for it. You can purchase it on-site at the airport or online in advance. I purchased my visa at the airport because I wanted to make sure that my flight to Turkey wasn’t delayed, and that I would have time to go on the tour.

I have a United States passport and paid around 50 USD for my visa. Click here to review visa information based on which passport you have.

Click here to learn about getting an e-visa in advance.

You can’t signup for TourIstanbul in advance. You have to visit the desk at the airport to register for a tour. Before heading to the tour desk, you must purchase your visa if you don’t have an e-visa. There are visa desks before passport control where you can buy one. Once you purchase it, follow the signs to exit the airport and proceed through passport control. The TourIstanbul desk is opposite of meeting point 4 by arrivals. Click here to view an interactive map to locate the TourIstanbul desk.

Once you locate the desk, you can speak with the agent to schedule your free tour! You will provide them with your ticket number so they can assign you to the tour that best fits your travel day. From there, you can hang out in that area until 30 minutes before your tour time. At that point, return to the desk to prepare for your tour! A guide will meet you and take it from there.

Is There Luggage Storage Avaliable?

If you are traveling with carry-on luggage, you can locate lockers next to the TourIstanbul desk. You can leave your luggage here for a small fee. As you will be walking around the city, I recommend storing your bags in the lockers where they will be safe. I left my backpack and suitcase here, and it was safely stored until I returned from my tour.

It is totally worth it! I love exploring new places, and there’s no better time to do that than when the only other option is sitting in the airport. I loved getting a taste of Istanbul and exploring some of its most iconic destinations. As a solo traveler, it was also a great way to meet others, as we sat together at large tables, and I met travelers from all over the world!

Get a Free Hotel Room From TurkishAir

Some passengers may also be eligible for a free hotel room from Turkish Airlines based on their layover time! You can not take advantage of the free TourIstanbul tour and the hotel room. Additionally, there are many more conditions to receive free accommodation. Check out the list below to see if you qualify!

If you are economy class, your layover must be longer than 12 hours. For business class, it must be longer than 9 hours.
If there was a shorter layover time offered, you are not eligible, even if that option is full! This means that you are only eligible if this was the best flight option offered by Turkish Airlines. For example, if you booked a flight that had a 12-hour layover, but there was also a flight with a 4-hour layover to your destination, you are not eligible.
If you are under 18 you must be accompanied by an adult.

Click here for more information on the Turkish Airlines website! To claim this offer, you must visit the Hotel Desk at the Istanbul airport.

Next time you pass through Istanbul Airport, take advantage of these great opportunities offered by Turkish Airlines! I love finding ways to maximize my flights! Have you been on a TourIstanbul tour before? Leave a comment below about your experience!

If you are booking flights soon, check out my article: “How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets in 2o23!”

Free Istanbul Layover Perks by Turkish Airlines

In addition to shuttling passengers from place to place, many airlines around the world also assume the role (officially or unofficially) of a travel ambassador that promotes tourism within their home countries.

One of the most common ways for airlines to achieve this objective is to offer special perks and services to customers that are merely transiting through their hub airports, as a means to entice these customers to get out into the city, spend some of their tourist dollars, and hopefully continue flying with the airline in the future and perhaps even plan a return visit to their home country.

Turkish Airlines Layover Perks

You might be surprised to find out that Turkish Airlines operates flights to more destinations around the world than any other airline, but that’s indeed the case. Cities as far-flung as Buenos Aires, Mogadishu, Ulaanbaatar, Jakarta, and Yekaterinburg are all connected via the airline’s mega-hub in Istanbul, and the airline is constantly adding more destinations to its network.

With so many flights coming in and out, Turkish Airlines has much to gain by offering a comprehensive suite of services for transiting passengers during their Istanbul layover, and that’s exactly what they do.

The airline offers Istanbul city tours for all transiting passengers with a connection time of between six and 24 hours, as well as hotel accommodation services for economy class passengers with layovers of over 10 hours or business class passengers with layovers of over seven hours. Both services are complimentary.

I’ve flown with Turkish Airlines quite a few times recently, so I thought I’d share a detailed guide on how these services work and how you can take full advantage of them to make the most of your layover in Istanbul.

Free Istanbul City Tour by Turkish Airlines

Let’s begin with the complimentary Istanbul city tour, whose eligibility criteria are relatively straightforward. If you have a layover in Istanbul of between six and 24 hours, and if you’re flying with Turkish Airlines on both their inbound and outbound flights, then you’re eligible for the free city tour.

The program is also known as Touristanbul, and you can read all about it on the Turkish Airlines website . Six different tours are offered per day, and the exact sightseeing itinerary for each tour varies by the day of the week.

First, there’s a two-and-a-half-hour sightseeing tour that lasts from 8:30am to 11am in the mornings. This is the shortest tour by duration, and it’s my understanding that this tour doesn’t bring you inside any of the mosques, museums, or attractions, but rather mostly involves taking the tour bus from place to place and taking in the sights from the outside.

Then there’s three different six-hour guided tours, which are available from 9am to 3pm, 12pm to 6pm, or 2pm to 8pm. These tours will grant you access to a few of the attractions, and will also stop at certain sites for a little longer, allowing the tour guide to give you the backstory of many of Istanbul’s most important locales. These tours also come with a free meal, with the 9am–3pm tour providing both breakfast and lunch.

By far the most comprehensive option is the full-day tour, which lasts from 9am to 6pm. You get breakfast and lunch, entry to multiple important sites (like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, or Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts), and plenty of downtime to explore areas like the Grand Bazaar or the Spice Market.

Again, the exact tour schedule varies by day – for example, on Fridays, the full-day tour brings you on a Bosphorus Cruise, which is quite a unique and exciting thing to do when you’re in town.

Lastly, there’s the walking tour, which takes place from 4pm to 9pm. This tour involves taking the bus into the heart of Istanbul and walking around to all the major attractions in the area, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, Hippodrome, and Grand Bazaar, followed by a complimentary dinner.

This was the tour I embarked on during my recent long layover in Istanbul, and I enjoyed it very much – since the Blue Mosque closes at 5pm, you still get to go inside if the tour is on schedule, and the time spent walking around central Istanbul from place to place was a lovely way to get a taste of urban life in the city outside of the main tourist hotspots as well.

I’ll be sure to publish a detailed post about my free Istanbul city tour when the time comes to write the full series for my round-the-world trip.

Complimentary Turkish dinner on the free city tour

There’s a few things to note about the free city tours. First off, Canadians require an e-visa to enter Turkey, so make sure to get that sorted out before your trip.

It’s a relatively simple application process on the Turkey e-visa website , and in my experience you don’t even need to show a printout of the visa or anything – it’s all registered in the system, so the immigration official can pull up your documents on their end.

Next, you can only choose one of the six tours to go on, so pick wisely if you have the choice. My layover in Istanbul began at 7am and lasted until midnight, so I could’ve chosen the full-day tour if I had the energy – but nope, I dozed off in the Turkish CIP Lounge until the early afternoon, so by that point I only had the 4pm walking tour left!

Blue Mosque, Istanbul

To sign up for a tour, you need to visit the Hotel Desk at the far right end of the terminal at Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

As you exit through Arrivals and make your way there, you might be confronted by private tour operators offering you paid tours instead (some of these guys will even use the Turkish Airlines logo, masquerading as the official tour guides to lure you in). Pay them no mind and head straight for the Hotel Desk – you’ll want to arrive at least 20 minutes in advance of the start time, so that you can get fully registered before the tour begins.

Hotel Desk at Istanbul Atatürk Airport

Everything on the tour is entirely complimentary, from the sightseeing entry fees, to your meals, to the services of the tour guide (feel free to tip, though there was no real expectation of doing so).

You can of course bring some cash with you to spend at the Grand Bazaar or the markets, but as a valued guest of Turkish Airlines, you’re very much allowed – and encouraged – to see many of Istanbul’s amazing sights without spending a dime!

And lastly, given the vast international network that Turkish Airlines operates, these city tours can be a fantastic way to meet other travellers from all over the globe. You might be transiting Istanbul on your way from, say, Canada to the Middle East, while another traveller might be on their way from Africa to Southeast Asia, and yet another tour member might be headed from India to South America!

In a way that’s befitting of Istanbul’s historic stature as a cultural crossroads, the possibilities for serendipitous encounters with your fellow travellers – often the magic ingredient to a highly memorable trip – are very much boundless here on Turkish Airlines’s free city tours.

Grand Bazaar, Istanbul

Free Transit Hotel by Turkish Airlines

The other option available to a certain subset of transiting passengers is the free transit hotel program, which you can also read about on its dedicated page on the Turkish Airlines website .

If you’re eligible for both, you can only choose one of the free city tour or the free transit hotel, so if you’d rather take your time to shower, nap, get refreshed, and then perhaps explore the city at your own pace, then the latter option might well be a better fit.

Given the cost of providing accommodation, the rules on who gets to receive a complimentary hotel stay are rather strict. Your inbound and outbound flights must both be on Turkish Airlines. Moreover, economy class passengers must have a layover time of 10 hours or longer to be eligible, while business class passengers must have a layover time of seven hours or longer.

Note that these layover times are calculated based on Turkish Airlines’s flight schedules, not based on the flights you’ve specifically chosen. Therefore, you’re only eligible for a free hotel Turkish Airlines’s scheduling has forced you into a layover time that meets the above criteria.

Any attempt, deliberate or not, to choose flights with a longer layover time, when you could’ve chosen different flights to get a shorter layover time, will not work.

An example should help illustrate. I was recently travelling from Paris to Hanoi via Istanbul on Turkish Airlines. Looking at the airline’s schedules, there’s five daily inbound flights from Paris CDG, and one outbound flight to Hanoi.

Paris (CDG) – ISTANBUL (IST)

Istanbul (ist) – hanoi (han).

On my trip, I had booked Turkish Airlines Flight 1822 coming into Istanbul, since that was the only flight with award availability on my chosen date. Flight 1822 arrives at 4:40pm, and the departing Flight 166 doesn’t leave until 2:55am, so I had a layover time of about ten hours. That’s above the business class threshold of seven hours, and so I thought I would be eligible for a free transit hotel.

