Macau to Istanbul Flights

  About Macau

Macau is nestled along the Pearl River Delta on the South China Sea. The city is bang opposite the city of Hong Kong and is recognised as one of the top tourist destinations. It is also known to be one of the most populous regions globally.

Best time to visit Macau

Macau's location on the coast makes it susceptible to extreme heat and humidity. The proximity of the coastal city to the South China Sea further brings over monsoons that could get really ugly. The monsoon is between April through October with July to September receiving maximum rainfall. The torrential rains could put a damper on all your tourist plans. They are so bad that the city streets get flooded and even bring over typhoons. The peak monsoon season is also recognised as typhoon season as the city witnesses a lot of natural calamities. This easily makes for bad weather that is definitely not ideal for vacation. More than ideal, it is actually quite risky as you could get stranded in the city or you might also have to deal with the repercussions of typhoons and heavy rains. Investing for a trip to Macau during this time of the year would only be a waste of money. Although it should be noted that the city's hotels see a drop in prices. But irrespective of the cheap hotel bookings you can make in Macau, it is not worth the money as you wouldn't be able to enjoy the city.

Summer is just as bad. The extreme heat and humidity can get quite annoying. You would have a tough time having fun in the city as the heat would irk your senses. While the water is right there for you to soak in and cool down, it is still not the best season. You should know though that summers are actually peak season for Macau. There are many tourists flocking over to soak in the sun and salty breeze. A majority of the crowd come from the winter locales of China and other countries. The outdoor activities are also enabled during this time, making it an ideal spot for summer vacation. The hotels do see a surge in prices during summers. Booking a hotel in Macau during summers would be splurging far more than your speculated budget. You could get some lovely online deals, but for it, you'll have to make advance reservations. Winter season in Macau, from December to February, is the best and most favourable time to plan a trip to Macau. Not just the weather but even the city's spirits turn happy with festivals and events, which would give you a good opportunity to indulge in their culture.

Places to visit in Macau

Macau has a beautiful balance of ancient architecture and modern skyscrapers. You can start your touristy rendezvous by checking out the Ruins of St. Paul's. It was originally a Catholic religious complex which also had a college in the complex. The 17th-century structure has been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The Monte Fort is another UNESCO World Heritage Site that was originally constructed to safeguard the city's Jesuit properties from invasion. For some quaint time in the neighbourhood, you should visit Coloane, an island close to Macau. The place is exquisite with Portuguese architecture. While you're here, you can further visit Taipa, another island in Macau that is famously acknowledged for the slew of casinos and interesting structure. The bridge connecting Coloane and Taipa is actually a famous tourist attraction in Macau that deserves some attention. The city does have many beautiful Chinese temples with the construction that will leave you spellbound. Do ensure to visit the many temples.

Things to do in Macau

Macau has some really cool indulgences that you simply cannot miss. One of the biggest attractions is the casinos that are prevalent in the city. You should visit the Venetian Macao casino resort. The estate is owned by the American Las Vegas Sands organisation and is the biggest attraction for many tourists. The huge casino hotel is one of the most posh and luxe structures in the city. The City of Dreams should definitely be on your list of attractions to check out in Macau. The exquisite water fountain show is captivating and too beautiful an experience. Hanging out at the Hac Sa Beach is something you should not miss. The quaint waters touching the shores with a quiet vibe is also a good place where you can relax. For more Portuguese architecture, you should visit the Guia Hill Fortress. The white structure with yellow and orange borders is a lovely space and especially has an exquisite landscape. Make sure that you continue with your food excursion as the city does have a slew of lovely restaurants and food establishments.

Food and restaurants in Macau

Macau's big competition in the culinary field Hong Kong, stands juxtaposed with the South China Sea playing a spectator. Although Hong Kong is recognised to be one of the most hi-tech cities with a thriving food culture, Macau also offers fusion food in this department. The coastal city has a slew of cuisines ranging from Portuguese to Chinese, all of them available with exquisite ambience. Predominantly, Macau favours Portuguese cuisine and has many restaurants and food establishments of the same descent. However, that doesn't mean they do not favour any other cuisine. Macanese cuisine, which is basically fusion food, is quite popular in the vicinity too. The mix of Chinese and Portuguese cultures on a platter is something you might have never encountered. Well, Macau gives you the opportunity to do the same. You can start with your food rendezvous in Macau by visiting the Clube Militar de Macau, a Portuguese restaurant which even has a very colonial-style vibe and decor. Make reservations for this place and definitely indulge in some of their lip-smacking Portuguese food and wine.

