Six hour layover in Istanbul
Apr 6th, 2018, 10:56 AM
#1
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Six hour layover in Istanbul
I'm posting this for a friend. She has a 6 hour layover in Istanbul and wants to hire a tour guide to pick her and her husband up from the airport and take them on a quick tour of the city. Does that sound within the realm of possibility?
Apr 7th, 2018, 02:31 AM
#2
It depends on the following :
- If they already have a visa or do not need one.
- If they are not picking luggage and checking in for next flight
- If next flight is also international
- If the in bound flight is not delayed (you can check delay history of specific flight on the web)
- If they can clear passport control with over 5:20 hours left;
- If they do not leave airport 8-9 AM
- If they start ride back to airport before 17:30 or after 20:00
- If they are traveling business or pay for CIP services
I see quite a few agencies at internal arrivals to the left and across when you come out of customs area. I am pretty sure that they can quickly arrange for a decent tour ot at the least, a comfortable ride in a Mercedes or VW van to the old city including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and possible vitit to Blue mosque or the Basilica Cistern, Eminonu square/Galata bridge and then back under the Theodosius viaduct.
With a boarding pass you should be back at least 90 minutes before departure, because there will be two security checks and possibly a long walk to the gate.
If they are traveling business, they should take the furthest entrance to departures area which is reserved for Business and.or CIP travelers, This entrance is not so busy and takes you quickly through the first security check.
A business boarding pass may not have advantages at passport control and the second security check.
- If they already have a visa or do not need one.
- If they are not picking luggage and checking in for next flight
- If next flight is also international
- If the in bound flight is not delayed (you can check delay history of specific flight on the web)
- If they can clear passport control with over 5:20 hours left;
- If they do not leave airport 8-9 AM
- If they start ride back to airport before 17:30 or after 20:00
- If they are traveling business or pay for CIP services
I see quite a few agencies at internal arrivals to the left and across when you come out of customs area. I am pretty sure that they can quickly arrange for a decent tour ot at the least, a comfortable ride in a Mercedes or VW van to the old city including Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Hippodrome and possible vitit to Blue mosque or the Basilica Cistern, Eminonu square/Galata bridge and then back under the Theodosius viaduct.
With a boarding pass you should be back at least 90 minutes before departure, because there will be two security checks and possibly a long walk to the gate.
If they are traveling business, they should take the furthest entrance to departures area which is reserved for Business and.or CIP travelers, This entrance is not so busy and takes you quickly through the first security check.
A business boarding pass may not have advantages at passport control and the second security check.
Apr 9th, 2018, 05:55 PM
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Your friend might need a visa to actually enter the country, rather than just be in transit. We got ours at the airport, but that was a few years
ago, and the process of obtaining a visa may have changed. Also, which airport, as there are 2 in Istanbul. One's on the European side, the
other on the Asian side. Drive times are different from each airport, which can affect how much time your friend would actually have for a tour.
ago, and the process of obtaining a visa may have changed. Also, which airport, as there are 2 in Istanbul. One's on the European side, the
other on the Asian side. Drive times are different from each airport, which can affect how much time your friend would actually have for a tour.
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