Istanbul Travel Guide - Airport

International flights from Istanbul Ataturk connect with the likes of London, Moscow, Cairo, New York and Kuala Lumpur. Turkish Airlines, the national carrier, is the main operator with direct flights to more than 100 destinations from Istanbul. Other major airlines that fly to Istanbul Ataturk include Lufthansa, Emirates and Singapore Airlines.

The airport itself is split into a domestic and international terminal with about 60 per cent of air traffic flying to and from destinations outside of Turkey; although domestic traffic is growing at a faster rate. By 2012, the airport expects to be handling some 50 million passengers per year, half of which would be flying within the country.

Airport information: +90 212 4655555

Transportation: taxis can easily be arranged at the arrivals exit from both terminals, offering very reasonable fares into the city and to destinations in the wider Istanbul region. Ataturk Airport is also connected by the metro system on the southern line, which passes the stop for the main bus station on the European side on its way into the city centre.

Buses also run a variety of routes, stopping at popular destinations in the city such as Taksim and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. Arriving passengers also have the choice of renting a car at arrivals with a selection of about 10 different operators with desks at the airport like Hertz and Avis as well as a few Turkish companies.