Another famed Portuguese-inspired restaurant is Albergue 1601. Hidden away from the city's bustle in Macau is this lovely two-storeyed restaurant which offers a quaint vibe and serves Portuguese and Macanese dishes. You can upscale your dining experience in Macau by opting for a Michelin-starred establishment by visiting Robuchon au Dôme. Make sure to carry enough money for this is going to be quite some indulgence. Also, their 14,500 labels of wine are quite a trip. The city also has restaurants that favour Indian cuisine. Golden Peacock is recognised for its perfectly cooked Indian food with a nice modern touch. You will find dishes such as butter chicken, skewered chicken, biryani and of course, vegetarian dishes too. Macau's Urban Kitchen is another perfect food establishment that you should check out without fail. The place boasts Asian, Japanese and Korean grub with special focus on seafood. You will not be disappointed here, and the all-day buffet system further adds to its perks. For a kaiseki meals setting, you don't have to travel to Japan but can find it in Macau's Yamazato.

How to reach Macau

Even though Macau is quite close to Hong Kong, a dedicated airport has been built to lure more tourists to the coastal city. The flight connectivity to Macau from Indian cities is decent as it is technically not too far. But there are no direct flights connected to Macau from India. Despite the demand for the city as a tourist haven, airlines have not reserved direct flights to the city. Hence, you will have to take flights which have layovers in other cities. Singapore Airlines, NokScoot, Air Macau, Silkair, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Eastar Jet, Asiana Airlines, to name a few, have flights that have connectivity to Macau. The most popular route chosen to reach Macau is often the one from Singapore and Hong Kong. A transit visa is required to travel as the flights connecting Macau have layovers in cities such as Singapore, Seoul, Bangkok and more. The airports of these cities have made it mandatory for the passengers to carry a transit visa. You can apply for one at the embassy, or you can opt for an easy online application.

The international route to Macau from Singapore and Hong Kong is actually favoured. However, often people choose to take flights to Hong Kong directly and use the means of sea to reach Macau. There are daily ferries that can reach Macau from Hong Kong. As tourists wish to check out both the cities in China, they often pick this option over the others. This is also convenient in many ways as the duration to reach Macau is reduced drastically from Hong Kong by the water body. Not to mention how it also saves a lot of flight ticket cost. You can make your flight bookings to Macau online, but finding cheap tickets would be tough. The city, especially during peak season, sees a lot of crowds. Hence, when you're booking flight tickets to Macau, make sure that you do it in advance to get the peak season ticket without splurging too much. There are always many online flight deals to Macau that you can avail, as long as you are able to find them on time. You can also make your hotel reservations in Macau well in advance to avoid expensive room prices.

  About Istanbul

Istanbul is one of the popular cities in Turkey which has been split by the Bosphorus Strait to have parts of it in Europe as well as Asia. The old city is known for its rich Byzantine heritage, which can still be witnessed in a majority of the monuments and tourist attractions. Istanbul is the financial, economic, historical and cultural hub of Turkey and witnesses a great turnover of tourists every year, especially during peak seasons.

Aside from being one of the largest cities in the world, Istanbul's population is quite high for a European city. The city is always crowded and can often get overwhelming with the excess crowd. There are various ways to reach the city, such as flights to Istanbul and cruises to the city's port from the Mediterranean Sea.

As a tourist hub, the city witnesses tourists flocking over from all directions. While their airport is busy with a plethora of flights flying in and out of Istanbul, even their sea routes see the same fervour. Ships and cruise voyages are a big hit among tourists who have the luxury of time and who also enjoy the luxe lifestyle. Many cities such as Barcelona, Nice, Athens, Sardinia, and more, have regular cruises heading to the port of Istanbul.

Some of the major highlights of the city are the Byzantium structures such as the Basilica Cistern, Chora Museum, to name a few. Accommodation prices fluctuate depending on the travel season.

Best time to visit Istanbul

Istanbul witnesses the best climate between March to May and September to November. As the city faces tremendous humidity to the point of annoyance, the summers and winters are also not ideal for travelling to Istanbul. However, Istanbul still receives an extensive crowd between June to August, summer. Even with the temperatures soaring high, many folks from the cold countries flock over to enjoy the hot sun and humid weather. It might be taxing to the ones already living in hot and humid atmospheres. The demand for Istanbul's summers is surprisingly high. The peak season comes with high-priced tags on hotel rooms in Istanbul. Even flights to Istanbul during the summer months are expensive. However, if you're planning a trip from India, which already enjoy its share of hot and humid weather, summer is definitely not the best time for you.

