- By plane to Istanbul
- How to get to the city from the airports
Istanbul is one of the most unique cities on our planet. It resembles a giant cauldron in which cultures, eras, nationalities and religions melt. The city was the capital not only of Turkey, but also of four empires that left the most important mark in the history of mankind. If you are deciding how to get to Istanbul, pay attention to the direct flight with Turkish airlines. As a rule, it is this carrier that is distinguished by democratic ticket prices and manages to maintain the high quality of services provided to passengers.
By plane to Istanbul
Scoring the Moscow - Istanbul direction into the search for air tickets, we get several results that are quite affordable in terms of price, and therefore we choose the most suitable flight in terms of departure time:
- Despite its reputation as a charter airline, the Turkish carrier Onur Air also operates regular flights from Moscow to Istanbul. True, the boards start from the little popular Zhukovsky airport near Moscow, but arrive in Istanbul exactly on schedule 3 hours after takeoff. The cost of a round trip is $ 160.
- At the airport. Sabiha Gokcen in Istanbul, Pegasus Airlines planes land. A direct flight also takes about three hours, and for a ticket from Moscow Domodedovo airport and back, you will have to pay about $ 180.
- Representatives of the Russian company Aeroflot evaluate their services most expensively. For a ticket from Moscow Sheremetyevo to Istanbul airport. Ataturk's passenger will have to pay $ 230. You will have to spend 3, 5 hours in the sky.
- Turkish airlines offer a slightly cheaper flight - from $ 210. Their boards fly from Vnukovo to the main international airport of Istanbul. Ataturk. This airline has in its schedule regular flights not only from the capital of Russia, but also from other domestic airports. Detailed schedule and conditions for purchasing tickets, prices and services provided by the airline are contained in the information for passengers on the website - www.turkishairlines.com.
A great way to stay up-to-date with airline special offers and be the first to receive information about ticket discounts is to email newsletters. You can subscribe on the official websites of air carriers.
In order to get to Istanbul and get acquainted with the most famous sights of the Turkish city, a traveler with Russian citizenship will not need a visa. You just need to have a passport valid for 120 days from the expected date of crossing the border. It will not be superfluous to issue a health insurance policy. A visa to Turkey is required only if you plan to stay in the country for more than 60 days.
How to get to the city from the airports
The bulk of travelers arrives in Istanbul through the air gates - the airports. Ataturk and them. Sabihi Gokcen.
Ataturk Airport has its own Istanbul metro station called Havalimani:
- You can go to the station following the Light Rail signs, and enter the carriage by purchasing a token or a refillable plastic card to pay for metro services. The cost of a single trip is just over $ 1.
- It is convenient to take the metro to Zeytinburnu station, where you can change to tram line T1. This route passes through the Sultanahmet area, the waterfront and Galata Bridge, where most of Istanbul's most famous landmarks are located.
- Istanbul Light Metro is open to passengers from 6 am to midnight.
Buses are the second type of public transport serving the airport. Ataturk and connecting it with the city. Havatas express trains leave every half hour from the stop at the exit of the passenger terminal and continue to Taksim Square in the city center. The fare is $ 2.5. The journey will take about 45 minutes. Buses run from 4 am to 1 am.
If you decide to get to Istanbul from the airport. Ataturk by taxi, get ready to shell out from $ 15 to $ 30, depending on the remoteness of the area of the city you need. Remember about traffic jams, which significantly increase the travel time and the amount calculated by the taximeter and for downtime, as well.
The largest airport in Istanbul has offices of all well-known car rental companies. Their offices are located in the arrivals halls of each of the terminals. Fans of driving in the realities of a bustling eastern city can get to the center in their chosen and rented car.
Airport them. Sabihi Gokcen is located in the East Asian part of Istanbul and bears the name of the first Turkish military pilot. This is where Pegasus Airlines and sometimes Turkish Airlines land most often. Passengers can get to the city center from this airport by taxi or public transport. In the first case, the trip will cost $ 30-$ 35. Bus services are much cheaper. You will pay only $ 3 for a ticket. Take the E10 route to the Kadikoy region. The journey will take from 40 minutes to one hour, depending on traffic.
In Kadikoy, you will have to change to a ferry that runs across the strait to the European part of the city. Ships leave from 7 am to 9 pm. The price of the trip is $ 2.
The second option is a bus from the airport to Taksim. This area is handled by the Havatas company. The schedule has regular flights from 4 am to 1 am, and the fare is approximately $ 4.
All prices in the material are approximate. It is better to check the exact fare on the official websites of the carriers.
