Istanbul Airport is the primary international gateway to Turkey and a connecting hub for Asia and Europe. The airport was built to reduce the traffic of Ataturk Airport in 2018, and a year later major commercial flights were transferred to Istanbul Airport. The distance between the two airports is approximately 22 miles.
The airport operates flights to 122 countries and serves more than 80 million passengers every year. As the airport is situated between two continents, it acts as a major transfer point. It is essential to understand the layout of Istanbul Airport, because the crowd at the airport is huge.
In this guide, we will take you through the main terminal, lounges, hotels, shopping, and everyday services that you might need at the airport.
Istanbul Airport Quick Facts
Airport name: Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport code: IST
ICAO code: LTFM
Location: It is situated approximately 26 miles from the center of the city on the European side.
Serves: It primarily serves Turkey and 122 countries around the world.
Hub for: Turkish Airlines & Turkish Cargo
Terminal & Concourse: Istanbul Airport has one terminal and five concourses.
Runways: There are a total of six runways at IST Airport, out of which four are main runways and two are auxiliary runways.
Address: Tayakadın, Terminal Caddesi No: 1, 34283 Arnavutkoy/İstanbul, Turkey
Istanbul Airpot Terminal
Istanbul International Airport has a single terminal, designed in an H-shape, that has five terminals adjacent to each other. It spans across 1.44 million square meters, making it the largest passenger terminal under one roof. The terminal has separate areas for check-in, immigration, and security for domestic and international flights.
Location & Flight throughout the concourses
Concourse A: It is located on the west side and facilitates the international departure.
Concourse B: The concourse is situated on the west side of the building and serves the international departures.
Concourse D: This concourse is located in the center/north of the terminal, and mostly international flights operate.
Concourse F: It is located on the east side of the building and serves the international departures.
Concourse G: This concourse is situated in the southeast of the terminal and supports only the domestic departures.
Since there is only one terminal, passengers with connecting flights are at an advantage, as they do not require transferring between terminals. However, walking to the opposite gates inside the terminal can take 20 minutes or more.
Departures
There are information screens indicating which area of the departures hall your airline is in, and check-in desks are organized in lettered zones throughout the hall. Once you have checked in, you have to pass through security and, for international flights, passport control before you enter the airside shopping and eating area. Gates are organized into concourses, lettered according to the aisle they are in, so the letter on your boarding pass indicates where to walk.
Arrivals
On the lower level there are arrivals. Passengers from outside the country go through the immigration and pick up their bags, then clear customs before entering the public arrivals hall. From there ground transport is signposted, and the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk, where you can register for Touristanbul, too, is in the international arrivals area.
Connecting at IST
Passengers flying from one international flight to another on a single ticket usually stay airside. Take the transfer signs, go through another security check, and then look at the boards for your next gate. If not both are checked through or you are on separate tickets, you must go landside, pick up your bags, and recheck in. This takes a lot longer, so leave a lot of leeway.
Pro tip: IST Airport often updates the gate number very late, most of the time just 60 to 75 minutes before the flight departure. Therefore, you must sit at a location from where you can easily keep an eye on the screen.
Istanbul Airport Lounges: Where to Find Them and How to Access
Istanbul International Airport has numerous lounges across domestic and international departure areas, ranging from vast flagship spaces to independent lounges. Your access to these lounges depends on your ticket type, frequent-flyer status, and your willingness to pay for the lounge on the day of departure. Here are the main lounges at IST.
1. iGA Lounge International
Location: International departures, airside, after passport control. Take a left from the passport control and then take the escalator next to the LC Waikiki store.
A premium lounge with top-notch facilities to enhance the travelers'' experience and make them feel relaxed. The lounge includes a shower room, nap zones, children's play zones, meeting rooms, and even a prayer room. It has a wide range of buffet options available featuring some of the international as well as local cuisine.
Access: Entry can be made through eligible lounge membership or purchase of the pass.
2. iGA Lounge Domestic
Location: Domestic departure, airside, after security near the gate G11. Find the lounge on the right side.
