Istanbul

Flying is easily the fastest and most convenient option.

Istanbul has good connections from most major international airports. Flight times from Western Europe are typically around three to four hours.

There are two airports in Istanbul:

1. Atatürk on the European side
2. Sabiha Gökcen on the Asian side

Atatürk Airport has a metro connection and is considerably closer to Istanbul’s central neighborhoods. So if at all possible, that’s the one you want to fly into.

We always search for flights through Skyscanner — it’s simply where we find the best deals and connections.

Search for flights: Skyscanner

In Turkey, you pay with the Turkish lira. You can check the current exchange rate here: Oanda Currency Converter.

Istanbul is generally a very safe city — it holds its own against other major European capitals like Berlin, Paris, or London.

As in any big city, keep a close eye on your valuables and stay aware of your surroundings. But honestly, we never felt unsafe anywhere during our time there.

Before you travel, it’s worth checking the latest safety advisories for Turkey from your country’s foreign ministry.

Visa requirements depend on your nationality, so check the official requirements for your passport before you travel. Many Western nationalities can enter Turkey visa-free or obtain an e-visa online in advance.

You can really visit Istanbul any time of year — it never gets bitterly cold. We were there at the end of February and had around 50°F. Winter means lower hotel prices and far fewer tourists, which is a real bonus.

The warmest months are July and August, with temperatures around 82°F. Summer can also bring short heat waves pushing well above 86°F.

That’s why we’d especially recommend spring as the sweet spot. A trip in April is particularly great — not too hot for sightseeing, and tulips are blooming everywhere.

Like most big cities, Istanbul is at its liveliest when it’s warm and life spills out onto the streets.

Istanbul runs on UTC+3 year-round. Since Turkey doesn’t observe daylight saving time, the offset from Western Europe is two hours in winter and one hour in summer. From the US East Coast, Istanbul is typically seven hours ahead.

The language is Turkish. English gets you by in tourist areas and hotels, but don’t count on it everywhere.

Learn a few words and you’ll instantly get warmer reactions than most tourists:

• Hello – Merhaba
• Good day – Iyi Günler
• Goodbye – Görüşürüz
• Please – Memnuniyetle
• Thank you – Teşekkürler
• Excuse me – Özür dilerim
• Yes – Evet
• No – Hayir
• And the most important one: Cheers – Şerefe

To hear how these are pronounced, try having them read aloud on Reisewortschatz.de.

These are the Istanbul travel guides that impressed us most:

• Vis a Vis Travel Guide Istanbul
• Istanbul Travel Guide MM-City
• Lonely Planet Istanbul