Flights from Luton to Istanbul

Why go to Istanbul?

Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia and is located at the entrance to the Black Sea, with the Bosporus river flowing through. Istanbul is one of Europe's most ancient cities and has fascinated visitors for centuries. With its lively history, it has been fought over, conquered and liberated many times in the past and is now a great place to visit for atmosphere, culture and historical stories.

When is a good time to fly to Istanbul?

Istanbul enjoys a Mediterranean climate and the best time to go is between May and October. A winter visit may also be enjoyable for shopping and sightseeing as the streets will be less crowded.

The celebrations on Attaturk's commemorative day, 19th May, are also worth seeing. Many other festivals are celebrated throughout the year: Islamic festivals will occur on varying dates.

What do you you need before you go?

UK visitors will require a visa to enter Turkey; these can be applied for and purchased online. Passports have to be valid for at least 6 months from entering the country. All usual vaccinations are recommended for a visit. Street food is of a good quality in the city and is worthwhile exploring. Prices are low and rough prices are: snacks from ca. 2 TRY, kebabs start at 8 TRY, and beer costs 6 TRY upwards. Haggling is expected when shopping, especially at the Egyptian Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar.

How do you get around Istanbul?

Once landed, passengers can take shuttle buses into the centre of Istanbul. These are operated by either HAVAIST or IETT and will cost around 50 TRY taking at least 40 minutes for the trip into town. Head to the 2nd floor of the terminal building to catch the bus. Taxis to Taksim will cost about 200 TRY.

Accommodation in hostels costs about TRY, with a good choice of accommodation in the Eminönü (Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar) as well as Beyoğlu (Taksim Square, İstiklâl Caddesi) areas.

The public transport network in Istanbul is good and cheap. Buses, metros, minibuses, ferry (a great experience), metrobuses and trams all crisscross the city. Your best bet is to buy an Istanbulkart, which is valid for all public transport and can be recharged as needed.