But I was not eligible. See, in this scenario, Turkish Airlines will say that I could’ve taken any of the later flights from Paris CDG to Istanbul, and I would’ve had a layover time of under seven hours. For that reason, my nine-hour layover time was not dictated by the airline’s schedule, so I was not eligible for a free hotel.

The fact that there was no award availability on any of the other flights was entirely irrelevant. For all that Turkish Airlines cared, I could’ve paid for those flights if I really wanted to.

Now, contrast this scenario to my other recent trek through Istanbul, this time from Accra to Singapore. There’s only one flight to each of these destinations per day, and the scheduling meant that I’d arrive at 7:30am and leave at 1:55am.

Accra (ACC) – Istanbul (IST)

Istanbul (ist) – singapore (sin).

There were no alternative Turkish flights I could’ve taken to achieve a transit time of less than seven hours, and so I was indeed eligible for the free hotel (although I eventually opted to do the city tour instead).

Well, how can you verify if you’re eligible for a free hotel without going through all this trouble? The easiest way is to email the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk team directly at [email protected] . Give them your booking reference and they’ll be able to inform you immediately whether you’re eligible.

Turkish Airlines doesn’t let its passengers know in advance which hotel they’ll be staying at; instead, they simply say that business class customers will get a higher standard of hotels than economy class customers.

Reading about other travellers’ experiences on the FlyerTalk thread , it seems that business class passengers are often put in the Renaissance Polat Istanbul or the Radisson Blu , while economy class passengers tend to get put up in the Courtyard , the DoubleTree , the Holiday Inn , etc.

Radisson Blu Bosphorus Hotel Istanbul

To attain your free hotel stay, again you’ll have to exit through immigration (meaning an e-visa might be required, of course), and then turn right to find the Hotel Desk. The agents there will verify your eligibility and assign you to a hotel, and then you’ll be picked up by a complimentary shuttle and brought to your complimentary quarters for the duration of your layover.

Lastly, keep in mind that if you aren’t eligible for the free hotel stay service, you can still book a room at the TAV Istanbul Airport Hotel , which has rooms both airside and landside. And if you have lounge access, you can of course simply choose to pass the time in the enormous Turkish CIP Lounge as well.

No one will begrudge you for napping in the lounge’s public seating areas (as I did), but if you want to doze off in the sleeping rooms, you’ll need to be travelling in business class with a layover time of between four and seven hours – and again, this is strictly enforced according to Turkish Airlines’s flight schedules.

Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge Istanbul

Capitalizing on their massive hub in Istanbul, an eminent tourist hotspot and a city of historic global significance, Turkish Airlines boasts some of the most valuable complimentary layover perks that you’ll find among any airline in the world.

Long layovers are often viewed as an unproductive and exhausting time-sink along the journey from origin to destination, but the airline addresses both of those concerns with their free city tour and layover hotel services. Make sure to take advantage on your next trip with Turkish Airlines!

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Extremely useful insight! Thank you for sharing! One note though – the time of layover has been changed from 10h to 12h for economy class and from 7h to 9h for business class. https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-ee/flights/hotel-service/

Sounds like not a very Canadian friendly option – $60 USD e-visa + not eligible for free accoms or tour if departure is from Canuckistan. Can someone confirm this?

Thanks. Very interesting. However, reading the "small font" info on hotel stay eligibility while in transit, it looks like passagers from Canada, including travelling business are not eligible to a free night. However, it is available if you are travelling from the US; sounds like the option then would be to start your TK journey out of an American city. Also, all legs on a ticket must be eligible otherwise, your plans for free hotel are void. https://www.turkishairlines.com/fr-ca/flights/stopover/

Well explained, thank you!

Are flights from Canada eligible for the stopover? Based on their cities and countries scope, I don’t see Canada listed as a departure country.

It is expensive for a short visit. Even China allows either 72 or 144 visa free stop-overs depending on the city. The thing that annoys me the most is it is only Canada that has to pay $60. Almost every other country on the planet pays $20. It is really a shame. I did a 3 week trip around Turkey a few years back and it would be wonderful to visit again. I have transited through IST over a dozen times in the past several years and would have planned an overnight stay every time and certainly several few days or week or two stops. Instead I picked the shortest connection time and waited in the HSBC lounge. I take some comfort in thousands of dollars of lost revenue for Turkey that got spent elsewhere.

I’ve looked into this a few times for my layover in IST this summer. How do you think the new airport will affect this free service? I’m really looking forward to seeing the city. It’s $60 US for the e-Visa, pretty hefty to enter for a few hours.

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Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Posted on March 21, 2022 By World Traveller 73

10 Comments

Turkish Airlines offers a free guided tour for its connecting passengers that have between six and twenty four hours in the city. The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul is a free complimentary tour that provides a guided tour with all meals (dependent on time) and all museum entries included. Would the tour stand up to a regular commercial offering ? Read on to discover our experiences.

This post is one chapter on our trip to the Republic of Tanzania and the Islands of the Seychelles. This trip was redeemed through Air Canada’s Aeroplan and enhanced through World of Hyatt and Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status. For more information on how this trip was booked, please see our trip introduction here. For other parts of the trip, please see this index.

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Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Turkish Airlines also offers a free semi guided tour of varying lengths. The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour departs from the airport to the airport. Since we had a 10 hour connection, it was the perfect escape and attraction to keep us occupied instead of waiting out the connection solely in the lounge.

Booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour:

The first step of booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour is to make sure that you can enter Turkey. In our circumstances, I had arranged our e-visas for entry to Turkey on the Turkish government website the day we departed the Seychelles. This is completely separate from the tour offering so you’ll have to make the necessary inquiries to determine your eligibility in order to enter Turkey.

The Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul does not require an advance reservation. They have tours of varying lengths. It is recommended to review the schedule to align yourself with a tour that meets with your travel times, while allowing sufficient time to re-clear security.

We just presented ourselves at the Turkish Airlines E Tour Desk for booking. We located the Turkish Hotel Desk where we signed up for the 8:30 AM tour at about 7:35 AM. Our onward boarding cards were collected, and we were told to be back for 8:30 AM.

We ended up spending some time in the Turkish Airlines Arrivals Lounge Istanbul Atatürk prior to the tour. At about 8:15 AM, we headed back outside for our tour. Our names were called and we were each given a sticker identifying us as being on the tour. Our boarding cards were also given a sticker with a contact phone number in the event of an emergency. All in all, it was well organized.

I was surprised at the amount of people doing the tour. All in, there was a full coach of 48 people, in addition to a small van of 15 passengers. We lucked out and got in the small van, which made the trip go much better.

We started off on the coastal road. We ended up heading to the Galata bridge. It was a beautiful sunny day in Istanbul, which made the sights along the way all that more pleasant.

Visiting the Galata Bridge:

We parked directly on the Galata bridge where we had a fifteen minute photobreak. One of our younger youthful travellers mistook this bridge for the Bosphorus bridge and set off running end to end so that she could have a foot in Europe and a foot in Asia. She was late getting back to the van but it meant all that much more time for us to breath in some Turkish air.

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Palace:

After the Galata Bridge, we hopped back in the van and headed up the road to Dolmabahçe Palace. It was a nice spot to stop right on the water. The palace served as served as the main administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from 1856 to 1887 and 1909 to 1922

There was also a nice café on the shores of the Bosphorus although we didn’t indulge today.

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Mosque:

Right around the corner from the palace was the Dolmabahçe Mosque. It was commissioned in 1885 and was a beautiful spot. It was free of charge to enter, although MrsWT73 had to wrap. Scarves were provided free of charge.

We hopped back in the van for the last time for the drive back towards the airport. Instead of the coastal drive, it was direct through the city toward the airport area.

We were dropped off at the departures level. Overall, it was a pleasant way to spend 6 hours instead of being cooped up in a room with stale air. We got to leave with more pleasant memories of Istanbul. This was after stepping through the smoke pits at the grotty entrance to the Istanbul Atatürk Departures Hall.

We headed inside to eventually get onto our Turkish Airlines Business Class Istanbul – Toronto flight back to North America.

My Thoughts on the Turkish Airlines E-Tour at Istanbul:

The Turkish Airlines E-Tour is a great way to spend a long connection time. In addition to it being completely free except for your visa entry into Turkey, it beats spending time inside an airport waiting for your flight. The tours are set up to maximize your limited time in Turkey. I found the experience to be rewarding for a day tour, and since we had nice weather, it made for a pleasant day.

If you’ve taken advantage of the Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul, did you find it worth your connection time ?

10 Comments on “ Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour ”

When did you take this tour? Has Touristanbul started again?

We took this trip in Spring of 2018. I’ve been getting my posts on line thanks to the down time of the pandemic, so there has been a slight delay.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like Turkish Airlines has re-instated the Istanbul ETour as of yet. One day hopefully…

Thanks for reading.

Yes, they have started Touristanbul again on 1st July 2022 after a break due to pandemic.

Thanks Ali.

That is great news for transit passengers with a long layover. It will add to the flying experience with Turkish.

I’m trying to understand something and I emailed Touristanbul but I don’t think they understand what I meant.

I’m planing on arriving in Turkey at 11.45 pm on the 28th November and take the 8.30 am tour on the following day. Can I leave the airport to sleep at an hotel and then come back on the 29th to join the tour? I’ve been in that airport before, but I don’t recall where the desk is, so I don’t know if I leave the airport I can go to the Tours desk again. Do you know?

When I participated in the tour, it was from the old Istanbul Atatürk Airport. My understanding is that the set up is similar at the new Istanbul International Airport.

When I went through, they were only checking both boarding passes and connection time. As a result, assuming you have enough connection time, you’ll likely be able to select any tour you want.

Travel safe! Hope that helps…

I have the same situation in a couple of weeks- could you ket me know how it Worked?

Many thanks,

We did it this week.

We arrived at 11.45 pm, get off the airport, went to an hotel nearby, got back on the following morning and met the touristambul at the arrivals floor. It was a great day. We got back to the airport around 5.30 pm, we had plenty of time till our next flight 🙂

I’m glad to hear that Cátia Barbosa has confirmed it.

When I went through, they didn’t really appear to be too concerned with the departure date; only that your ticket included an “inbound” and “outbound Turkish Airlines flight and that you met the allowable connection time.

Assuming it is open, I might recommend stopping by the desk on your way to the hotel, so that your sleep time isn’t wasted unnecessarily.

Travel Safe!

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How I Planned a Free Mini-Vacation to Istanbul Using Turkish Airlines' Stopover Program

By Iona Brannon

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Stopover programs are offerings made by airlines to make a layover more compelling. Sometimes, when travelers are booking a flight that stops in an airline's hub, they are given the option to stay for anywhere from a few hours to a few nights in that city, at no added cost; others offer discounts on hotel stays and excursions when flight routes require a stop one way or another. And who doesn't want to explore an additional destination on a trip—especially if you'll be passing through anyway?

With rising ticket prices this summer, the programs are seeing renewed interest from travelers as a way to make the most of their airfare . On a recent trip from Chicago to Singapore , my layover qualified for the Turkish Airlines' stopover program in Istanbul , which recently started up again post-pandemic.

The airline offers two options for travelers. The first, Stopover Istanbul, is designed for those who have a layover exceeding 20 hours, and the second, TourIstanbul, caters to passengers with a stopover of 6 to 24 hours. When booking, look for the “Stopover Istanbul” logo on the Turkish Airlines website which marks flights that are eligible for the program. Flights that are eligible for the free tour will have the logo “TourIstanbul.”

Because my layover was just over 20 hours, I could choose between a tour of the city or a hotel room (economy passengers get one free night at a four-star hotel, while business class passengers get two nights at a five-star hotel). I opted for the room because I already had scouted out my tours of choice through Airbnb Experiences.

To actually get my hotel reservation, I reached out to the dedicated email address associated with my departure country to secure the offer. ( The airline's stopover page lists the email address for each country of departure.) Although Turkish Airlines suggests reaching out with at least a 72-hour notice, hotels are sometimes available even later. Luckily, within days of my email, my hotel reservation was confirmed in the form of a voucher.

There was a bit of work I had to do on my own: To visit Istanbul as an American citizen, I needed a visa. It's a straightforward online process that allows for multiple entries (especially handy if you have layovers on both ends of your trip), though, and the cost was just $50 at the time of my visit.

Upon clearing customs at the Istanbul airport, I could have taken the hotel shuttle, but thanks to the availability of Uber in the city, I was in my hotel room under 30 minutes. I chose to stay at the Pullman İstanbul Hotel and Convention Center , one of the partner hotels for the stopover program, and I was impressed at how nice the view of the city was from my room. As much as I wanted to enjoy the queen-sized bed, the pool, and the free breakfast, I was already running late for my tours. I had booked some Airbnb Experiences, which is my favorite way to experience cities on a short timeline—I’ve always found these tours to offer a quick dive into the culture, with local experts who are both laidback and knowledgeable.

Paris, France - An aerial view of the city of Paris, France at dusk with the Eiffel Tower in the Centre.

With only 20 hours, I chose to skip the classic attractions like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Grand Bazaar, choosing instead to dive into the stomach of the city. I booked a highly rated street food tour that spanned both the Asian and European sides of the city divided by the Bosphorus.

Our group was intimate. At our first stop, crowding around breakfast, we eagerly passed fresh mounds of simit. The hot bread would then be smothered in clotted cream and honey, or menemen, the eggy Turkish breakfast staple. Later, we toasted with pickle juice from a shop at an outdoor produce market.

The tastes of Turkish street foods —the steaming midye dolma and crisped-up kokoreç—were enhanced by the guide's colorful anecdotes from his childhood and the historical context he provided. Along the way, I heard about how cig kofte changed from a raw meat-based snack to a vegan dish catered to a more health-conscious crowd; and how midye dolma was best eaten in the early hours of the morning after a few rounds of drinks.

Before the tour ended, we had inside jokes and shared stories. My new friends shook their heads incredulously as I told them I was only in town for 20 hours, pointing at coffee shops along the road for me to fuel up at.

Aerial view of Reykjavik, Iceland, in winter

Just in time, too. I was starting to feel the slog of jetlag. My next experience was a coffee history tour in the artistic neighborhood of Kadıköy, on the Asian side of Istanbul. We stopped at trendy third-wave coffee shops such as the Breaking Bad-themed Walter’s Coffee Roastery, and visited an old-school kahvehane where I learned how to play the tile-based Turkish game Okey. I crisscrossed the neighborhoods with my guide as he retold stories of the Ottoman Empire and shared general sentiments about the upcoming election. As the sun began to dip, we shared a ferry across the Bosphorus. It felt surreal that I had only stepped off an airplane earlier that day, and within a few hours, I’d be whisked off by another.

Back at the hotel, with only four hours to spare until my flight, I wondered if the hotel room was really worth it—a hot shower quickly convinced me that it was. So did the power nap I (unexpectedly) had time for before heading back to the airport for my next flight.

I'd previously viewed stopover programs as a pause in a journey—but clearly, even a short one, can become a meaningful opportunity to explore. It transformed what could have been a tiresome interlude into an opportunity to engage with the culture, history, and tastes of Istanbul.

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Istanbul Tourist Guide

Free Istanbul Tour With Turkish Airlines for Transit Passengers: “Touristanbul”

The “Touristanbul” project, one of the services offered by Turkish Airlines to its passengers and stopped during the pandemic period, has been brought back to life. Within the scope of the project, international transit passengers have the chance to get to know the historical and cultural values of Istanbul with a free city tour.

Passengers with a transfer time between 6-24 hours have the chance to get to know the historical and cultural values of Istanbul between two flights by taking advantage of the “Touristanbul” service. Passengers are picked up from Istanbul Airport with the “Touristanbul” vehicle, followed by a guided tour of Istanbul, and then brought back to the airport for their flights.

How to book “Touristanbul”

After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport.

Before visiting Türkiye, you can obtain an e-visa at www.evisa.gov.tr/ website. Please check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Türkiye.

If you are eligible for an e-visa you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Click on the link below to view the list of places visited within the scope of “Touristanbul” and the tour details:

https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-gb/flights/fly-different/touristanbul/

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Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines

Our plane from Bangkok landed at Istanbul New Airport (IST) around 4:00, as scheduled. We had an international fight with a layover of over 6 hours in Istanbul so we have decided to try Touristanbul - free Istanbul tour with Turkish Airlines .

The first thing you need to know is that you need to register for taking Touristanbul at Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk which is located at the arrival terminal of Istanbul Airport. It means that once you arrive at the airport, you need to pass through Passport Control / Immigration checkpoint to enter Turkey (depending on your nationality, you may need a visa for that).

Istanbul New Airport is huge and it’s quite a long walk from the gate to the immigration checkpoint. It took us almost 20 minutes to reach Passport Control. As it was an early morning and there was no queue, we have spent only 1-2 minutes to pass the immigration.

After passing the Immigration area, walk through the baggage claim area and exit to the arrival hall. Here you will just need to turn right and walk straight (many tour operators will offer paid tours on your way, just avoid them). You just need to walk all the way to the end and you will easily notice Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk there.

As it was very early morning, the staff of Turkish Airlines told us to come back about 7:00 as the Touristanbul counter was still closed. We went to find some breakfast and came back to the Touristanbul counter a bit after 7:00. The process of registration for the tour is simple and easy, just showing our boarding passes to the staff was enough.

Our connecting flight from Istanbul was around 16:00 so we have decided to join the sightseeing tour which lasts from 08:00 to 11:30. The staff suggested that we could take another tour (T02) which lasts from 08:30 to 15:00. However, we didn’t want to rush when coming back to the airport so we took the first option.

There is a luggage storage office nearby the hotel desk so we have stored our backpack there first. If you have a hand luggage and don’t want to carry it all around the city, you can leave it at the airport or keep it on the bus. Detailed information about luggage storage at the airport can be found here: Left Luggage at Istanbul New Airport (IST) .

There is a waiting area on the opposite side from the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk. The tour guide will come there to greet you and start the trip.

Free Tour Itinerary

Departure from Istanbul Airport
Following the Coastal Road
Yedikule Fortress
Old Samatya Armanian District
Yeni Kapı Harbour
Walls of Constantine
Eminonu District
Photo break on Galata Bridge
Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace
Taksim Square
Galata Tower
Golden Horn
Aqueduct of Valens
Returns to Istanbul Airport

7:55 Tour Start

The guide came to the waiting area, called our names and leaded us to the bus. We departed from Istanbul Airport exactly on time at 8:00 by minibus of Touristanbul , following the Coastal Road. It took about 1 hour to reach the city and we passed many important and spectacular sites of Istanbul on the way, including Yedikule Fortress, Old Samatya Armanian District, Yeni Kapı Harbour, Walls of Constantine, Eminonu District.

9:00 Photo break on Galata Bridge

Our first stop was Galata Bridge where we have spent about 15 minutes. The Galata Bridge is the most famous pedestrian bridge over the Golden Horn that connects the old historic town and Taksim area. You can see locals casting their rods, and fishing from both sides of the bridge.

9:25 Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace

Dolmabahçe Palace is a beautiful European style residence of the Ottoman Sultans on the Bosphorus. Its decoration is very luxurious and it witnesses the last days of the Ottoman Empire.

The entrance fee that is not included in the free tour is as follows:

Whole Palace: 90 TL
Official Part: 60 TL
Harem/Sultan’s Family House: 40 TL
Student: 20 TL
Child 0-6 years old: Free

You can skip the long ticket lines and enter the Dolmabahçe Palace with a guide by booking a visit here: Dolmabahce Palace Highlights Guided Tour w/ Fast Track Entry .

