TIPS & ADVICE

Flights to Istanbul for ANZAC Day.
As you can probably imagine the demand for flights into and out of Istanbul  during the Anzac Day period is huge and the best advice that can be given regarding this is BOOK EARLY!

If you are serious about going to Gallipoli for Anzac Day then get your friends together, agree your dates and get online and book as the flights never get any cheaper the longer you wait.

There are two airports in Istanbul and it is helpful to know the 'Pros & Cons' about flying into each before you make your decision on airlines.

The main airport in Istanbul is called Ataturk International Airport and the majority of international flights arrive here as well as most the domestic flights to the domestic section just next door to it.  There are not many cons about flying into this airport as it is the closest airport to the city of Istanbul.  Possibly the only Con is that it can get very busy!

To get from this airport you have a few choices. Firstly there is a metro system that runs from downstairs from the International Arrivals lounge and this connects to the Tram system that also serves a lot of Istanbul including the Old City area known as Sultanahmet which is where you will find most the Hotels & Hostels located and the famous sites of the Blue Mosque, Haghia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Grand Bazaar, Egyptian Spice Market & more.  The metro and tram combination is cheap and pretty straight forward to use.  You can also get a taxi that costs between GBP£10-15 into the Sultanahmet area but prices are higher in taxis after midnight and until 7am in the morning.  There are also airport shuttle services and you will find a number of offices to the left of the International Arrival Lounge once you come out the gates and in the same direction as the Domestic Terminal so look for signs to that (they are in English).


 

The other airport in Istanbul is Sabiha Gokcen Airport which is located approx 60km from the Sultanahmet Area of Istanbul.  Easyjet has two flights into this airport, one from London Gatwick and one from London Luton.  Another airline called Pegasus Airlines also flies into this airport from the UK as do many flights from other places in Europe.  If you find a cheap flight to Sabiha Gokcen just be sure to offset any of the hassle and additional costs that you may experience by taking it.  There is a public bus service from this airport with stops at a number of places within Istanbul and even if it does not get you right to your accommodation then it might get you close enough to get a cheap taxi or use the Istanbul Metro or Tram service.  You can also catch a taxi from outside the airport but be warned this could be quite pricey especially if it is after midnight or the driver decides he cant remember the way in order to get the meter ticking over a bit more.  In addition to these two options there are also what is called the Havas Bus that you can take to a couple of stops in the centre of Istanbul.  Have a look at this site for more details

Other websites that you might find helpful are:

Easy Jet Website
Pegasus Airlines Website
Ataturk International Website
Sabiha Gokcen Airport Website
Opodo - Good for comparing Flights

Accommodation in Istanbul for ANZAC Day
Again this is another case of get in early as accommodation in Istanbul before and after Anzac Day can be difficult to find as many of the tour companies book out a lot of the hotels.  There are many websites where you can search for accommodation but if looking for the more budget end of the market then we suggest using www.hostelworld.com

The best place to stay is in the Sultanahmet area as it is close to most of the main attractions and also the Anzac Bus meeting and drop off points but if you can't get in there then take what you can get but try and get as close to that area as you can.  It is pretty easy to get around Istanbul on the metro and trams or using taxis so even if you stay slightly out of this area you can still get to a lot of places easily.

Got any questions about flights and hotels then drop us a line at info@anzacbus.co.uk and we will do our best to answer them although unfortunately we are not able to book either of them for you.