Getting There
By air
Flight times from the UK to Turkey range from three and a half to four hours.
Scheduled flights
Turkish Airlines
London Heathrow to Istanbul three times a day.
London Stansted to Istanbul daily
Manchester to Istanbul five times a week.
Local connections from Istanbul throughout Turkey.
www.thy.com.tr
British Airways
London Heathrow to Istanbul three times a day.
London Gatwick to Izmir (seasonal, up to five times a week).
Also services by frnachise partners BMED to Ankara and GB Airways to Dalaman.
www.ba.com
Sunexpress
London Stansted non-stop to Antalya and Izmir twice a week
London Stansted to Ercan-North Cyprus via Izmir twice a week.
Local connections throughout Turkey on Sunexpress scheduled flights.
www.sun-express.co.uk
Cyprus Turkish Airlines(CTA)
Flights stop in Turkey on the way to Northern Cyprus: Gatwick to Antalya; Stansted to Antalya, Dalaman and Izmir; Heathrow to Antalya and Izmir; Belfast to Antalya; Glasgow to Antalya; and Manchester to Dalaman.
For more information including timetables contact CTA on 020 7930 4851.
Charter Flights
Seats are available with MyTravel Airways, First Choice Airways, Thomas Cook Airlines and Thomson. All operate charters from airports across Britain to the three main holiday gateways of Bodrum, Dalaman and Antalya. There are also flights to Izmir with Thomas Cook Airlines and, less frequently, MyTravel Airways.
Avro
Specialises in flight-only deals on charter airlines; can also book seats on a Monarch charter every Monday from Gatwick to Dalaman (May- October).
www.avro.co.uk
Excel Airways
Between May and October, from Gatwick and Manchester to Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman (plus Birmingham and Glasgow to Dalaman).
www.excelairways.com
Useful Links
First Choice Airways
Thomson Flights
Thomas Cook
Airtours (My Travel Airways)
Scottravel Holidays
K & S Holidays
Easyjet fly from London Luton to Istanbul's Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Airports
Istanbul Ataturk International Airport
The airport is situated 15 miles (23km) west of Istanbul. The Istanbul Metro system provides quick and easy access to the city, including the intercity bus terminal. Use metro station Zeytinburnu and transfer to a tram to reach the Eminonu ferry or Sea Bus docks. The Havas Airport Bus connects to Taksim Square. Taxis are also available and car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, National and Sixt. Facilities: Banks, ATMs and bureaux de change are available. Facilities for the disabled are good, but those with special needs should make advance arrangements with the airline. Other facilities include tourist information and hotel reservations, bars, restaurants, duty-free shopping, a conference centre, a post office, 24-hour left luggage and first aid. Turkish Airlines and British Airways have their own lounges, while the Millennium Lounge serves the First Class and Business Class passengers of other airlines that run scheduled flights. Short and long term parking is available.
www.ataturkairport.com
Antalya International Airport
The airport is situated six miles (10km) from Antalya. Taxis are available outside Arrivals and there is a bus service to Antalya from the Domestic and International terminals. Car rental: Car rental companies include Hertz, Sixt, Budget and FLO. Money change facilities are available in Arrivals and Departures, and there are 24-hour cash machines throughout. Cafes, a variety of take-aways and a pub offer snacks, meals and drinks. There is duty-free shopping in Departures and Arrivals, as well as a variety of shops in the Departures hall. Other facilities include a business lounge, public telephones, babycare facilities, medical facilities, travel agencies and a post office. There are also good facilities available for those with special needs. Short-term parking is located in front of the building.
www.aytport.com
Izmir Adnan Menderes International Airport
The airport is located 11 miles (18km) from Izmir. The Havas airport shuttle bus runs from the Turkish Airlines Office at the airport to the centre of Izmir. Trains also service the airport and leave from the International terminal to the Basmane train station in the city, but these are usually only in the afternoons. Car rental companies include Avis, Hertz, National, Europcar and Sixt, as well as other local car hire companies. Foreign exchange can be found in both Arrivals and Departures. Shops are available, including duty free, and cafes, restaurants and bars exist throughout the terminal building. Other facilities include public telephones, a post office, tourist information and hotel reservations. Facilities for those with special needs are good.
www.adnanmenderesairport.com
Esenboga International Airport
The airport is located northeast of Ankara, 17 miles (28km) from the city centre. The Havas bus service operates between the airport and a central city terminal, stopping at various points en route. The fare for a one-way journey is 9.50 YTL. Metered taxis are also available, and various private companies run shuttles. Several car rental companies are represented at the airport, including Europcar, Sixt, Thrifty, Avis and Alamo. Facilities: There are banks with exchange facilities in both arrivals and departures, three duty free shops, pubs, restaurants, cafes and snack kiosks. In addition there is a hairdresser, shoe-shine kiosk, a florist and bookstores. Public telephones are freely available. The airport is accessible for the disabled.
www.esenbogaairport.com
By train
Train journeys can be made to Istanbul directly from and via some of the major cities in Europe. The journey from London to Istanbul takes three nights, using Eurostar to Paris, the 'Orient Express' overnight to Vienna, a connecting 'EuroCity' to Budapest. Travel from Budapest to Istanbul on the "Trans Balkan".
Useful Links
European Train Times
Turkish Railways
By road
Distance: London-Istanbul, approximately 3,000 km.
Northern Route: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey.
Southern Route: Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, with a ferry to Turkey.
Useful Links
RAC Route Planner
Via Michelin
By sea
Passenger Ferries: Apart from numerous cruises in the Mediterranean, several foreign shipping companies have regular services to the ports of Trabzon, Samsun, Istanbul, Dikili, Izmir, Cesme, Kusadasi, Bodrum, Marmaris, Antalya, Alanya, Mersin and Iskenderun.
Car Ferries: There are several car ferries for tourists who wish to bring their cars while sightseeing. Connections run from Venice to Izmir and from Ancona and Brindisi to Cesme.
Lines between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus:
Tasucu - Girne
Alanya - Girne
Ferry lines between Turkey and the Greek Islands:
Ayvalik - Midilli (Lesbos)
Cesme - Sakiz (Chios)
Kusadasi - Sisam (Samos)
Bodrum - Istankoy (Kos)
Marmaris - Rodos (Rhodes)
Fethiye - Rodos (Rhodes)
Featured Properties