As this free Istanbul tour is hardly enough for decent exploration of the side of Istanbul that most tourists don't get to see, you can choose this 4-hour sightseeing tour of the city instead: Bosphorus Bridge, Camlica Hill, and Dolmabahce Palace Tour .

10:00 Leave from Dolmabahçe Palace

The bus left Dolmabahçe Palace and took a different route for getting back to the airport. This time the bus passed Taksim Square, Galata Tower, Golden Horn, Aqueduct of Valens, Yeni Kapı Harbour and it took about 50 minutes to reach Istanbul Airport.

10:50 Istanbul Airport

The bus arrived at Istanbul Airport and dropped passengers off at the departure floor. We had to pass through the passport control and security check again to fly out.

Our experience

Overall it was a good experience and even beyond our expectation considering that joining this tour is completely free. The tour was well organized and really on time. We only took the half morning sightseeing tour which includes only short stops at each place but it is still better than just hanging around at the airport. If we will have a chance, we will try one of the free day-long tours offered by Turkish Airlines . The list of available free tours can be found here: Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines .

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Touristanbul review: Get your free city tour of Istanbul now!

May 8, 2023
Destinations , Europe

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Do you like going on free tours? We are guessing YES, and this post is going to show you how to get one in Istanbul, what the Touristanbul free tour is about, and how to go about getting it.

Read on for our review of Touristanbul tour!

Night view of Istanbul Touristanbul review

What's covered in this post

Short introduction of Turkey

Is touristanbul free, what is touristanbul, touristanbul visa requirements, where is the hotel desk, free hotel stay, touristanbul details, conclusion of touristanbul, logistics before visiting istanbul turkey.

Istanbul is the most populous city in Turkey, and no it is not the capital. It is also well known for Turkish baths!

It is somewhat better known than the capital Ankara, thanks to strong efforts by the tourism ministry and being an important commerce centre.

Made up of 15 million inhabitants, Istanbul is often regarded as the top metropolis in Turkey, and is the point where East meets West.

Turkey is right in the middle of the continents of Europe and Asia, and draws influences from both its neighbours, but it’s obvious there are stronger emphasis from a Asian point of view, as is evident from the fact that only 3% of its country in the European continent.

When in Turkey, make sure to convert your currency to the Turkish Lira as it is the official currency.

There are rarely any places that accept anything else, and if they do, you can be sure that the exchange rates will be exorbitant.

Its citizens are mostly Muslim, and through their industriousness, today occupy the 17th spot among the economies of the world.

If you are looking for accommodation in Istanbul, check out the best deals down below!

Booking.com

Yes! TourIstanbul is a free tour service offered by Turkish Airlines.

All you need to is fly into Istanbul with a connecting flight that is more than 6 hours and less than 24 hours and you automatically qualify for it.

Touristanbul is a free (tour gratis Turkish Airlines) service applicable for all international passengers passing through Istanbul. It is free and the only requirements is that the layover is between 6 to 24 hours. You will get a tour of Istanbul during this time.

Turkish airlines has been one of the top performing airlines in the world, flying to the most destinations of any airlines and consistently winning European Airline of the Year awards.

So it’s a bit strange that Skytrax, an airlines ratings agency, decided to drop them to a 3 star rating a couple of years back, which prompted Turkish Airlines to withdraw from the ranking agency.

Good job we say.

We know there are airlines ranked higher but not as good as Turkish airlines.

So as part of the country’s push to bring in higher tourism numbers, it has partnered up with its national airlines Turkish Airlines, to offer a Turkish Airlines Istanbul Tour to spend time in Istanbul, which incidentally is the tourism hotspot of turkey.

As part of the Touristanbul program which is one of many Turkish Airlines offers, travellers who have a short layover in Istanbul are entitled to receive an Istanbul Airport free city tour, which you can select from 6 different options.

If you have the free time and willing to stopover to tour Istanbul, you will be able to sign up for it at the hotel desk at the airport terminal.

No cash nor credit card required!

Do I need visa for Touristanbul?

To enter Turkey, you need to have a valid visa. (unless you are in the transit area, which you do not need one)

To find out if you require one, please visit the Turkey Ministry of Affairs site to ascertain.

If you need to apply for one, you may do so here .

Some nationalities are eligible for visa on arrival, but it does cost more than if you applied online.

Upon landing in Istanbul Airport, you will need to clear and exit passport controls.

Once you’re out, head to the right hand side of the building (while facing the exit), until you reach the Turkish airlines hotel desk. It’s less than a hundred metres away.

For those of you thinking about depositing your bags in the airport while you go for a tour, you have 2 options.

First, you can make a left turn after clearing customs and use the baggage service.

Or you can bring them along on the tour, where you can store your bags in the travel agency’s office. We chose the latter to save a few bucks.

When you reach the desk, be sure to get a queue number first! This step is important and cannot be missed out!

Some of you might have also heard about a free hotel stay offered by Turkish Airlines, but this is actually not part of a Touristanbul hotel offer, which is only for the tours.

However, if you will be having a stopover in Istanbul, you might be able to receive a free hotel stay if you meet the qualifying requirements.

For travellers transiting in Istanbul, they are entitled to receive a stay in a four star hotel in the city, or a five star hotel if they are a business class traveller.

However, as much as we know, the hotels are not revealed until you reach Istanbul and proceed for registration.

Although this benefit is pretty sweet, it does come with a number of terms and conditions (what’s new right?).

Over the phone conversation with a Turkish airlines representative, we found out that this benefit is only offered to passengers who have a transit time of over 6 hours and less than 24 hours, and it cannot be purposely chosen by the passenger.

What does this mean?

Say you are flying from Vienna to Thailand, and there are a number of flight options with regards to transit time in Istanbul.

If you choose the longest transit time just so you can enjoy this benefit, then you will be denied the privilege, as there’s a shorter option available.

Next, you have to be flying to one of the destinations listed on Turkish airlines website in order to qualify for this.

If you are unsure, shoot an email over to the hotel desk for a clearer understanding. Here is their website that explains a bit further.

Not sure why they have such restrictions though, as it makes it pretty tough to qualify for this.

It seems only if your flight gets delayed or canceled then will you be able to receive the hotel stay.

We thought it makes more sense to offer to all travellers who has long transits, whether deliberate or not, to get the hotel stay.

If more of them are in Istanbul, then it makes sense they will spend more money there right? Isn’t that one of the important points of a tourism program?

Touristanbul allows you to receive a free city tour conducted by a travel agency partner of Turkish Airlines.

They are pretty experienced in Istanbul tours or Istanbul sightseeing tours.

There is no need to register online first or any sort of advanced registration. Simply head to the hotel desk upon arriving to register.

Tours are organised every day of the week and range from a 3.5 hours to half day tours of 6.5 hours.

Check the schedule here.

One cool option is the Touristanbul Bosphorus cruise, which is an Istanbul night tour from Airport.

Organisation of the tour was slightly disorganized.

Although it says at the tour counter (counter 1) that it opens at 6.30am, it was only around 6.40am when the staff sauntered in and started registration at 6.45am.

Take note: you cannot enjoy both the hotel stay and tour at the same time. So if you enjoyed the free hotel stay, you will not be able to take part in the city tour. And of course vice versa.

We were told to report back at a waiting area near the elevator 10 minutes before 8.30am, which we did.

The staff took a bit longer than that to appear and had to spend around 10 minutes just reading out names to confirm the attendance, which we estimated to be 100.

All these delays will have repercussions, which we will share a bit more later.

Once the group was confirmed, we were herded through the airport to the basement bus bay to board the tour coach.

The tour coach left the airport at 9.10am and the tour guide shared some general information about what to expect and a brief history of Turkey.

During the briefing, we were told that the journey into the city will take 50-60 minutes, and that guests were free to leave early and return to the airport on their own.

A letter of indemnity would be required in such cases.

She was also nice to share the ways to head back, which was either a taxi ride, or a shuttle service from in front of Hagia Sofia, that cost 18 lira.

We had over 7 hour layover in Istanbul, and signed up for the 6.5 hours tour, and it included the following sights and 2 meals:

Blue Mosque
Serpentine Column
Obelisk of Thedosius
Topkapi Palace

It was during this briefing that we received a disappointment: the tour that we signed up for, will only cover the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia, due to shortage of time.

We were slightly bewildered. Lack of time?

But they are the ones who came late and took a long time to organize the buses.

So anyways, the sight of the city when approaching was pretty cool.

The remnants of the city wall were still present in many parts of the city and lends itself to the charm.

Looking out, you could see numerous minarets poking out from the city skyline, showcasing their uniqueness and beauty.

It was also clear that the country was trying to be more green, evidenced by the tree lined streets and wide green spaces where we could see families hanging out and relaxing.

Traffic in the city, just like any other, was rather heavy and drivers were pretty aggressive!

So maybe not considering a rental car here for us.

We stopped near the tour agency’s office to unload our bags and get ready to start the tour.

First stop was to bring us to breakfast, which would also be the location for our lunch. So basically for the tour, we walked in a loop back to the restaurant.

The restaurant is based inside a small building.

On the ground floor was a section selling local desserts and silverware, second floor is where you can find more silverware and rugs, and the restaurant is on the third floor.

The food was placed on the tables when we arrived and guests were free to choose any seats.

We were a bit concerned about the hygiene though, as the food was exposed and you could see some flies swarming around.

The food was basic, consisting of a small selection of cheese, a sausage and ham.

Bread was served in a communal basket, and various spreads were offered.

The servers came around offering us tea, which was quite nice as we really wanted something warm.

After a 40 minute breakfast, we headed off to our first location, the Blue Mosque.

Under the orders of Sultan Ahmet I, the mosque was designed and built and completed in 1617. It sits on a large compound, and the 5 domes and 6 minarets towers over the area, filled with grandeur.

Visitors are allowed to enter the mosque to learn more about its history and view its interiors.

Ladies will have to cover up their heads and shoulders though, and hence it would be wise be bring along a light scarf for this purpose.

The tour organisers might have anticipated this, and each of us were given a bandana during our ride to the city.

Makes a nice souvenir too! If for some reason you do not wish to use the bandana, there is a small booth outside the mosque that allows you to rent one.

