Cheap Flights to Istanbul From $28

Istanbul, the capital of Turkey and its most populous city, has the distinction of being the only metropolis in the world to be located in two continents, Europe and Asia. It is located in the Bosphorus strait and covers the entire natural harbor stretch of Golden Horn. It is a huge city with a lovely blend of historical and modern architecture, culture, religion, and development. It has many things to offer for a curious traveler from any part of the world, with ancient mosques, cathedrals, basilicas, and bazaars which blend seamlessly with the modern city structures all across the city. Istanbul is the only city in the world with sea passing through it, slicing it across the two continents. The commercial significance of Bosphorus Strait can be gauged from the fact that it is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world with about 150 ships taking the 90-minutes trip down the narrow channel connecting the Black Sea with the Sea of Murmura every day. The visitors can experience the vibrant city’s exciting neighborhoods and spectacular views, not to forget the gourmet food for the ever-curious foodies always on the prowl for great food. 

History of Istanbul

Istanbul has a long and glorious history, due to which it also has seen many changes in its name over the centuries. It was once the capital of the entire Roman empire and was named Constantinople, after the Roman Emperor Constantine, in the year 330 which catapulted it as an important business, commercial, and financial center in Europe. It was also a part of the Latin Empire before it was captured by the Ottomans who changed its name to Istanbul in the 15^th century. Its growing importance due to its strategic location brought it under constant attack for centuries. After WW I, the Republic of Turkey was established in the year 1923. The city started to prosper after 1970 and it is now a melting pot of the modern and the ancient cultures of the Greek, Roman, Latin, and Ottoman empires with many structures in the World Heritage List of UNESCO. Istanbul now among the most traveled cities of the world.      

Getting to Istanbul

New Istanbul Airport, IST is an international airport that started its operations from April 2019 after the closure of the old Ataturk airport. It is located on the Europen side of the city, about 40 km from the city center. This gorgeous new Airport, one of the biggest in the world, serves as a global aviation hub between Europe, Asian, and Africa. It handled around 64 million passengers last financial year. 70 airlines connect Istanbul to more than 250 cities in 110 countries all over the world, in addition to about 50 domestic destinations. It is the global hub for Turkish Airlines, the flagship carrier of Turkey. Cheap Flights to Istanbul from other cities are offered by numerous low-cost budget airlines. Various Airlines offer Direct Flights to Istanbul from across the world. The longest flight from IST is to Mexico City which takes around 15 hours and 20 minutes. A direct flight from New Delhi IGI airport takes about 7 hours.

Once you fly into the New Istanbul Airport, you can reach the city by bus, airport shuttle, taxis, and car rentals.

Tips: Get an Istanbul public transport card to conveniently commute from the airport and within the city during your stay. 

Commuting in Istanbul

You have some good options to go around the city. You can use the ferry service to cross over between the Asian and European sides and save a lot of time during the rush hours when road traffic is at its peak. Marmaray is another alternative for crossing over and is very popular for its tunnel travel under the Bosphorus Strait.

The Metro in Istanbul is a fast mode of travel as in any other city. It is well connected, especially on the European side. Istanbul has also a train service that connects some parts on the European side. The city has even a tram service.

There is another mode of travel which is the Metrobus, with its dedicated bus lanes. But the time gained with its dedicated lanes is somewhat negated with its frequent stops.

Tips: The buses don’t have maps and drivers don’t announce stops. You need to be alert when taking a bus in the city.

Tourist Attractions in Istanbul

Istanbul a wonderful cocktail of attractions to offer to the visitors which can engage them for days. We take a look at a few places of interest for adding to your bucket list.  

1.   Hagia Sophia

This present-day museum since 1935 served as places of worship for different religions since 537 when it was built. It started as a Greek Eastern Basellica which later on served as a Roman Catholic Church and then a mosque up to 1931. It is a marvelous example of Byzantine architecture with mosaics depicting various religions.

2.    The Blue Mosque

This is an active place of worship that is open to visitors. It gets its name from its dome covered with blue tiles. You can view the breathtaking tulip designs of the 20,000 ceramic tiles and 200 stained glass windows.

3.   Topkapi Palace 

One of the must-see attractions of the Ottoman era. This 15th-century structure is surrounded by a 5 km stonewall. This palace for the Ottoman emperors with lovely scenery all-round is now a museum which has a vast collection of valuables of that empire.

4.   Grand Bazaar 

This ancient bazaar built-in 1437 has around 5000 shops which make it one of the biggest indoor markets in the world. It also houses 2 mosques, 2 steam-baths, and 4 fountains. It is a shoppers paradise and you can shop till you drop dead.

5. Bosphorus Cruise

Your trip to the city is not complete without taking this exciting ride which gives a complete view of the city on both sides. You can take the full tour which takes you to the Black Sea and back to get a glimpse of the ancient palaces, mansions, apart from bridges and fishing villages along the shoreline. 

Tips: With an Istanbul tourist pass, you can get a guided tour of the Grand Bazaar for good bargains. A visit to Hagia Sophia is also thrown in.    

Shop and Stay in Istanbul

Some areas where you can stay while in Istanbul are Sultanahmet, Taksim Square, and Besiktas. 

If you are a shopping enthusiast, try out Istiklal Street, Taksim Square, apart from the massive Grand Bazaar for your needs.

Tips: While in the city, try out the traditional Turkish breakfast, Meze, and Menemen

You can get the most out of your visit to the ancient city of Istanbul by partnering with Trip.com which can make it memorable, one you can cherish for a long time. Club Flight and Hotel bookings for smart savings and avail of its 24 x 7 assistance. We can take over your burden of planning to guarantee you a treasured experience of this gorgeous city along with great gastronomic delight.