Did you know that Turkish Airlines offers a free tour of Istanbul if your layover is longer than six hours? It’s called TourIstanbul, and you can book it directly at the airport! It is a great way to get out and see the city! I recently took a TourIstanbul tour when I had a 14-hour layover at the Istanbul airport. Keep reading for the complete guide to TourIstanbul!
Contents:
- What is TourIstanbul?
- What Does the Tour Include?
- Is TourIstanbul Really Free?
- How to Signup
- Is There Luggage Storage Available?
- Is TourIstanbul Worth it?
- Get a Free Hotel Room from Turkish Airlines
What is TourIstanbul?
TourIstanbul is a free tour of Istanbul offered by Turkish Airlines. If your layover at the Istanbul Airport is longer than six hours and the times align, they will take you on a fully guided tour! Additionally, you must be flying on Turkish Airlines to be eligible for these tours.
They pick your tour based on your flight times, so some offer more than others. Either way, it’s a great way to fight that layover boredom!
If you are worried about returning to the airport on time, don’t stress! The TourIstanbul team has planned their schedules carefully to work with your flights. If something goes wrong with the timing, Turkish Airlines will book you on the next flight to your destination!
What Does the Tour Include?
TourIstanbul provides a bus to the city, a meal, and entry fees into all museums/attractions. Tours range from a few hours to a full-day tour and have a variety of activities.
Unfortunately, my tour didn’t go into specific attractions due to timing. However, we saw iconic landmarks such as the Grand Bazaar, Hagia Sofia, the Blue Mosque, and many more. After sightseeing, we sat down and had a delicious multi-course meal where I got to try traditional Turkish food. They were even able to accommodate my dietary restrictions as a vegetarian.
Click here to check out the different tours that they offer!
Is TourIstanbul Really Free?
It sounds too good to be true, but TourIstanbul is actually free! However, if you don’t have a visa to enter Turkey, you’ll need to pay for it. You can purchase it on-site at the airport or online in advance. I purchased my visa at the airport because I wanted to make sure that my flight to Turkey wasn’t delayed, and that I would have time to go on the tour.
I have a United States passport and paid around 50 USD for my visa. Click here to review visa information based on which passport you have.
Click here to learn about getting an e-visa in advance.
How to Signup
You can’t signup for TourIstanbul in advance. You have to visit the desk at the airport to register for a tour. Before heading to the tour desk, you must purchase your visa if you don’t have an e-visa. There are visa desks before passport control where you can buy one. Once you purchase it, follow the signs to exit the airport and proceed through passport control. The TourIstanbul desk is opposite of meeting point 4 by arrivals. Click here to view an interactive map to locate the TourIstanbul desk.
Once you locate the desk, you can speak with the agent to schedule your free tour! You will provide them with your ticket number so they can assign you to the tour that best fits your travel day. From there, you can hang out in that area until 30 minutes before your tour time. At that point, return to the desk to prepare for your tour! A guide will meet you and take it from there.
Is There Luggage Storage Avaliable?
If you are traveling with carry-on luggage, you can locate lockers next to the TourIstanbul desk. You can leave your luggage here for a small fee. As you will be walking around the city, I recommend storing your bags in the lockers where they will be safe. I left my backpack and suitcase here, and it was safely stored until I returned from my tour.
Is TourIstanbul Worth it?
It is totally worth it! I love exploring new places, and there’s no better time to do that than when the only other option is sitting in the airport. I loved getting a taste of Istanbul and exploring some of its most iconic destinations. As a solo traveler, it was also a great way to meet others, as we sat together at large tables, and I met travelers from all over the world!
Get a Free Hotel Room From TurkishAir
Some passengers may also be eligible for a free hotel room from Turkish Airlines based on their layover time! You can not take advantage of the free TourIstanbul tour and the hotel room. Additionally, there are many more conditions to receive free accommodation. Check out the list below to see if you qualify!
- If you are economy class, your layover must be longer than 12 hours. For business class, it must be longer than 9 hours.
- If there was a shorter layover time offered, you are not eligible, even if that option is full! This means that you are only eligible if this was the best flight option offered by Turkish Airlines. For example, if you booked a flight that had a 12-hour layover, but there was also a flight with a 4-hour layover to your destination, you are not eligible.
- If you are under 18 you must be accompanied by an adult.
Click here for more information on the Turkish Airlines website! To claim this offer, you must visit the Hotel Desk at the Istanbul airport.
Next time you pass through Istanbul Airport, take advantage of these great opportunities offered by Turkish Airlines! I love finding ways to maximize my flights! Have you been on a TourIstanbul tour before? Leave a comment below about your experience!
If you are booking flights soon, check out my article: “How to Find Cheap Plane Tickets in 2o23!”