After a short briefing and history of the Blue Mosque, we were given about 25 minutes to explore it.

It is also worth pointing out here, that the sights mentioned earlier under the program highlights, are all located within walking distance of each other.

If you decide you wish to skip the guided tour, you can walk on on your own and reassemble at the lunch spot.

However, this could mean you might have to pay for entrance tickets since you are not within the group.

So weigh your options here, whether you wish to see more or prefer a guided style.

Next up is the Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya as the locals call it. From the Blue Mosque, it was a very short walk through the park to get to Ayasofya.

We had looked forward to visiting this landmark, which had a tumultuous history.

It was originally a cathedral, which then was converted into a mosque, and in present day, a museum.

Thanks to being part of the tour, we were able to enter through the fast lane, whisking pass the long lines of tourists queueing for a ticket under the hot sun.

Inside the museum is where you finally see its massive structure and get a glimpse of its mixed history.

We had an hour here, and that is sufficient time to walk the ground level, view the exhibits, and watch a video presentation of the history of Hagia Sophia.

To get a better view of the museum, make your way up the ramp to the upper level. Take note though, the ramp up is slightly steep, so please ditch the heels!

From the upper floors, you get to see the layout and have a sense of how it would be like in the past.

The Hagia Sophia is truly unique that it was the house of 2 religions.

Hagia Sophia Interior 2 Touristanbul Review

The grounds outside of Hagia Sophia offers plenty of wide open space to rest and relax.

There are a number of street food vendors here that sells roasted chestnuts (much like in Portugal), snacks and beverages.

Our advice: buy your refreshments out here, rather than at the cafe inside Hagia Sophia.

You will thank us for saving you some change later.

When the hour was up, so was our tour. It was back to the restaurant for lunch before going back to the airport.

Lunch was fairly decent, and consisted of some rice, chicken and adana kebab.

If you are vegetarian, make sure to inform the tour guide as soon as possible as the cooking time might take a while.

It’s important for us to point out that tours are really not our cup of tea.

We signed up for this on a whim and thought that it would be a nice introduction to Istanbul, which it was.

You get to have some first hand knowledge about the sights and area from the tour guides, who were pretty knowledgeable and willing to share.

You get to save some money on transport and entrance fees, especially the fast lane to Hagia Sophia as it is extremely popular. When we exited, the line was over 50 metres long!

And not forgetting the 2 meals which were included in the tour.

That being said, we really couldn’t get used to being part of a tour group. Walking around in huge groups are just not our style, and the waiting times were just too long.

As we pointed out earlier, the tour was slightly disorganized and due to that, guests were not able to enjoy the full experience of the tour.

It wasn’t good to know we spent 7 hours with the tour and only saw 2 sights.

At the end, the tour did overrun and there were lots of panicky travellers by now.

Many had connecting flights that were going to start boarding and we were an hour away.

Buses came late and the tour guide ordered a smaller one to send those whose departure times were due back to the airport first. We were in this group.

By the time we reached the airport, the transit passengers made up of groups of families and couples sprinted in.

We hope they managed to catch their flights.

So overall, we felt that with some improvements in the organization, the tour would be a really great perk for travellers connecting in Istanbul.

Till then, we would not be heading back to the hotel desk any time soon…

The next time we are back, we will take our own time to explore, find new ones such as Dolmabahçe Palace, and write more reviews for you.

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Find the best accommodation. Book a place ahead of time to get good rates. Booking.com has transparent fees and excellent rates.

Handy travel guide. For the old school kid in you, get a travel guide book and get lost exploring the city.

Photos. Your mobile phone can do a pretty good job, but if you need an upgrade, we recommend the Sony A6000 (US) (International)

Travel insurance. You don’t need us to teach you to be a responsible adult, do you? Get a quote here.

Planned for you activities in Istanbul. Need a guide to show you and your group around? Lots of operators here to choose from here. You know who they are and how they are reviewed.

More resources to help you. All other useful travel resources we use when we book our trips.

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Here’s How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul

For business class passengers, if your layover is:

Between 1 and 24 hours, you will qualify for lounge access.
Between 4 and 7 hours, you will qualify for a free day room in the business class lounge.
Longer than 7 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel.
Between 6 and 24 hours, you will qualify for a free day tour of Istanbul.

For economy class passengers, if your layover is:

Longer than 10 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel.

NOTE* For free hotel rooms, both your arriving and departing flights must be on Turkish Airlines metal. Codeshare flights do not qualify. But for free day tours, you can have a combination of both Turkish Airlines-operated and codeshare flights. Additionally, you are only permitted to receive a day tour or a free hotel room per layover, not both. In other words, you can get a free hotel room on your outbound and a free day tour on your return. Or vice versa.

Last week, I showed you how to get your free transit hotel through Turkish Airlines. Today, I’m gonna show you how to get a free day tour of Istanbul during your layover.

As I stated earlier, the rules are quite simple. All you need is (1) your transit time must be between 6 and 24 hours long and (2) both your arriving and departing flights must be with Turkish Airlines (or codeshare-operated flights). That’s it. No reservations or pre-booking is required. However, the most important thing is that you obtain a Turkey travel visa. You must get a visa prior to your arrival in Istanbul. Here’s how.

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Upon your arrival in Istanbul, proceed to the passport control desk with your travel visa in hand. Get your visa verified and passport stamped, and then make your way to baggage claim. Clear customs and walk out to the arrivals hall. Make a right-hand turn outside the door and walk all the way down to the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk. It’s located adjacent to the Starbucks, across from the Turkish Airlines Arrivals Lounge.

Here, you can sign up for any of the tours departing the same day. Just sign up for the tour hat you want at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the tour. For example, if you wish to sign up for a 9:00 AM tour, you must sign up by 8:30 AM. The agent will then take your boarding pass and hand it back to you prior to the start of your tour. Signups open at 7:30 AM.

There are different tours scheduled for different times and different days of the week, so depending on the day of your arrival, you may get a different tour than another person. But typically, your tour will explore the old quarters of Istanbul. On this trip, I did the Tuesday tour from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

I don’t know what the capacity limit is on each tour but it looks like they are pretty flexible. On the tour I did this morning, there were enough guests to fill up a standard tour bus, which is a lot of people. As for your luggage, you have two options. (1) you can leave it at the checked luggage counter located right next to the Hotel Desk, or (2) if you only have hand luggage, you can take it with you and store it at the tour operator’s office. I opted to check my luggage as it seemed like a more secure option than #2.

At the tour departure time, your tour guide will meet you in front of the hotel desk and escort you to the tour bus. You will then drive to the old quarters of Istanbul. All the tours are walking tours so you will not want to carry any bags; a small backpack at most with your valuables but I wouldn’t lug around electronics or anything like that. Your first stop is the Istanbul Walks tour office. You can store your bags here if you want.

You will then walk from the office to a local restaurant for a very modest breakfast. Breakfast consisted of a hard-boiled egg, bread, side condiments, coffee and tea. As I said, it was very modest.

Your tour will begin at the Hagia Sophia. The admission fee for the Hagia Sophia is included and you will be allowed 30 minutes to explore on your own after a brief history lesson.

From the Hagia Sophia, you will then walk to the Blue Mosque, where you will be allowed an opportunity to explore on your own. There is no fee to enter the Blue Mosque.

You will then exit the Blue Mosque and explore the outside Hippodrome area.

You will then have lunch at a local restaurant. Unlike breakfast, this 3-course traditional Turkish meal was really tasty. Lunch started with a bean salad, bread and an Ayran drink. This was followed by the main dish, which was meatballs and rice, and dessert.

From here, you will walk back to the office, collect your bags and then drive back to the airport.

Turkish Airlines Free Day Tour Bottom Line

Overall, this was an enjoyable day and I was really happy I got to experience this free tour. It allowed me to leave the airport, kill some time in between flights, learn about Turkish history and explore a tiny piece of this amazing city. This was such a great experience and I loved how easy and convenient it was. If you qualify for a tour, I would highly recommend it over hanging out at the airport.

UPDATE* The information provided above was for the Istanbul Ataturk Airport. The main airport has transitioned to the new Istanbul Airport so the process for obtaining a free day tour stated above no longer applies. However, I imagine the process to be fairly similar at the new airport. More information on the free Turkish Airlines Istanbul day tour can be found here .

Have you guys taken advantage of Turkish Airlines’ free city tour? If so, please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Thanks for reading!

The other related trip reports in this series:

United Polaris Lounge, San Francisco
Turkish Airlines Business Class, San Francisco to Istanbul
Here’s How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul
Here’s How to Get a Free Transit Hotel in Istanbul
Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 Business Class, Istanbul to Seychelles
DoubleTree Allamanda Resort and Spa, Seychelles
Hilton Seychelles Northlome
Turkish Airlines Airbus A330 Business Class, Seychelles to Istanbul
LOT Business Class Lounges, Warsaw
LOT Polish Airlines Business Class, Warsaw to Los Angeles

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About James Dozer

Aviation geek, fitness dork and overall nerd. Giving you the best information on miles and points so you can take better trips and live better stories.

See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours

Article By: FTFstaff

We really appreciate what Turkish Airlines has done to make families feel welcome, by offering free sightseeing and stopover tours in addition to in-flight toys, family entertainment and healthy dining and drink options on their Trans-Atlantic flights.

Yes! A few well-guided Istanbul city tours are available, absolutely free, for passengers in transit with a minimum six-hour layover. With so many sophisticated Istanbul family attractions we think you’ll appreciate the sightseeing time, even if you’re enduring a long layover after a very long trans-Atlantic flight.

And despite the current political problems (please check the travel information pages of the U.S. Department of State before booking), Istanbul continues to enjoy a relative tourism boom.

Leave the Airport for a City Sightseeing Tour

So here’s the deal: Turkish Airlines is making your layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport even more productive by offering Touristanbul free tours of 6-9 hours in length, focused on the most significant historical places, for guests transiting Turkey who’ve purchased tickets on Turkish Airlines. Join it at the Airport’s Hotel Desk at the international terminal; passengers under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. There’s no need for an advance reservation (ask questions at [email protected] ), making this a great wait-busting option for those whose flights are unexpectedly delayed.

