Make the most of the time between flights
Can you leave the airport? Do you need a visa? Is there a free city tour? Plain answers for each airport, so a long layover becomes part of the trip.
Estimates. Passport queues and Istanbul traffic vary, so keep the 3 hour buffer before departure. Last checked October 2026.
How to plan any layover in 3 steps
- Check if you can leave
Leaving the airport means passing passport control. Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, not your ticket.
- Count the real free time
Take your layover, subtract passport control, travel into town and getting back at least 2 to 3 hours before departure.
- Pick what fits
Rest in the airport, join a free airline tour, or see the city on your own. Each guide shows what fits your hours.
Airport guides
Istanbul Airport layover
Can you leave, how long you need, and how to get to Sultanahmet and back in time.
Touristanbul free tour
Check in seconds if you qualify for the free Turkish Airlines city tour and which tour fits your times.
Havaist airport bus
Where to catch it, what it costs, how to pay, and when Havaist beats the metro or a taxi.
M11 airport metro
The M11 line from Istanbul Airport, how to reach Sultanahmet and Taksim, how to pay, and when not to use it.
Turkish Airlines free stopover hotel
Free hotel nights in Istanbul on a long Turkish Airlines connection: who qualifies and how to apply in time.
Istanbul transit visa
Do you need a visa to change planes or leave Istanbul Airport? Check your passport in seconds.
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Airline baggage allowance
Emirates baggage allowance
How many kg your fare includes, cabin bag size, and a checker for your own bags.
Qatar Airways baggage allowance
Your kg allowance by fare, cabin bag limits, and a checker for your own bags.
Turkish Airlines baggage allowance
Why there is no single number, what Turkish Airlines does publish, and a checker for your own bags.
Coming next:EtihadSaudiaAir ArabiaflydubaiPIA