Information and Travel Guide for Istanbul Ataturk International Airport
Istanbul Ataturk International Airport (IST)

Istanbul Ataturk International Airport is the second principle airport operating within the city of Istanbul in Turkey. Situated in Yesilkoy, on the European part of Istanbul, it is at a distance of 24 kilometers from the mainland. It is termed as the 29th busiest airport across the globe. The architecture of the airport depicts the unique blend of Eastern and Western culture and is considered to be highly impressive. It is in fact a meeting point between the two worlds; namely the east and the west.

Airport History

The airport was officially inaugurated in 1924 but it was in the year 1980 that it was named as Ataturk International Airport in a tribute to the founder of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. Since then the airport has made tremendous progress and its rankings in terms of passenger traffic have increased rapidly. In 2011 it claimed to be the airport that has operated the highest number of routes to non- European countries.

Services and Amenities

The airport offers several services for its passengers ranging from currency exchange, ATMs, luggage service, conferencing facilities and, internet access, printing, faxing and many others. The airport has a separate first aid and clinical area that is designed for ill health passengers whereas six mosques are locate at the airport for the Muslim population. The Tax Free Office with the airport also allows travellers to get a VAT refund on any items bought during their stay in turkey. Wi-Fi connection is accessible free of cost in international arrival and departure lounges whereas passengers must pay for the service when using the connection in airport terminals.

Parking & Transportation

The airport is facilitated with an extensive open car park spread in levels with a minimum car parking fee of $3 per hour to $48 for thirty days. Valet service is also readily available both outside domestic and international terminals. Istanbul's metro system allows easy access to the city whereas airport buses are also available at every 30 minutes. Taxis are also available but at a higher cost.

Security

Like all major airports, there are several security checkpoints. It is best not to carry too much liquid on your person. Flights headed west have more security checks than those headed east. In order to avoid any security issues, travellers must ensure that they are not in possession of any object or item that is prohibited by the airport security check.

Surrounding Places to Stay

Great deals at hotels located near the airport are available such as at Sheraton Istanbul Atakoy Hotel, Radisson Blu Conference & Airport Hotel, Istanbul and Ibis Istanbul

Travel Tips

Passengers must always confirm the time at which they need to be at the airport prior to their flights departure. Travellers must take care of their own luggage and avoid offers by an unknown person to carry their luggage to the required destination.

Contact Information:

Website: http://www.tavairports.com
Email: [email protected] 
Telephone: +9 (0) 212 663 6400 or +9 (0) 212 663 2550
Fax: +9 (0) 212 663 6250
Address: Ataturk Uluslararasi Havalimani, Bas Mudur, Ataturk Dhmi, Istanbul Yesilkoy 34830, Turkey
Number of Terminals: 2
Time Zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October)
Location: The airport is located 24km (15 miles) west of Istanbul
IATA airport code: IST