Coming to İstanbul
İstanbul is a major transportation hub making it easily accessible by air, train, car or even by boat.
By Air
İstanbul has two major airports: İstanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). İstanbul Airport is located on the European side of the city and Sabiha Gökçen Airport is located on the Asian side. We would highly recommend booking your flights through Sabiha Gökçen airport as it may take a couple of hours to travel from İstanbul Airport to the event venue on the Asian side. While the İstanbul Airport is one of the most connected airports in the world, Sabiha Gökçen Airport also offers connections to most European cities by low-cost carriers.
By Train
Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus pandemic, international train services have been halted. However, domestic trains to İstanbul from many cities in Turkey are available through TCDD.
By Bus
There are many bus companies offering bus services from Balkan countries as well as from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Service frequency and availability may change due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Domestic bus tickets can be booked online through oBilet or similar services.
By Car
The traffic in İstanbul can become highly congested during rush hours. However it is possible to drive to İstanbul from many Balkan countries. It would be better to use a navigation app like Google Maps or Yandex Maps to navigate to and navigate inside the city. This will also help avoid congested areas.
By Boat
Most international ferries to İstanbul have been suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However the newly opened Galataport offers a cruise ship stop to those interested in starting or ending a journey in Istanbul.