After you book the tour (and they’re given several times daily in English most weekdays), you and your family will be picked up by a private tour guide. Whatever luggage is not checked can be stored at the airport for a nominal fee. Unfortunately, there is no special service for the mobility impaired.

All expenses for transportation, meals (and they have vegetarian options) and museum fees will be taken care of by Turkish Airlines .

Make an Overnight Stopover to Enjoy Istanbul

Since it began in 2018, the Stopover service has served transfer passengers departing from US gateways and flying onward, internationally, from Istanbul. The airline also offers complimentary overnight accommodation to certain passengers on routes where no connecting flights are available within 12 hours of arrival in Istanbul.

If you have more than 20 hours of connection time in Istanbul, your family will receive complimentary accommodations in centrally located neighborhoods and the opportunity to explore more of Istanbul. Economy class passengers will receive a one night stay at a 4-star hotel in Sultanahmet, while those flying in business class will enjoy two nights at a 5-star hotel in Taksim. Travelers will receive accommodation vouchers from Turkish Airlines’ authorized staff after completing the flight booking process.

For more information about arranging the Stopover, please visit Turkish Airlines site or email [email protected] and let us know what you saw.

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

5 Replies to “See Istanbul with Free Sightseeing and Stopover Tours”

I did a private layover tour from the new airport with realistanbul-tours.com and it worked very well. The new airport is a little bit far from the city center and there is no metro. You can take a taxi and join a walking tour or asked them to pick you and drop you back to the airport too.

Istanbul layover tour is a great service to use the best of your time in Istanbul Airport. However if you like to have a private attention and flexibility, you can check private tour services of ISTANBUL LAYOVER TOURS. They are offering the layover tours from Istanbul International Airport.

If you do not speak Turkish, avoid the airlines no matter how good that deal seems. The customer service is non existant.

We had a multi-leg trip with Turkish Airline from Rome to Istanbul to Cairo to Athens. We only ended up taking the flight from Rome to Istanbul.

Their flight from Rome to Istanbul was comfortable and relaxing. The staff was cordial. We only had carry-ons because of the horrible experiences other users have had.

Our overall experience with management, however, turned out to be extremely frustrating and awful. Our first interaction with them was when we tried to cancel our Istanbul to Cairo part of the trip because the US department highly suggested that no US citizens should travel to Cairo. We had called Turkish Airlines prior to the trip, but the staff spoke limited English and didn't understand that we wanted to cancel only one leg of the trip. They would planning on canceling the entire trip which we didn't want.

We then decided to keep the trip but use one of the layovers that was originally intended from Cairo to Greece but stops at Istanbul to get to our final destination- Greece. However, due to their international rule and regulation, they canceled our entire trip leaving us no way to get to Greece. They didn't inform us via email or phone like many other airlines do. We found out the day before we were supposed to leave when trying to check in for our flight.

We accepted the fact that there was nothing we could do but when we asked on the phone what we could have done to have prevented this, the manager started yelling that she couldn't help us, and that it was our fault for losing the tickets. We asked again. She admitted that she couldn't understand our question and started shouting at us that it was our fault and hung up on us. I was furious.

Looking at the other posts, I think the moral of the story is – Do NOT book with Turkish Airlines unless you speak Turkish. The staff's English is very limited, and trying to change flights or dealing with management is just a pain, ends up with customers losing money and valuable time.

I've had such bad experiences with the customer services at Turkish Airlines. ON the phone, the managers who are supposedly "English" do not understand simple sentences and when they don't, they get frustrated and hang up on you.

someday i will go to Istanbul for Holiday….

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All about Turkish Airlines’ Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers Flying between USA and India

We do mostly purchase itineraries with a short layover (2-3 hours) for long-haul international flights between USA and India. If our connecting flight happens to be delayed at a transit airport, we feel out of breath. How would it be if you are offered a complimentary tour of the transit city during a long layover? Amazing! Isn’t it? If you get good deals for Turkish Airlines’ USA to India flights with a minimum 6-hour layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, just grab it. Turkish Airlines offers Touristanbul, a guided Istanbul City tour for free to its international passengers in transit.

Turkish Airlines’ Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers

If you are flying Turkish Airlines from USA to India, and if your itinerary has a layover of 6 hours or more at Istanbul International Airport, you should not miss the free Istanbul sightseeing tour. Why not make your layover at Istanbul a travel diary full of ‘selfie’ moments at some of the historical landmarks in the city, rather than waiting for the connecting flight?

Visa Requirement for Touristanbul Program

Do I need a Turkish visa to get on a (free) tour of Istanbul while in transit? Getting on a city tour, though during a layover, means exiting Istanbul airport and entering the country; hence, it requires a Turkish visa. Indians having a valid US visa or Green Card (lawful residence permit), a UK or Ireland visa, or a Schengen visa, are eligible for a single-entry e-visa to Turkey. You can obtain an e-visa from Turkey Government’s e-visa portal or Turkish Airlines’ counter or desk at the departure airport.

Turkey is a visa-free destination for US citizens

US citizens are exempt from the visa requirement to visit Turkey as the country granted visa-free travel access to the United States. If you are a US passport holder, you are eligible for visa-free stay in Turkey for up to 90 days in a period of six months. Not just for Americans, Turkey is now a visa-free destination and transit stopover for Canadians as well. So, as a transit passenger with a US/Canadian passport, you can take advantage of the visa-free entry to Turkey and embark on a sightseeing tour during your long layover.

Suitable for family travelers, backpackers and solo trippers; the Touristanbul program covers all expenses for meals, transportation, tourist site entry fees and museum tickets. It is focused on Istanbul’s historical places, heritage sites, natural tourist attractions and beautiful restaurants. No advance registration for the program is required. You can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in Istanbul Airport’s International Arrivals Terminal. If you check in your baggage for the connecting flight, you can keep the bags at the airport’s baggage storage facility for a nominal fee.

Turkish Airlines’ unaccompanied passengers under 18 years of age are not eligible for the free Istanbul City tour, Touristanbul. There is something more exclusive for passengers of Turkish Airlines’ business class flights.

Indian Eagle travel, cheap flights to India from USA, cheap US-India flight tickets

Bosphorus Experience for Turkish Airlines’ Business Class Travelers

It will definitely be a cherry on the cake for Turkish Airlines’ passengers who have got cheap business class flight tickets to India or other destination via Istanbul. Yes, your itinerary must include at least 7-hour wait time at Istanbul Ataturk Airport. As part of the Bosphorus Experience in the city of Istanbul, you can have an exclusive, luxury motorboat ride on the Bosphorus River and drink to breathtaking views of the historical landmarks such as Dolmabahce Palace, the Maiden’s Tower, Galata Tower and Topkapi Palace. Turkish Airlines’ business class travelers in transit can have an unforgettable tryst with the city’s unmatched grandeur and magnificence while dining at any of the waterfront restaurants of Çırağan Palace Kempinski.

Turkish Airlines’ Overnight Stopover Program for Transit Passengers

What to do if your Turkish Airlines flight to India or USA includes connection time of 20 hours or more in Istanbul? You can sign up for Turkish airlines’ free Stopover Program for international transit passengers , regardless of your travel class. Passengers of Turkish Airlines’ economy flights to India or USA are eligible for complimentary one-night accommodation at a 4-star hotel. Those traveling on Turkish Airlines’ business class flights between USA and India will get complimentary stay for two nights in a 5-star hotel.

How to apply for free hotel accommodation under the Istanbul Stopover Program?

Once you have booked a US-India round-trip itinerary of Turkish Airlines through Indian Eagle , a most trusted travel-booking partner of Indian Diaspora, you are needed to follow a process detailed here . The airline will issue a hotel voucher to you after you provide your PNR/ticket number, valid email ID, phone number and your preferred room type (single or double) at least 72 hours prior to your departure from the country of travel origin. The stopover program can be availed for either onward or return trip.

What are the best tourist places to visit in Istanbul during a stopover?

Unique in geography and rich in history, Istanbul is a vibrant cosmopolitan city with an unmistakable old-world charm to it. The city is a treasure trove of historical, cultural and architectural wonders. Two of the unmissable tourist attractions you must visit during a Istanbul stopover are the iconic Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque – the masterpieces of Byzantine and Ottoman architecture respectively. Also, Topkapi Palace, Sultanahmet Square, Galata Tower, Basilica Cistern, and Kariye Museum are havens for history and architecture enthusiasts. The colorful Grand Bazaar is the ultimate hunting ground for shopaholics whereas the Bosphorus Cruise immerses you in the beauty of Istanbul skyline on laidback evenings.

I have a long layover at Istanbul Airport both during my onward travel from US to India and return trip. If I apply for Touristanbul, will I still be eligible for Free Istanbul Stopover while returning?

No. You can only avail one of the two free programs offered by Turkish Airlines. No passenger can apply for both Touristanbul and Free Istanbul Stopover for the same itinerary.

My flight got canceled due to operational reasons and I had to reschedule my travel. Should I rebook Turkish Airlines’ stopover program?

Yes, you need to rebook the stopover program and free hotel accommodation service. Your current booking of Turkish Airlines’ free stopover program will be automatically cancelled in case your flight is cancelled due to operational reasons.

My US-India itinerary involves Turkish Airlines’ codeshare flights with IndiGo. Can I apply for the Free Istanbul Stopover Accommodation service?

Yes, Turkish Airlines’ US-India itineraries involving flights operated by its codeshare partner, IndiGo, qualify for the Free Istanbul Stopover Accommodation service. You can avail the free stopover program either during your onward trip to India or return journey to the USA.

