Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is the new, giant airport of Istanbul. The new airport has taken over all the flights previously handled by Ataturk Airport and now serves as the main air transport hub for all passengers heading to the Middle East and Asia.

Istanbul Airport is located approximately 44 km from the city centre. So, your driver will move on the main highway D020, keeping in mind to stay in the right lane to take the exit to F.S.M. Köprüsü/Kad?köy/Ankara.

Then head back towards the E80 motorway. Taking the exit towards Ka??thane/Sütlüce, it will cross the river and Imrahor Cd and continue towards Be?ikta?-Ka??thane Tüneli. This road will lead you to the Taksim area from where you will have to use local roads to reach your hotel.

The new airport has taken over all the flights previously handled by Ataturk Airport and now serves as the main air transport hub for all passengers heading to the Middle East and Asia. Istanbul Airport is located approximately 44 km from the city centre.

So, your driver will move on the main highway D020, keeping in mind to stay in the right lane to take the exit to F.S.M. Köprüsü/Kad?köy/Ankara.

Then head back towards the E80 motorway. Taking the exit towards Ka??thane/Sütlüce, it will cross the river and Imrahor Cd and continue towards Be?ikta?-Ka??thane Tüneli. This road will lead you to the Taksim area from where you will have to use local roads to reach your hotel.

Istanbul has a modern metro system complemented by state and private buses (tel: (0212) 245 0720; www.iett.gov.tr/en).

Istanbul TransportRailways reach to Atatürk Airport, the main bus station and Aksaray, Haydarpasa Terminal and the suburb of Gebze. Information on rail, metro and tram services can be obtained from Istanbul Ulasim (tel: (0212) 568 9970; www.istanbululasim.com.tr).

A different and nostalgic mode of transport are the cable cars that connect Kabatas to Taksim, the Nostaljik Tramvay line which runs on Istiklal Caddesi, the Tünel underground line, built in 1877, which travels up the steep hill between Karaköy and Istiklal Caddesi, and the small circular tram between Kadiköy and Moda

Istanbul Getting around the city Passenger ferries travel the Keratian Bay and the Bosphorus. Tickets are obtained from the kiosks at the platforms. Deniz Otobusu (sea buses) (tel: (0212) 444 4436; www.ido.com.tr/en) offers faster but more expensive transport

Dolmus minibuses have specific routes within Istanbul and in the suburbs. You can stop them wherever you want and pay the driver when you get on board.

Taxi:

Taxis can stop almost anywhere and at any time in Istanbul. The Turks usually don't tip, but the drivers hope to receive from tourists. Ask for the meter (taximeter) to be turned on, as required by law. Reliable Istanbul airport taxi companies are Canlicar Turizm Telsiz Taksi (tel: (0216) 318 1859), Istanbul Transfer (tel: (0212) 516 7701) and Zincirlikuyu Taksi (tel: (0212) 272 3625)

Driving:

Istanbul suffers from traffic congestion. Navigating the roads is difficult, driving standards are poor, and it is generally neither advisable nor necessary for tourists to drive in the city. Drivers must be over 21 years of age and have held a licence for at least one year.

Nas Diroo writes books about Travel. His books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. He is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller.