Selin & Benjamin

TRAVEL TO ISTANBUL

Turkey requires visas prior arrival for most nationalities. You can get an e-Visa through the official Republic of Turkey e-Visa website before you travel.

-An e-visa costs $20. You can make payment by credit/debit card.

-You can apply up to 3 months in advance of your travel date.

*Passport control officers at ports of entry can verify your e-Visa on their system. However, you are advised to keep your e-Visa with you either as a soft copy (tablet PC, smart phone, etc.) or as a hard copy in case of any failure on their system.

Click here to apply for E-Visa

*Who needs a visa to Turkey ?

Click here and scroll down to e-visa

Turkish Airlines has direct flights from most major cities in the US and abroad. Turkish Airlines’ customer service and food are so widely complimented among travelers that the odds are definitely in your favor with this airline.

Click here for Turkish Airlines

Short Video about Istanbul

Airports - The new Istanbul Airport is located northwest from the city. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located in the European side of the city, west from the downtown. Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport is located in the Asian side of Istanbul, east from the downtown and outside the city center.

Istanbul New Airport (IST/LTFM) - From April 7, 2019 on wards all the commercial and scheduled traffic to Istanbul will be operating from the new airport.

Istanbul Airport

Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW/LTFJ) - Sabiha Gokcen remains an attractive choice to Business/General Aviation operators.

Ataturk Airport (ISL/LTBA) - If you have been to Istanbul, you probably landed / transferred from Ataturk Airport. From April 7, 2019 on wards the Istanbul Ataturk airport (LTBA) will be dedicated to only general aviation, air taxi, business aviation, cargo, maintenance / technical, and state aircraft flights.

*AIRPORT TRANSFER : You may use linked service to get to your hotel from the airport. The driver will be waiting for you in the airport arrivals area holding a sign with your name on it. Please provide your arrival details in the RSVP for the wedding, and we'll do our best to pair you with other arriving guests.

for Airport Transfer: www.istanbulairportstransfer.net/

*CAR RENTAL: All known rental car companies have multiple locations in Istanbul. You may also rent a car through online travel agencies like Expedia, Kayak..

Car rental companies have to provide electronic toll-payment device (you cannot pay highway or bridge tolls with cash or credit card) and parking garage entry card for return. Please make sure to ask for them !

*BITAKSI: Sorry! Uber doesn't service in Istanbul, however BITAKSI is the app used by locals (it is an "Uber" for Yellow Cabs)

to download BITAKSI: www.bitaksi.com/en/

*PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Is Public Transportation in Istanbul Safe?
Yes. Metro, tram, and funicular lines in the city center are well maintained and constantly supervised by security personnel.

How to Pay for Public Transportation?
There are basically two ways to pay for the fare: either you get a token (jeton) from the sales booth or vending machines (jetonmatik), or you use the Istanbul Card (Istanbul Kart) — an electronic boarding pass. This single card enables you to pay for multiple types of transportation: buses, metros, ferries, funiculars, and tramways (yes, even the nostalgic one running on the historical parts of the city).