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Secret Travel Trick: Free Istanbul City Tour During Turkish Airlines Layover

Here’s a pretty cool travel “trick”: Turkish Airlines will either put you up in a hotel for the night or give you a free tour of the city if you have a long enough layover in Istanbul-IST. We covered the details on the free hotel room here (Secret Travel Trick: Free Hotel Layover in Istanbul with Turkish Airlines) , now for the free city tour:

You can participate in Turkish Airlines’ “TourIstanbul” for free by meeting the following requirements (can be a paid or award ticket):

You’re flying Turkish Airlines into and out of Istanbul
You’re just passing through Turkey, your origin and destination is international
Your layover is between 6 hours and 24 hours
Whole day, 9am to 6pm tour: arrive IST before 8am and connecting flight must be after 7:30pm
Half day, 9am to 3pm tour: arrive IST before 8am and connecting flight must be after 4:30pm
Half day, 12pm to 6pm tour: arrive IST before 11am and connecting flight must be after 7:30pm

How to Get It

Compared to the free hotel, the free Istanbul city tour has a lot fewer strings attached. Since the only requirement is to have a minimum of 6 hours connection time on your international Turkish Airlines transfer, there aren’t too many technicalities that might exclude you.

If you have time for the full day tour, here’s a sample of what you’ll be able to see:

You must be an international transit passenger of Turkish Airlines. Your connection should not be longer than 24 hours. Our scheduled tours are everyday from 09:00 to 18:00, from 09:00 to 15:00 and from 12:00 to 18:00. Thus, your departure and arrival time of your flight should be compatible with our scheduled tours. a – For 09:00 /18:00 Tour Arrival time must be 08:00 or earlier than 08:00 Departure time must be 19:30 or later than 19:30 b – For 09:00/15:00 Tour Your Arrival time must be 08:00 or earlier than 08:00 Departure time must be 16:30 or later than 16:30 c – For 12:00/18:00 Tour Your Arrival time must be 11:00 or earlier Departure time must be 19:30 or later than 19:30 Your arrival time should be enough to be ready at the Hotel Desk half hour before the tour starts. For instance for our 09:00 tour, we kindly ask you to be ready in front of Hotel Desk at 08:30 am. For the 12:00 tour, this is 11:30am. Secondly, we expect our passengers to be ready for boarding and pass the passport and custom control minimum 1 hour before their scheduled departure time. For instance if we assume that your departure is at 18:30pm, we may only suggest tours ending at 15:00.

Where to Go

When you get to Istanbul, you’ll have to clear customs and immigration (and, if you’re a US citizen, pay $20 US in cash for a visa). Once out of customs, you’ll be on the Arrivals floor; turn right and walk to the end and you’ll find the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk/TourIstanbul Meeting Point right next to Starbucks.

Source: Mr. Roboto

Free food! “Will we pay for the meals in the touri̇stanbul programme? — No, you are our guest. The food service is for free. We will introduce you with Ottoman cuisine and Turkish hospitality.”
Check out the full details here: http://www.istanbulinhours.com/
The tour itineraries vary slightly based upon day of the week due to the operating hours of some attractions
You must be able to obtain a Turkish visa to leave the airport when transiting internationally.
You cannot have both the free night and the tour during the same layover; however, you could schedule your flights so that on the inbound you participate in the free tour and on the return you make use of the free hotel
This is available for both paid and award bookings or don’t forget that Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member so you can use United miles for this trick, as well.
Contact info for the Hotel Desk is +90 212 463 63 63 / ext. 12426-15532 or [email protected] and [email protected].

BOTTOM LINE : Have a long layover in Istanbul? Turkish Airlines, the country’s national airline, wants to show you a good time and promote tourism to the region all while (hopefully) keeping you as a more satisfied customer by taking you on a free tour of the city.

Featured image source: by lonjemoko on pichost.me

10 Things To Do On A Layover In Istanbul, Türkiye

Indulge in Turkish cuisine by booking a food tour in Istanbul to experience the culture and traditions through food. Best Tour Companies: Secret Food Tours and Yummy Istanbul. Cost varies.
Explore the aromatic spice market at the Egyptian Bazaar in Fatih district. Hours: 8 AM to 7:30 PM. Cost: Free.
Take advantage of Istanbul's unique location and cross the Bosphorus to explore two continents within one city. Cost: From ~10 Turkish Lira ($0.50).

Visiting Istanbul, Türkiye, on a layover, is a great way to cross another country off the bucket list without paying for a separate flight to the destination.

Turkish Airlines is an ideal airline for transiting through Istanbul and making use of the stopover time to explore (there are also many other airlines that offer free stopovers ). Turkish Airlines even has a stopover program for connections of 20 hours or longer in Istanbul .

So, for those wondering how to spend a layover in Istanbul, here are a number of things to do in the capital of Turkey , a city that bridges continents.

Related: Traveling Turkey? Here Are The Best Modes Of Transportation

Take A Turkish Food Tour

One of the best things to do in Istanbul on a layover is to indulge in Turkish cuisine. Hopefully, travelers arrive hungry (or make room) because the food in Istanbul's best dining spots is worth indulging in.

Booking a food tour as part of a stopover in Istanbul is a great way to learn about the culture and traditions through food while getting information about the best and oldest restaurants in the city.

Best Tour Companies: Secret Food Tours and Yummy Istanbul
Cost: Varies

Visit A Spice Market

Spice markets are an aromatic place to explore and shop in Istanbul. The Egyptian Bazaar in the Fatih district is home to an expansive spice market that overwhelms the senses in the best possible way.

Address: Rüstem Paşa, 34116 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 8 AM to 7:30 PM

Related: 10 Off-The-Beaten-Path Destinations You Should Visit In Turkey

Cross The Bosphorus To Asia

The Istanbul Airport is located in the city’s Arnavutköy District, which is on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait.

This body of water divides Europe and Asia, allowing travelers to explore two continents within one city on a single layover.

Address: Caferağa, 34710 Kadıköy/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 24 hours
Cost: From ~10 Turkish Lira ($0.50)

Visit A Mosque

Islam is the primary religion in Turkiye, with 99% of the population identifying as Muslim . As such, there are some beautiful mosques in Istanbul that are worth visiting on a brief layover.

Both the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque are impressive structures, so travelers can make time to visit at least one.

Address: Hagia Sophia, Sultan Ahmet, Ayasofya Meydanı No:1, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye OR Blue Mosque, Binbirdirek, At Meydanı Cd No:10, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: Open 24 hours but visitors hours may vary (confirm before visiting)
Cost: Free (Donations are welcome)

Remember that modest dress codes apply when visiting mosques. Out of respect for the religion, travelers should ensure they are wearing appropriate clothes .

Have A Turkish Breakfast

A traditional Turkish breakfast is something of a feast, and travelers will want to experience it if they have at least 24 hours in Istanbul.

The table is filled with many small dishes, including olives, eggs, tomatoes, fresh-baked bread, cucumbers, cured meats, cheeses, jams, honey, and pastries.

Where To Have Turkish Breakfast: Café Privato Restaurant, Poiká Breakfast & Coffee, and Van Kahvaltı Evi

Related: Check Out These 10 Unmissable Travel Experiences In Turkey

Bathe In A Traditional Turkish Hammam

Bathing in a traditional Turkish Hamman (spa) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that deserves to be on travelers’ bucket lists.

These steam baths and public bath experiences are found all over Istanbul, but the Hurrem Sultan Hammam is often regarded as the best in the city.

Address: Cankurtaran, Ayasofya Meydanı No:2, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 8 AM to 10 PM
Cost: From 90 euros (~$94)

Shop At The Grand Bazaar In Istanbul

Shopping is a great way to pass the time on a layover and obtain some souvenirs of the trip. Travelers can head to the Grand Bazaar, one of the oldest and largest covered markets in the world, located in the heart of Istanbul.

There are more than 4,000 shops, so there is truly something for everyone here.

Address: Beyazıt, 34126 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 8:30 AM to 7 PM (closed Sunday)

Related: 10 Cheap Vacation Spots In Turkey You Should Visit This Summer

Walk Around The Sultanahmet District

With limited time on a layover, travelers can simply stroll around the Sultanahmet District in Istanbul to take in some of the top sights.

This historic neighborhood is home to the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia mosque, and the Obelisk of Theodosius. All of these sites are among the top attractions in Istanbul to visit on a layover, as they showcase the city's beauty, architecture, and history, all in one convenient place.

Address: Sultanahmet, Alemdar, 34110 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: Open 24 hours

Tour The Topkapı Palace

The TopkapÄ± Palace is a must-visit stop in Istanbul on a brief layover in Istanbul. It’s conveniently located in the Fatih District and was the administrative center of the Ottoman Empire from the 1460s until the 1850s.

Today, it can be toured as a museum that paints a vivid picture of Istanbul’s storied history.

Address: Cankurtaran, 34122 Fatih/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 10 AM to 4 PM (closed Tuesday)
Cost: From 750 Turkish Lira (~$27)

Visit The Galata Tower

History buffs should make a stop at the Galata Tower in Istanbul when exploring the Turkish capital on a layover. This structure was initially built as a watch tower, and today, it’s a museum.

The Galata Tower is located in the BeyoÄlu district of the city, which is one of the best places for travelers to stay. Perfect for spending an overnight layover!

