Serving one of the biggest cities in the world with over 51 million passengers in 2013, the Istanbul Ataturk Airport ranks among top 10 busiest airports in the world and top 5 in Europe. It bears the name of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, in respect of Turkey’s first president and the founder of Republic of Turkey.

Initially opened in 1924, it grew to become Istanbul’s main international airport and the biggest airport in Turkey. It serves as a hub for three Turkish airline companies: Atlasjet, Onur Air and Turkish Airlines. The airport has four terminals, operated by TAV Airports Holding:

– Terminal 1 serves for domestic flights since the inauguration of Terminal 2, when international flights were moved to the newest airport’s addition. There are four airline companies operating on this terminal (Atlasjet, Onur Air, Pegasus Airlines and Turkish Airlines) serving each year a record number of domestic passengers. The busiest routes from this terminal are the ones connecting Istanbul with Ankara, Izmir and Antalya;

– Terminal 2 serves for international flights since inaugurated in 2000, with more than 70 airline companies serving passengers flying to and from Turkey’s biggest city;

– Terminal 3 is used for cargo flights, with 17 airlines operating from this terminal;

– General Aviation Terminal is used to accommodate flights run by operations holding “General Aviation” or “Air Taxi” licenses for smaller aircraft.

The airport was declared “The Airport of the Year” at the 2013 Air Transport News Awards Ceremony and “The Fastest Growing Airport” at Euro Annies 2013 Awards. It also holds the “Obstacle-Free Airport” certificate, ensuring to disabled passengers comfortable use of all services.

Restaurants & Lounges

There is a variety of cafes and restaurants in both Domestic and International Arrival and Departure Floors. Depending on your preferences, you can try Turkish traditional specialties or enjoy a meal in some of the world renowned restaurants. Most of the catering facilities are open 24 hours a day, but there are also a large number of restaurants closing at 23h, so bear that in mind when planning an overnight stay at the Ataturk Airport.

If you prefer lounges instead of restaurants while waiting for your flight, the Ataturk Airport has six of them: Prime Class Lounge, Wings Primeclass Lounge, Yapı Kredi World CIP Lounge, Millennium Lounge, HSBC Advantage Lounge and British Airways Terraces. All of the lounges are open 24/7 with the exception of the British Airways Terraces Lounge (open between 06:30 – 18:30). You can find the Wings Primeclass Lounge on both the International and Domestic Terminals, while the rest of the lounges are located on the International one.

There is also the renovated Turkish Airlines CIP Lounge at the International Terminal, with guest capacity of 2,000 and a large variety of facilities, including private resting areas and internet access, providing a comfortable and enjoyable waiting time for the passengers.

Terminal Services

Unless you are being picked up from the Ataturk Airport by someone, it is advisable to exchange some amount of money right on the airport, since you’ll be needing it to pay for the transportation to the city, whether you choose the bus, taxi, or some other mean of transit. There are some banks/currency exchange offices operating on the Ataturk Airport where you can exchange your money for the local currency -the Turkish Lira- and they’re located on both Arrival and Departure Floors.

In case you are waiting for a connection flight with significant amount of waiting time in-between flights, and you’re considering a quick trip to the city, there is the convenient Baggage Custody Service on the airport, and it’ll cost you 18 TL (approx. $8) for a suitcase and 25 TL (approx. $11) for large baggage.

Transportation to the city

Located in the neighborhood of Yeşilköy, on the European side of Istanbul, the Ataturk Airport is 24km west of the city centre. There are several ways of reaching the city: you can go by bus, metro, catch a taxi or use the shuttle service.

– Taxi – Surely the most convenient way of getting to the city is to take a cab, and, if you’re travelling in company, this convenience won’t cost you much. It is of big importance to recognize the official taxis (bright yellow color with clearly visible taxi plate number on the front doors and the roof) so as to avoid scams. A trip from Ataturk Airport to Sultanahmet will cost you approximately 43 TL (approx. $19), whereas for a ride to Taksim Square you’ll have to pay somewhere around 53 TL (approx. $24).

– Public Transportation – Taking a bus or a metro ride is cheaper, but more complicated, especially if you’re travelling with large baggage – since it’ll be necessary to make at least one transfer while on the go (depending on your final destination). Upon each transfer it is required to buy a new token or use the Istanbul Kart (you can buy one at the airport).

– Shuttle Service – Also a good option to get to the city is the Airport Shuttle Service operated by Havataş – a ride to Taksim Square will cost you 14 TL (approx. $6) and it lasts around 40 minutes