Months leading to winter and summer though, they are really pleasant and favourable for travelling and engaging in touristy activities. September to November bring the city's temperatures down as the roads are blessed with a cold breeze and quaint environment. Even the flight tickets to Istanbul drop, and there are cheap and affordable flight deals that you can acquire. These months usually witness rain showers, due to which, the tourism is put at a standstill. For a budget-traveller though, it is the best time to visit. The accommodation prices drop exceptionally in the city during this season, paving way for booking hotels in Istanbul for cheap. Another perk of this season is how various cultural festivals take place. Istanbul Biennial, Istanbul International Puppet Festival, Istanbul Theatre Festival, Contemporary Istanbul and Akbank Jazz Festival, are some of the festivals organised by the city to entertain the locals as well as the tourists. The March to May months are just as pleasant before summer takes over. Despite the humidity in the air, the spring and fall season caters to the tourism industry by keeping the heat and stickiness at a bare minimum.

Places to visit in Istanbul

Istanbul exquisite palaces and ornate religious structures have always been a fancy for history enthusiasts and tourists driven by cultural relevance. The city's major tourist attractions are centrally located, making traversing to the place convenient. However, thanks to the proximity, this has led to the city of Istanbul being excessively noisy, crowded and chaotic. That shouldn't stop you from exploring the streets of the city though You should visit the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia Museum. These two attractions are known to be the most important ones in Istanbul and should not be missed. Istanbul's Faith district's another pearl is the Süleymaniye Mosque, which is known to be one of the perfect architectural structure in Ottoman-style. The Bosphorus Strait of Istanbul is a natural wonder on its own with the strategic waterways that connect the Black Sea to the Mediterranean and simultaneously, dividing the city of Istanbul into two separate continents. This is easily one of the best sights and definitely worth checking out. You can even find fancy restaurants that overlook the strait.

The Basilica Cistern (also called Yerebatan Sarnici) is the largest Byzantine cistern that has managed to survive all through centuries. It is a beautiful site with an underground water reservoir, which is roughly calculated to be the size of two football fields. Another relic from the Byzantine period is the Chora Museum, which was originally a church from the old era. There are some modern structures too that add to Istanbul's charm with the Istanbul Modern museum being one of them. It is a private museum which collects and exhibits artwork that has contemporary significance.

Things to do in Istanbul

Located very close to the Blue Mosque is the Grand Bazaar, which is one of the oldest and massive shopping markets across the globe. With over 5,000 shops and 60 streets, the bazaar tends to overwhelm tourists with its colossal size. Not to mention how the place is constantly bustling with overzealous salesmen. The bazaar also has many quaint cafes and restaurants where you will find a lovely amalgam of cuisines ranging from the Mediterranean to Turkish to Middle Eastern. Many tourists have advocated that simply opting for a stroll around the city streets is the best kind of tourist activity one can indulge in when in Istanbul. Interacting with people and learning new stories about the place is definitely something people would enjoy. Plus, it would also be a good learning experience as you will have many more stories to return with from Istanbul.

Food and Restaurants in Istanbul

Istanbul's dreamy scenic landscapes and cityscapes are not the only marvels that would steal your heart. The city's lovely melange of cuisines from Turkish to the Mediterranean is quite impressive and will go down well with you. The fusion food from the Middle East and Asia further add to the charm of the exquisite delicacies sold on the streets of Istanbul. You will particularly enjoy their kebabs and mezes (tapas-like plates), a popular dish known across Turkey as well as other Middle Eastern countries. The cuisine comprises meat, beans, vegetables and nuts, which combine to make quite the flavour that to get your attention. Another important ingredient for the Turkish is yogurt, which is used as a companion for a majority of their meals. The street food is just as marvellous with döner and simit, to name a few staple dishes. Besides, if the food expedition gets too heavy and makes you conk off, you can also down some impeccable Turkish coffee and feel rejuvenated.

To experience some of the high-end luxe restaurants in Istanbul, visit Ulus 29 which faces the famed Bosphorus, Râna Meyhane for some lip-smacking Ottoman and Mediterranean cuisine. You can take this food expedition further by visiting Banyan to savour some Asian delicacies and St. Regis Brasserie to indulge in some French food. These places are fancy and have some of the best views of the city's Bosphorus Strait. To resort to a more fun and noisy backdrop, head to some meyhanes, located in every nook and corner of the city. Babel Cafe and Restaurant would give you one of the best Turkish dishes.

How to reach Istanbul (Transportation)

Istanbul's international airport, also known as Ataturk International Airport, is the city as well as Turkey's busiest airport. As a city that attracts a lot of tourists, the international airport is well-connected with several major cities in the world. Flight connectivity to Istanbul from India is exceptional. There are direct flights that fly to Istanbul from major cities in the country, including, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Turkish Airlines, Oman Air, Aeroflot, Ukraine International Airlines are some of the major airlines that have services for direct flights to Istanbul from Indian cities. The distance from India to Turkey is quite decent and can be covered in about seven to ten hours. Depending on whether you choose a connecting flight or a flight with a layover, the duration to reach Istanbul from India would differ accordingly. Turkish Airlines offer direct flights without any layovers and connecting flight business from Mumbai, which takes only seven hours to reach. Direct flights come with a setback of burning a hole in your pocket.

As long as you don't mind paying extra money and spending less time on the flight, you can opt for direct flights. However, if you wish to snag cheap flight tickets to Istanbul, you will either have to pick the flights with longer durations or the ones with layovers. While booking your flight tickets, ensure to book your hotel room in Istanbul as well. You might receive some online flight deals for booking Istanbul flight and accommodation.

  About Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is one of the biggest airports in Turkey and serves as an international airport. The airport is situated on the Arnavutköy district, which falls on the European side of the city. Istanbul Airport is reserved for passenger use and should not be confused with Istanbul Atatürk Airport. The airport previously served for commercial flight services. However, the passenger flights were shifted to Istanbul Airport. Istanbul Atatürk Airport is closed for passenger flights, and only Istanbul Airport serves to allow operations of commercial flights.

Istanbul Airport is currently working on expansion plans. Some of the phases of infrastructural development and upgradations are yet to be completed. In fact, the airport authorities have segregated the expansion plans into various stages to enable consistent work. The eventual aim is to accommodate a whopping number of 200 million passengers in a year.

Istanbul Airport has four runways with one terminal that caters to both domestic and international flight movement. While there is only one terminal, the airport as been divided into five concourses and lettered alphabetically, A, B, C, D, F and G. Further with respect to the airport security, they have about 3,500 security personnel. These include 1,850 police, 750 immigration officers, providing airport security.

About Airport Terminals

Currently, the Istanbul Airport has one functioning terminal which services domestic and international flight activities. There are four runways that are operational and made of asphalt. The terminal does have a total of five concourses lettered A, B, D, F and G along with 143 total boarding bridges for passengers alphabetically. Since the one terminal takes care of both, domestic and international flights, the concourses divide the passengers flying from within Turkey and internationally. The Istanbul Airport has 3,500 security personnel dedicated to keeping the vicinity safe. Not to mention how a total of 1,850 police along with 750 immigration officers who are expected to join the airport security. The Istanbul Airport does have extensive plans to expand the terminals from the functional ones. The main terminal is known to have the capacity of passenger 90 million annually. It poses a tough competition with Dubai International Airport Terminal 3, which also boasts a large floor area. Istanbul Airport's runways are quite large, with one of them being 4,100 metres long.

About Airport Authority

Istanbul Airport is owned by General Directorate of State Airports Authority. However, it is being operated by Istanbul Grand Airport. The General Directorate of State Airports Authority is primarily a Turkish government body that takes care of the smooth functioning of a majority of airports in Turkey. They are also responsible for the regulation and overseeing the air traffic in the airspace that falls under the Turkish territory. Although the authority takes care of operations of many airports, the exceptions include Istanbul Airport, Milas-Bodrum Airport, Antalya Airport and Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport. The operations of Istanbul Airport are undertaken by Istanbul Grand Airport. They have been working extensively on enabling the airport to be one of the best in the world.