Address: Bereketzade, 34421 Beyoğlu/İstanbul, Türkiye
Hours: 8:30 AM to 10 PM
Cost: 650 Turkish Lira (~$23.00)

10 Things To Do On A Layover In Istanbul, Türkiye

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Tour schedules & details

T01 08:00-11:30 Sightseeing Tour
T02 08:30-15:00 Half day tour
T03 08:30-18:00 Full day tour
T04 12:00-18:00 Turkish History Tv Series Tour
T05 16:00-21:30 Evening tour
T06 18:30-23:00 Bosphorus tour (operating between 01 May-31 October)
T07 18:30-23:00 Shopping tour (operating between 1 November-30 April)

Departure from İstanbul Airport

Dolmabahçe Palace

Turkish Breakfast

Taksim Square

Aqueduct of Valens

YeniKapı Harbour

Eminonu District

Photo break on the Galata Bridge to capture views of the Historical Peninsula

Golden Horn

Balat with ancient houses

Fener Greek Orthodox College

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church

Arrival at İstanbul Airport

Blue Mosque

Hippodrome: German Fountain

Egyptian Obelisk

Serpentine Column

Walled Obelisk

Ayasofya Mosque (Outside Visit)

Istanbul Museum of the History of Science and Technology in Islam

Pierre Loti Hill& Coffe house

Eyüp Sultan Mosque

Byzantine City walls

Ayvansaray Sahaba Tombs

Church of St Mary (Panagia-Blachemae)

Bulgarian St Stephen Church (Outside Visit)

Ahrida Synagogue

Fener Greek Orthodox College (Outside Visit)

Patriarchate of İstanbul

Ortaköy Square

The Statue of Liberty

Consulate General of France

Aya Triada church

Saint Antonine Church

Galata Mevlevihane

Galata Tower ( Outside Visit)

Golden Horn and Bosphorus Cruise

Dolmabahçe Palace ( Outside visit )

Topkapı Palace

Grand Bazaar

Spice Bazaar

Caferaga Medrese

Visiting Historical castle and palace sets

Forging activity

Archery activities

Traditional glass art workshop

Show Time (Journey of Turkish People in the History)

Column of Constantine

Nuruosmaniye Mosque

Tomb of Mahmud the 2nd

Dinner in the courtyard of the Dolmabahçe Palace

Bosphorus Cruise

Dinner in the courtyard of Dolmabahçe Palace

Shopping at Galataport

As TourIstanbul, we reserve the right to change itineraries listed above in case of unexpected weather conditions, heavy traffic, major events in the city, etc.

About Touristanbul

If you have a connecting international flight in İstanbul, and a layover between six and 24 hours, you can take advantage of our complimentary Touristanbul service to discover İstanbul.

You can select one of the eight tours offered by Touristanbul according to the time frame best suited to your flight arrival and departure schedule. During the tours, you can visit İstanbul’s most notable historical sites and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience.

After landing at İstanbul Airport, you will be picked up by a vehicle and driven back to the airport at the end of the tour.

Although the tour times are carefully arranged and planned, if a guest is unable to make their flight in cases that are our responsibility, we will ensure that the passenger reaches their destination smoothly via the next flight.

How to book Touristanbul

If you are on an international flight that connects through İstanbul with a layover between six and 24 hours, you can enjoy the Touristanbul. After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, you can sign up for Touristanbul at the Hotel Desk in the International Arrivals Terminal of İstanbul Airport or from our Touristanbul Desk Office in the Transfer desk area.

Passengers can take advantage of free tour using their ticket number only ıf issued by Turkish Airlines ticket number starting 235. Touristanbul is available for Turkish Airlines’ flights including codeshare flights.

Before visiting Türkiye, you can obtain an e-visa at www.evisa.gov.tr/ website. Please check your country’s requirements to see if it is necessary to obtain a visa to enter Türkiye.

If you are eligible for an e-visa you may obtain it from the Turkish Airlines Sales / Ticket Desks before or on the day of your departure.

Where can i find the Touristanbul desk?

Discover i̇stanbul.

Enjoy your meal

See you soon.

IMAGES

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Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul City Tour Program

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COMMENTS

Touristanbul
Touristanbul is a complimentary tour service offered for Turkish Airlines passengers with international transfer flights. Passengers who have a connecting flight from İstanbul and have a layover time between 6 and 24 hours can benefit from Touristanbul and start exploring the city. As of April 22, our 12:00-18:00 tour will continue as the ...
What is Touristanbul?
Touristanbul is a free layover service for all international transfer Turkish Airlines passengers. Anyone who flies through İstanbul and has a 6-24 hours layover time welcome to Touristanbul. After you arrive at Istanbul Airport, you will be picked up. Then you will be taken to the historical places and beautiful restaurants.
Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul City Tour Program
Turkish Airlines' Touristanbul complimentary city tour. Touristanbul is the name of Turkish Airlines' program that offers a free city tour if you have an extended layover at Istanbul Airport (IST). Here are the basic things to be aware of: This is available to international Turkish Airlines passengers when you have a connection of six to 24 hours
The Complete Guide to TourIstanbul with Turkish Airlines
TourIstanbul is a free tour of Istanbul offered by Turkish Airlines. If your layover at the Istanbul Airport is longer than six hours and the times align, they will take you on a fully guided tour! Additionally, you must be flying on Turkish Airlines to be eligible for these tours. They pick your tour based on your flight times, so some offer ...
Free Istanbul Layover Perks by Turkish Airlines
Free Istanbul City Tour by Turkish Airlines. Let's begin with the complimentary Istanbul city tour, whose eligibility criteria are relatively straightforward. If you have a layover in Istanbul of between six and 24 hours, and if you're flying with Turkish Airlines on both their inbound and outbound flights, then you're eligible for the ...
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Did you know you can see Istanbul for free if you fly with Turkish Airlines? I had a 24-hour layover in Istanbul on my way back to America and there was no w...
Tour Schedule
Tour schedule Time to discover famous Hagia Sophia, Dolmabahce Palace, Topkapi Place, Blue Mosque and more! Enjoy the great Bosphorus view and taste delicious Turkish and Ottoman traditional food at an elegant restaurant. Take a glance at the program and get ready to fill every moment with joy in Istanbul.
Review of Touristanbul
Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines. Our plane from Bangkok landed at Istanbul New Airport (IST) around 4:00, as scheduled. We had an international fight with a layover of over 6 hours in Istanbul so we have decided to try Touristanbul - free Istanbul tour with Turkish Airlines. The first thing you need to know is ...
Touristanbul review: Get your free city tour of Istanbul now!
Touristanbul is a free (tour gratis Turkish Airlines) service applicable for all international passengers passing through Istanbul. It is free and the only requirements is that the layover is between 6 to 24 hours. You will get a tour of Istanbul during this time.
My experience with Turkish Airlines Free Hotel or tour
1 year ago. I read many posts about Turkish Airlines' free Istanbul tour AND free layover hotel. I also wanna to share my experience with everyone here. Im still very confused about it too and personally think that the advertising is very misleading. I recently purchased a Turkish Airlines round trip ticket from Texas to Paris with a 23-hour ...
Here's How to Get a Free Day Tour in Istanbul
Between 6 and 24 hours, you will qualify for a free day tour of Istanbul. Longer than 10 hours, you will qualify for a free hotel room at a local hotel. NOTE* For free hotel rooms, both your arriving and departing flights must be on Turkish Airlines metal. Codeshare flights do not qualify.
Free Istanbul City Tour
Leave the Airport for a City Sightseeing Tour. So here's the deal: Turkish Airlines is making your layover at Istanbul Ataturk Airport even more productive by offering Touristanbul free tours of 6-9 hours in length, focused on the most significant historical places, for guests transiting Turkey who've purchased tickets on Turkish Airlines.
How to score a free walking tour in Istanbul
Booking a free walking tour Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. You don't actually need to book your Touristanbul tour. As long as you have an international ticket and a layover between 6 and 24 hours you are eligible and can just show your ticket at the Touristanbul/ Hotel Desk counter. All the tours are a combination of bus and walking tour and ...
Turkish Airlines Offers Free Istanbul Tour and Overnight Stopover to
Turkish Airlines offers Touristanbul, a guided Istanbul City tour for free to its international passengers in transit. Turkish Airlines' Free Istanbul Tour for Transit Passengers If you are flying Turkish Airlines from USA to India, and if your itinerary has a layover of 6 hours or more at Istanbul International Airport, you should not miss ...
Secret Travel Trick: Free Istanbul City Tour During Turkish Airlines
This is available for both paid and award bookings or don't forget that Turkish Airlines is a Star Alliance member so you can use United miles for this trick, as well. Contact info for the Hotel Desk is +90 212 463 63 63 / ext. 12426-15532 or [email protected] and [email protected].
How to take advantage of airline stopover programs
The terms vary by airline and destination, but in general, stopovers give you the chance to leave the airport and explore an extra location on your way to or from your primary destination on the ...
10 Things To Do On A Layover In Istanbul, Türkiye
Spice markets are an aromatic place to explore and shop in Istanbul. The Egyptian Bazaar in the Fatih district is home to an expansive spice market that overwhelms the senses in the best possible ...
Free hotel with long layover at IST airport?
55 posts. Free hotel with long layover at IST airport? May 14, 2024, 8:30 AM. Hi. I have a very long layover on one leg of my trip connecting at IST airport and I have seen that where there is no earlier flight (as is the case for me), Turkish airlines offers a hotel (not the free stopover which is your choice).
Touristanbul
During the tours, you can visit İstanbul's most notable historical sites and enjoy authentic Turkish cuisine. In the city that never sleeps, Touristanbul offers an unforgettable experience. ... After your Turkish Airlines connecting international flight lands in İstanbul, ... Passengers can take advantage of free tour using their ticket ...
Explore Istanbul'S MagnificenT Sights With Turkish Airlines
Business & Technology Review. EXPLORE ISTANBUL'S MAGNIFICENT SIGHTS WITH TURKISH AIRLINES. 2024-03-28 - —anam@khaleejtimes.com. Embarking on an adventure to Istanbul has become a breeze, all thanks to Turkish Airlines' enticing offers that allow travelers like myself to immerse in the mesmerising beauty of this historic city for free.

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Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Review: A Day in Istanbul Turkey; Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul E-Tour

Booking the Turkish Airlines E-Tour:

Visiting the Galata Bridge:

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Palace:

Visiting the Dolmabahçe Mosque:

My Thoughts on the Turkish Airlines E-Tour at Istanbul:

If you’ve taken advantage of the Turkish Airlines TourIstanbul, did you find it worth your connection time ?

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Review of Touristanbul - Free Istanbul Tour with Turkish Airlines

Free Tour Itinerary

7:55 Tour Start

9:00 Photo break on Galata Bridge

9:25 Photo break at Dolmabahçe Palace

10:00 Leave from Dolmabahçe Palace

10:50 Istanbul Airport

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Touristanbul review: Get your free city tour of Istanbul now!

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