Quick answer
- Economy: 1 free night in a 4-star hotel with breakfast.
- Business: 2 free nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel.
- Connection: 20 hours to 7 days, international to international, all flights Turkish Airlines.
- Deadline: apply at least 72 hours before the flight. No requests after landing.
Who qualifies
- Your trip connects in Istanbul Airport between two international flights, with 20 hours to 7 days (168 hours) between them.
- Turkish Airlines operates every flight. Codeshare flights do not count.
- Outbound and return are on the same booking. Separate one-way tickets do not qualify.
- Your ticket number starts with 235 and is not in fare class N or R.
- Your trip starts in a country on Turkish Airlines' Stopover country list, and starts and ends in the same country.
- You can use it once per trip, on the way out or on the way back.
What you get
| Cabin | Standard | Trips starting in China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea or the USA |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 1 night, 4-star hotel | 2 nights, 4-star hotel |
| Business | 2 nights, 5-star or boutique hotel | 3 nights, 5-star or boutique hotel |
Breakfast is included. Nights must be used in a row.
How to apply
- Apply at least 72 hours before your flight
Use the Stopover reservation link on turkishairlines.com with your surname and ticket number, or email the Stopover address for your country. Apply as soon as your ticket is issued.
- Get your hotel voucher before you travel
The voucher is linked to your ticket number. If your ticket number changes, ask for a new voucher.
- Show the voucher and boarding pass at the hotel
Check-in and check-out times follow your flights and are written on the voucher.
What is not included
- Airport transfers and local transport. See Havaist and the M11 metro.
- Early check-in, late check-out and extra nights.
- Visas and entry fees. You leave the airport, so you need to be able to enter Türkiye.
- If your connection is longer than 24 hours, you collect your bags at international arrivals.
Questions travellers ask
Is the Turkish Airlines stopover hotel free?
Yes. Eligible passengers get a free hotel night with breakfast: 1 night in a 4-star hotel in Economy, 2 nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel in Business. Transfers are not included.
How long must my connection be for the free hotel?
At least 20 hours and no more than 7 days, between two international Turkish Airlines flights on the same booking.
When do I have to apply?
At least 72 hours before the flight on which you want to use the service. Requests made after you land in Istanbul are not accepted.
Can I use the stopover hotel and the Touristanbul tour together?
Not on the same layover. Turkish Airlines treats them as one or the other.
Do I need a visa for the stopover?
Yes, if your passport needs one to enter Türkiye. You leave the airport to reach the hotel, and visas are the passenger's responsibility.
Keep reading
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.
Istanbul transit visa
Do you need a visa to change planes or leave Istanbul Airport? Check your passport in seconds.
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, Stopover in Istanbul, checked 16 October 2026.
- Turkish Airlines, Touristanbul FAQ (tour and hotel not on the same layover), checked 16 October 2026.
The Between Flights is independent and not affiliated with Turkish Airlines.