Much recently, the authority came up with a project called Istanbul Airport City, which is set to bring about an intriguing urban development design. The airport city's design has since been enhanced with provisions for world-class amenities to support the Istanbul Airport's functions. The Airport City's unique concept has been undertaken by Perkin+Will, a renowned international design company. Istanbul Airport City model's location is parallel to the Istanbul Airport. The best part about the project's design is how it resembles the city of Istanbul. IGA aims to make the Istanbul Airport City as the cultural and economic hub for Turkey. The Istanbul Airport City will have four main zones which would be directly connected to the core zone of Terminal 1. The Istanbul Airport City is also slated to have an aviation academy and university, retail, hotels, hospital facility and more. IGA is also planning on bringing sustainable practices to enable a positive approach to environmental management.

Top airlines flying from Istanbul Airport

Istanbul Airport is gifted with great airlines connection. There are many flights that fly to and from the Istanbul Airport and have dedicated park bays too. In fact, the airport also sees Indian airlines, IndiGo. It is the only Indian airline that is available at the Istanbul Airport. In fact, the airline has devoted direct flight to IndiGo. Along with the Indian airline though, the Istanbul Airport further sees a lot of international connections too. With Turkish Airlines taking the majority of air traffic, the airport does witness flights of airlines such as Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air Albania, Air Astana, Air France, Air Moldova, All Nippon Airways, Asiana Airlines, British Airways, EgyptAir, Emirates, Ethiopian Airlines, Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Iran Air, Jazeera Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airways, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Libyan Airlines, Oman Air, Pegasus Airlines, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, Tunisair, Sichuan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Ukraine International Airlines and Uzbekistan Airways. The Istanbul Airport does lack cargo operations as a majority of the operations are being taken up by Istanbul Atatürk Airport.

Facilities at the Istanbul Airport

ATM and foreign exchange - ATM kiosks and forex counters are available at regular intervals at the airport. In fact, you can find the forex counters at the arrivals section of all terminals. It would be best to go through the airport's website if you need to know the exact location of the forex counters. The information desk would also perfect place for you to visit.

Baggage - The airport offers a slew of baggage-related facilities such as baggage delivery, baggage wrapping, porter services and more. These services are perfect as they would help you with all your luggage woes.

Prayer rooms - Dedicated multi-faith rooms have been installed at the airport. They can be availed by visitors, and there are 44 rooms in total. Half of them serve men, and the other half serve women. You must know the ones that you can enter.

Restaurants and cafes - Food courts, establishments and upscale restaurants are also present at the airport terminals. You can find them at the departures and arrivals spaces. In fact, many of the lounges in the airport also cater to an exquisite culinary experience.

Lounges - The Istanbul Airport accommodates a slew of airline lounges, including VIP rooms and business conference halls. These make it convenient for the passengers who are travelling with first-class and business-class tickets. The lounge also has spas and upscale restaurants to make it a good experience for travellers.

Medical services - Medical services such as emergency teams and pharmacies are also available at the airport. You can visit the information desk to find out more about their paramedic services. Pharmacies are also present at the departures and arrivals sections of the terminals. This is to ensure that an emergency situation is catered to immediately.

Nursing rooms - For new mothers with infants, dedicated nursing rooms have also been installed. The rooms are perfectly hygienic and sanitized to ensure that the mothers feel safe about the environment. The area also has baby products and essentials such as baby powders and diapers.

Special assistance - Special assistance and porter services are also offered at the airport. In fact, you can inform your airlines about the services you require which need special assistance and the airport would provide you with the same.

Smoking zone - To keep the air of the airport fresh, they have restricted smoking in public. There are dedicated smoking rooms in the airport lounge that you can visit. In case you do not have any on you. Provisions to purchase the same is also available.

How to reach Istanbul Airport

Public Transport

Much recently, the Istanbul Airport worked on bringing forth a dedicated public transportation link that would be connected to the city. There are many scheduled rides that would reach you to the Istanbul Airport as well as the city. There are taxis and other public transportations that are available at the airport. Not to mention how you can find them from anywhere in the main city too. You can find bus routes to take to reach the Istanbul Airport on their website.

Rentals and taxis

You can find taxis and rental cars that would reach you to Istanbul Airport. It might be nice to take up cars and taxis for a relaxed departure. It is essential for you to plan your route in advance to make sure that you reach the Istanbul Airport on time. Maps would guide you perfectly to the airport. It is essential that you keep a check on the traffic that the Istanbul city possesses. Since Istanbul is known to be extremely crowded and busy at all times, it would be best to plan a route in advance to reach the Istanbul Airport without any delay in the schedule. The airport does offer 24/7 taxi service that can be found at several counters. You can book a ride from the departures as well as the arrivals.