The lounge has a seating capacity of 140 passengers across 700 square meters. It provides free Wi-Fi, complimentary massage, flight information displays, wide food options (including Turkish & international cuisine), alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and rest areas.
Access: The passenger with the iGA pass card purchases the daily pass on the departure day.
3. Turkish Airlines Lounge Business (International)
Location: International Departure floor, airside, opposite gate E6.
It offers a wide range of amenities to passengers, including shower facilities, playgrounds, exclusive suite rooms, rest areas, and a bar. It has a dining area that serves world-class cuisine along with the Turkish culinary art. The lounge has a capacity of 765 people in an area of 5,600 square meters.
Access: It is available to passengers traveling on Turkish Airlines Business class and Star Alliance members.
4. Turkish Airlines Lounge Miles&Smiles (International)
Location: International departure floor, opposite gate C1, cross the passport control and take the escalator
The lounge has a playground, a cinema, rest areas, and a masjid, along with player rooms for other religions too. The lounge can accommodate 765 people at once, and only passengers traveling internationally can access it.
Access: The passengers with Miles&Smiles Elite and Elite Plus and Star Alliance Gold members.
5. Turkish Airlines Domestic Lounge
Location: Located on the airside of the domestic departure floor. Turn right after passing the security
Turkish Airlines also runs a smaller lounge for domestic travelers. It facilitates business class and top-tier members with free Wi-Fi, rest areas, meeting rooms, and dining rooms (open for travelers until boarding). The passengers can directly board the flight from the lounge.
Access: The passengers with Miles&Smiles Classic Plus, Elite and Elite Plus, and Gold Star membership, and business class travelers.
Hotels at Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport hotels provide convenient spaces to sleep and relax to passengers with long layovers, early morning flights, or delayed flights. Whether you prefer to stay inside the airport or nearby, there are plenty of hotel options available.
YOTEL Istanbul Airport
With 451 cabins, YOTEL is the largest airport hotel in Europe. The hotel is split into two parts—171 landside cabins & 280 airside cabins. The landside hotel is located on the departure floor opposite of the check-in area P and is open for everyone. And the airside, which is known as YOTELAIR, sits after the passport control in the international duty-free area. Since the hotel sits beyond the passport control, only the international passengers can access it.
The size of the cabins is small but designed well with adjustable smartbeds, TVs, rain showers, and complimentary Wi-Fi for ultimate traveler’s comfort. Additionally, landside guests can also access the bar and fitness center.
Short Stays and Recharge Cabins
Not all the stops require overnight stays. YOTELAIR provides cabins that you can book by the hour, with a bed, TV, desk, and shared shower and toilet block. The Recharge Cabins are located opposite the entry of the IGA Lounge on one floor by an escalator; they are all accessed by steps and are walk-in only.
Complimentary Hotels for Transit Passengers
Turkish Airlines provides complimentary stays to transit passengers with long layovers. However, it is accessible only via eligible passengers, and the eligibility depends on your ticket type, route, and layover duration. Therefore, you must verify at the Turkish Airlines Hotel Desk in international arrivals whether you qualify or not.
Hotels Near Istanbul Airport
There are several hotels near Istanbul Airport that provide free shuttles and are cheaper than the on-site options. These hotels come with bigger rooms and more privacy compared to the airport hotels.
| Hotel Name | Approx. Nightly Rate | Distance to IST Airport | Key Notes & Amenities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Airport Hotel | $20 – $35 | 6 km (10–12 min drive) | It is a 3-star hotel offering free Wi-Fi, paid shuttle, and private parking |
| Shelton Airport Otel | $20 – $35 | 6.5 km (10–15 min drive) | Get basic accommodation, a local dining option, and 24-hour reception |
| Solin Airport Hotel | $25 – $40 | 7 km (12–15 min drive) | A 3-star hotel with soundproof & AC rooms, free Wi-Fi, and quick shuttle |
| Garden Mode Airport Hotel | $25 – $45 | 6.8 km (12–15 min drive) | Get street view from the room with comfortable bedding and free breakfast |
| D Twins Airport Hotel | $27 – $45 | 5.8 km (10 min drive) | A 4-star affordable hotel with modern amenities and quick airport transfers |
What Are The Shops at Istanbul Airport?
