14 Fun Things To Do During A Layover At Istanbul Airport

If you’ve got a layover scheduled at Istanbul Airport, whether its a short transit or for several hours, it’s a pretty cool place to spend some time. It’s one of the world’s largest airports covering 76.5 million square meters and serves as a major global transit point, given Istanbul’s central location connecting Europe, Africa and Asia. As well as having ample space to relax and unwind, there are numerous attractions to keep you engaged and entertained.

So let’s take a look around.

Here are 14 fun things to do during a layover at Istanbul Airport.

14) Show off your gaming skills at a ‘Game Port’

As you’re walking around Istanbul Airport, you may come across a Game Port. It’s one of many aspects of the airport’s entertainment offering. They’re easy to recognise. There’s a booth lit up with fluorescent lights and you may see players competing with each other. Game Ports offer PlayStation 5 games and interactive gameplay walls where you can be a a bit more active when you game.

13) Learn about Turkish culture and history at the Istanbul Airport Museum

Throughout Istanbul Airport, there are statues of well known historical figures such as Alexander the Great and Cornelia Antonia, with information about them and directions to the Istanbul Airport Museum.

Treasures of Türkiye: Faces of the Throne is an exhibition that displays 316 artefacts sourced from 29 museums across Türkiye with the purpose of showcasing 12,000 years of Anatolian history.

One thing to point out – reviews are mixed. Some people love it and think it’s a great idea to have a museum to peruse while waiting for a flight. Others, however, feel the entry price, which at the time of this writing is 13 euros, is a bit too steep. So have a look at what exhibitions are on and read some reviews beforehand.

12) Be productive at a co-working space

Ok, so maybe the last thing you’re thinking about during a layover is work. But just in case you need to answer a quick email, Istanbul Airport has you covered with iGA Coworking spaces. These are tables where you can place your laptop and papers on with various sockets to charge your devices. They are in well-lit spaces with comfortable chairs, and often in view of passengers passing back and forth; the ambient motion of travelers moving in the background can be particularly calming and may help with productivity.

To get unlimited, free internet, head over to one of these ‘Free iGA Wi-Fi’ terminals and scan your passport. You’ll be given an access code to log into the iGA Wi-Fi network. There’s also the option to login via mobile. In that case, the password is sent to you via SMS. But generally it seems the first option is the better one, given that some mobile networks don’t always receive the SMS.

Also if you’re flying with Turkish Airlines, you can get free, unlimited internet by connecting to their TK WiFi network at Istanbul Airport. Input your flight details and you’ll be connected; just what you need to tell your boss that you’re on holiday and don’t want to be disturbed!

11) Shop till you drop & buy Duty Free

As you walk around Istanbul Airport, you’ll constantly encounter places to shop. In some ways the airport can be considered a giant mall. As well as being able to purchase everyday items, there are well-known luxury brand outlets such as Chloé, Alexander McQueen and Louis Vuitton.

There can be several benefits in buying these products at the airport. If your currency is strong against the Turkish Lira, prices can be very favourable. Also some brands offer airport-exclusive and limited edition items.

And then there’s Duty Free.

Duty Free refers to goods that are sold without local taxes and import duties. These products are available to international departing passengers – passengers flying to a foreign destination outside of Türkiye.

When you buy an item that’s Duty Free, you don’t pay Local VAT (Value Added Tax) or sales tax, and you don’t pay customs/import duties that would usually apply if the item were being brought into the country for sale.

The item is considered ‘in transit’, and not for local consumption. To purchase a Duty Free item, you need to show a valid boarding pass for an international flight.

A quick point! Just because an item is Duty Free, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cheaper than purchasing it elsewhere. It’s worth comparing prices with other outlets before splashing the cash.

10) Indulge in delicious airport cuisine

You may work up quite an appetite as you explore Istanbul Airport, and if so, you’re spoilt for choice. There are over 100 food and beverage outlets to choose from, from fast food to casual dining. There’s even a SaltBae Burger outlet. But, just as with the Istanbul Airport Museum, it’s worth having a look at several reviews beforehand since it’s on the pricier side. Some people love it. Others, not so much.

And how about grabbing a light snack and a coffee? There’s a wide selection of cafés and coffee shops to get a dose of caffeine to keep you going, but for something different, check out the TRT World Cafe.

TRT World is an international news channel operated by the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Türkiye’s public broadcaster. Like other cafés, there’s a selection of sandwiches, croissants, pastries and caffeinated/non-caffeinated beverages, but what sets it apart is wide screens displaying TRT World News. It’s worth a visit for a tasty drink and getting international news from a non-Western perspective.

9) Grab a seat and watch the world go by

Istanbul Airport serves about 90 million passengers annually. That’s a lot of people, and a great opportunity to do some people watching. Grab a seat, relax and watch the world go by. While traditional seating is comfortable enough, the airport offers various ways to relax while waiting for a flight.

For a bit more comfort and padding, try out some of the seats pictured below.

While seats like those shown in the image above may just seem like… seats, there’s actually a lot going on with the interior design. Some have charging points next to them. Flight timetables are nearby and restaurants and cafés are a short walk away. And there are wide glass windows to let in plenty of natural light.

So the seats are of course just seats, but you can work, rest, people watch and eat/drink as passengers flow past, onwards to destinations around the globe.

8) Do some plane spotting and observe airport operations in motion

Throughout Istanbul Airport there are wide glass windows where you can admire the engineering marvels that are jet aircraft and watch numerous operations that make Istanbul Airport run around the clock, such as refuelling, baggage handling and passengers disembarking.

There’s also the iGA Spotter Area, an outdoor spotter area situated close to Runway 1 and the Air Traffic Control Tower, where you can get an up-close view of planes taking off and landing. To get access, you need to fill out an application form, and if accepted, you’ll get complimentary transportation to the spotter area.

But even if applications are closed, the wide glass windows of Istanbul Airport still allow you to watch planes taking off and landing in the distance.

7) Get some rest in a YotelAir ‘recharge cabin’

Maybe you want to get some sleep during your layover. While the seating mentioned above is comfortable enough to rest and catch some Zs, a dedicated private space of your own can be a welcome relief.

That’s where YotelAir comes in.

YotelAir is an in-house airport hotel where you can book rooms by the hour, with a minimum stay of 4 hours. For solo travelers who need a compact space to relax before a flight, booking a sleep cabin or ‘recharge cabin’ is likely the best choice.

You’ll get a bed, TV, desk, 20 Mbps Wi-Fi and access to shared bathroom and shower facilities. And remember, because YotelAir is a transit hotel, there’s limited space for storage. If you need a bit more space and you’re traveling as a couple, family or group, larger rooms are also available.

And just a quick point of clarification. If you’re leaving Istanbul Airport to visit the surrounding area or want to stay near the airport for multiple nights, you can book a room at YOTEL Istanbul Airport Landside. To stay in the landside hotel, you’ll need a valid visa for Türkiye.

Alternatively, if you’re planning to explore Istanbul and want to be closer to the action of the city, there are numerous hotels to choose from.

Discover hotel deals and discounts for your trip to Istanbul.

6) Chill out & get some fresh air at a nature-inspired Terrace

Istanbul Airport has a number of “Fresh Air” (non-smoking) Terraces where you can enjoy a quiet, peaceful ambience in a semi-open environment. Grab a seat on a bench next to various plants and enjoy the soothing sounds of chirping birds. It’s quiet enough to read a book or listen to a podcast.

While the Terrace isn’t fully open air, the mesh screening allows for good ventilation and an outdoor feel while providing a nice view of planes, airport vehicles and runways. And if it’s a cold day in Istanbul, not to worry. There are heaters to keep you comfortable.

You can spend quite a bit of time in these Fresh Air Terraces. Timetables have updated flight times and boarding gate information, and charging points are available to keep your devices topped up.

5) Enjoy free accommodation & a free Touristanbul tour of the city

If you’re flying with Turkish Airlines and have a long layover, you can take advantage of some pretty cool perks. One of these perks is staying for free in a hotel. To take advantage of this service, you need to be flying from outside Türkiye and have a connecting flight departing from Istanbul Airport outside of Türkiye.

Economy Class passengers need to have a layover time of 12 hours or longer, and are offered one night in a 4-star hotel. Business Class passengers need to have a layover time of 9 hours or longer, and are offered two nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel.

There are some specific requirements to take advantage, so take a look at the Turkish Airlines Stopover in Istanbul section on their website and review the Hotel Service Terms and Conditions.

Another perk of flying with Turkish airlines is Touristanbul, a free Istanbul city tour service offered to passengers who have a layover of 6-24 hours at Istanbul Airport. There are 6 tour programs, all of which include transportation, meals and museum entrance fees.

Take a look at the various Touristanbul routes and schedule to see which one you prefer. Also have a look at the Touristanbul Participation Conditions and the Touristanbul FAQ to check if you meet the criteria, how to apply and what time to arrive before the start of a tour.

If, however, you prefer privacy, book a Private Guided Istanbul Sightseeing Tour.

4) Immerse yourself in Istanbul Airport’s fascinating exhibitions

While exploring Istanbul Airport, you’ll likely to notice an exhibition or two. Here’s The Faces of İGA / I Am Where I Stand, a photography exhibition featuring portraits of 100 passengers of diverse backgrounds who’ve passed through Istanbul Airport.

The idea of the exhibition goes like this.

We all go through the journey of our lives, like a stream moving in a particular direction. Because of distance, being in different countries and being separated by oceans, we may never cross paths with those on their individual journeys.

Istanbul Airport changes that.

Millions of passengers pass through Istanbul Airport, crossing paths, if only for a fleeting moment, with those they otherwise would have never encountered. These encounters could involve a glance, a smile or a conversation, resulting in connections that could last from a few seconds to a lifetime.

And moving aside from the somewhat abstract rationale of the exhibition, there’s something intriguing about looking at photos of various passengers who’ve been in the same airport you’re in, and wondering about their life journeys, where they’ve been and where they’re headed.

Another exhibition is Pioneers of Modern Science, which introduces visitors to scientific discoveries and technological advances made centuries ago in the Muslim world. It’s a great way to learn about scientists, doctors and inventors who laid the foundations for modern science, mathematics, architecture, medicine and astronomy.

Here’s a display about Ibn Sina and Al-Kindi, two of the most influential scholars in the Islamic Golden Age.

Al-Kindi, born in 801, was a polymath and pioneer of Islamic philosophy, being a catalyst for further religious and spiritual enquiry. He is known to have known to have authored more than 270 treatises on philosophy, mathematics, medicine and music, as well as translating Greek philosophical and scientific texts into Arabic.

Ibn Sina, also known as Avicenna, was another polymath born in 980 who produced The Canon of Medicine (Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb), a medical encyclopaedia that became a standard textbook in Europe well into the 17th century.

There’s a lot more to see, from medical utensils and astronomical instruments used over a millennium ago, to replicas of medieval art during the Islamic Golden Age. There’s also an interactive weighing scale that you can step on, and it’ll tell you how much you weigh using 16th century measurements such as dirhems (1 dirhem = 3.207 grams) and miskals (1 miskal = 4 grams).

So take a look around and admire the curiosity, innovation and intellectual culture of those who came before.

3) Experience the wonders of the Ramadan Village

Throughout the year Istanbul Airport hosts various art, culture, tech and music performances and workshops. If you visit during the month of Ramadan, you’ll get to experience the magic of the Ramadan Village.

The Ramadan Village is a series of interactive stalls and workshops where passengers can learn more about Islamic and Turkish culture. Families can also enjoy child-friendly activities like the Painting Garden and Storyteller Zone.

It has a lively vibe with a çaycı (tea server) offering free cups of çay (Turkish tea) and passengers inquisitively exploring the interactive stalls.

Stop by the Water Marbling Workshop to learn about and try your hand at the centuries-old artform traditionally known in Turkish as Ebru. Simply put, water marbling is painting on water and then transferring it onto paper.

At the workshop, visitors sprinkle and brush pigments onto a viscous water solution, and then create beautiful artistic patterns by gently swirling the paint using sticks or combs. You then press a piece of paper onto the water’s surface, transferring the marbled patterns onto the paper, which you can take with you.

Water marbling flourished during the 14th–19th centuries in the Ottoman Empire, using it in bookbinding, Islamic calligraphy, decorative manuscripts and non-representational art. Today, Ebru has a place on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Another popular stop at the Ramadan Village is the Calligraphy Workshop. Once it’s your turn, you can request a custom message to be written by a master calligrapher on a piece of paper, which you can take home with you.

A perfect gift for someone special.

2) Indulge in the luxurious comforts of a passenger lounge

If you have a long layover or want to step up your comfort while waiting for your flight, relaxing in a lounge can be a great option. There are various passenger lounges spaced throughout the airport such as the iGA International Lounge, which can accommodate 650 guests and has an outdoor terrace, and the Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles Lounge, which has a library, cinema and playground for children.

Entry to these lounges depends on what class of ticket you’ve booked, whether you’re part of an accepted membership programme such as Priority Pass, and if they offer walk-in access.

To get a flavour of what you can expect, let’s take a look at the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge.

It’s located on the International Departures Floor near Gate E1, and entry is available for business class passengers traveling on international flights with Turkish Airlines or Star Alliance member airlines.

The purpose of a lounge is to provide comfort and rest options to passengers beyond what you’ll find in the regular airport space. The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge sets the scene of luxury with a self-playing piano at the entrance.

Occasionally someone gets up there and plays the piano themselves. But here’s a small tip – if you don’t actually know how to play the piano, then it’s better to let the piano play itself and leave passengers in peace!

One of the main perks of the Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is the huge variety of food options, all of which are free. There are multiple food stations where you can request a chef to prepared a freshly cooked hot meal, as well as buffet-style salad bars. You can also nibble on pretzels, cakes and Turkish Baklava served in various parts of the lounge.

And then there are drinks. As well as tea tables where you can pour yourself a cup of Turkish tea, there’s a coffee point where baristas serve you an Americano, latte or hot chocolate. And if you want a drink to cool down, there are fridges dotted throughout the lounge for you to pick up cold drinks such as orange juice, still and sparkling water, and carbonated beverages.

Remember, there’s no additional charge for the food and drink you consume at the lounge.

The Turkish Airlines Business Lounge also has the ‘From Past to Present’ exhibition, which displays 90+ years of Turkish Airlines advertising material from magazine ads, print posters and multimedia. It’s a great place to check out how the airline’s advertising, and advertising in general, has changed from the vintage-style of the 1930s and 40s to the digital age of the 21st century.

As mentioned earlier, the lounge is designed to help you have a comfortable layover, and so there’s a wide range of facilities beyond seating and dining. These include meeting rooms, a working area, prayer rooms and showers.

To use shower facilities, go to the concierge and request access. They’ll give you a buzzer that will vibrate when a shower room is available. The shower room is spacious, with toilet, wash basin and an enclosure with overhead and handheld showers. There’s soap and shampoo, as well as clean, fresh towels, a bath robe, hair dryer and slippers – just what you need to freshen up.

Arguably one of the best features of Turkish Airlines Business Lounge is the lockers. There’s a lot to see and do in Istanbul Airport, and having to carry heavy luggage and other belongings can dampen the experience. So it’s very useful to have a place to store your items as you explore.

It also helps that the lockers are made of transparent glass. That way, even if you forget what number locker you used, you can find it pretty easily by recognising your belongings.

The way to lock and unlock the lockers is pretty innovative. No need for a key. To lock the locker, tap your index finger on the sensor 6 times. It’ll recognise your unique fingerprints. To unlock the locker, simply tap the sensor with your index finger once.

And so, now that you’ve stored your belongings in a locker, that segways well into our final recommendation for the best fun thing to do in Istanbul Airport.

1) Explore Istanbul Airport and enjoy unexpected experiences

Istanbul Airport is one of the largest airports in the world, covering 76.5 million square metres. This means there’s a lot of area to explore, and as you do so, you may stumble upon an unexpected hidden gem or two.

That’s the beauty of Istanbul Airport.

You may come across a gaming station to try your hand at a PlayStation game. Or on your way to get a meal, the Pioneers of Modern Science exhibition might catch your eye. Or as you look for Duty Free gifts to purchase, you may stumble upon the perfect place to get some work done.

The airport is so vast and full of attractions that even if you don’t plan what to do during your layover, you can have an amazing time. In many ways, it’s good to have a bucket list to do/see things that you specifically want to do. But an alternative is to be like the voyagers of old. Instead of looking for things to do, set out on your journey and let the attractions of Istanbul Airport find you.

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