The Istanbul Airport shopping area is among the largest retail spaces in the world, spanning across 53,000 acres. The shopping area is spread across concourses A, B, D, F & G and landside zones.
The duty-free areas can take about 30 minutes to cross the hall. As always, there are perfumes and cosmetics, spirits and tobacco, watches and jewelry, fashion, electronics, and travel accessories. The pampering of major international brands coexists with the high street brands from Turkey, like LC Waikiki.
Turkish souvenirs and gifts
Shopping is the most gratifying shopping in Turkey. Try lokum (Turkish delight), baklava, dried fruits and nuts, Turkish coffee, loose-leaf tea, olive oil, and Turkish spice mixes. Easy gifts are decorative items like peştemal towels, woven or ceramic items, and evil eye charms. If you are curious about the different Turkish sweet shops in the terminal, there are several well-known confectioners that have shops there, and you can taste before buying.
Tax-Free Shopping
For visitors staying outside Türkiye, you may be eligible to receive a refund of the value-added tax (VAT) on eligible purchases from participating stores in the city. If you are a visitor from outside of Türkiye, taxes on purchases made at city stores may be refunded if they are eligible. A refund is normally found before check-in, as one could be required to present the goods. Rules and procedures will vary; check the rules in the store at the time of purchase.
Payments and Prices
Cards are accepted nearly everywhere, and many duty-free shops accept euros and US dollars as well as Turkish lira. Frequently, duty-free is not necessarily less expensive. Prices of local foods and souvenirs in the terminal may be higher than in the city; compare prices before purchasing in bulk.
Facilities and Services at Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport comforts its passengers through top-notch services, facilities, and entertainment.
Wi-Fi charging: At IST Airport, the passengers are facilitated with free Wi-Fi across terminals, and the charging points are available with seating areas across cafes, lounges, and terminals.
Food & drinks: You have plenty of options to eat from sit-down restaurants to fast-food cafes, serving international cuisine to Turkish breakfast. Additionally, there are some outlets that remain open 24 hours a day, ideal for early morning or late-night flights.
Money services: You will easily find the currency exchange and ATMs at both airside and landside zones of the airport. However, you must compare the rates, as exchange rates are cheaper outside the airport.
Prayer rooms: There are dedicated prayer rooms available in the terminal for the passengers.
Family facilities: The airport has nursing rooms, changing tables, and kid’s play zones to facilitate the families.
Health & pharmacy: You can get your medicines at the airport; there are medical centers and pharmacies across the terminal for first aid.
SIM & eSIMs: If you are planning to leave the airport, make sure you buy the tourist sim and the data plan at the airport only.
Luggage storage: IST Airport also provides the left luggage service, where you can submit your bag and explore the airport bare hands.
Assistance with mobility: The passenger can seek assistance from the airline in advance. Additionally, the airport has lifts, accessible toilets, and accessible staff to help passengers with limited mobility.
Conclusion
Istanbul Airport is one of the key international airports of the world that provide Turkey with links to all parts of Europe, Asia, and beyond. Convenient for both locals and travelers with its single terminal, vast lounge spaces, hotel areas, shopping and dining establishments, and passenger facilities. Understanding the airport layout can save you from last-minute hassle. If you have a flight to or from Istanbul Airport, take advantage of this guide and plan your perfect journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Istanbul has two primary international airports—Istanbul Airport (IST), which is located on European side and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), which is situated on the Asian side.
The primary airport serving Istanbul is officially named Istanbul Airport, which is popularly known as iGA Istanbul Airport.
Istanbul Airport is famous for its location. It is located in Arnavutkoy (district span across two continents), which makes the IST a major connecting hub for Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Istanbul Airport is one of the world’s most expensive airports due to its overpriced food and drinks. The prices are high because of heavy infrastructure costs and lack of price regulation.
