Miami to Istanbul Flights

  About Miami

If there is one place that you can head to, any time of the year, for the perfect beachy holiday, it is Miami. The crazy parties, sunbathing at the beach, diverse cultures are only some of the things that attract tourists to Miami. Miami Beach is another destination that is extremely popular among tourists. You can go with your family or with your friends. Miami is a city that never sleeps, and you won't even notice time passing by when you are holidaying in Miami. You won't feel like leaving from the beach at all. Waking up to the wonderfully blue waters from your hotel room makes for the perfect vacation, don't you think? You will not get used to a view like this and will definitely want to come back for another holiday pretty soon.

Best Time to Visit Miami

Summer is one of the most popular seasons to visit Miami, even though the city does welcome tourists all year round. There are quite a few parties and events hosted in the city throughout the year, which also leads to a spike in hotel rates and flight tickets to Miami. However, if you are keen on partying till sunrise and hitting the beach every now and then, this is worth every penny spent. Spring is also a popular season to visit Miami and has a lot of teenagers turning it into a crazy party destination, thanks to the Spring break. June to August is summer in Miami, and the temperature ranges from 23 to 32 degree Celsius. There are quite a few events and festivals in all of these months like the American Black Film Festival in June, Florida Supercon in July and Coconut Grove Food and Wine Festival in August. If you are planning to hit the Miami beach, make sure you carry loads of sunscreen because you will want to take a dip in the ocean quite frequently. However, this is also the start of Atlantic's hurricane season so make sure that you are prepared to face the humid temperatures.

September to November is the autumn season, and the city sees a dip in the number of tourists since there are frequent showers and the threat of hurricanes hitting the city. It will be a lot of gambles to plan a trip to Miami during the autumn season. However, if you are still keen on hitting the Miami beach during this time, you can catch the South Beach Seafood Week in October and the White Party Week in November. Not to mention, there is also a BK Beach Run event that happens in October. The temperature ranges from 22 to 31 degree Celsius. However, it does drop considerably in November.

The city experiences winter from December to February. The temperature ranges from 15 to 26 degree Celsius, and this is a very pleasant time to hit the beach. You will see a minimal crowd and can enjoy your solitude at the beach though you must book your hotel in Miami at least four months in advance since the hotel prices start increasing. It will get difficult to find something decent in your budget at the last moment.

March to May is the most popular time to head to Miami. The temperature ranges from 17 to 30 degree Celsius. Since it is Spring season, you will see a lot of young crowds, mostly at the beach to celebrate Spring break. There are quite a lot of events to attend during this season, too. You can attend the Miami International Film Festival in March, Miami Beach Pride in March or April and the Miami Fashion Week in May or June. However, since it is also a popular tourist season, especially among youngsters, you might want to check for your flight and hotel availability in advance.

Places to Visit in Miami

Put on your fanciest bikini and head to the Miami beach. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Miami and also one of the main reasons why tourists plan a trip to the city. There are long stretches of pristine and tranquil beaches that you will not get over at all. The South Beach is another one of the famous beaches in Miami that a lot of people head to. If you are travelling with your family, you can also visit the Miami Zoo that is home to approximately 3000 animals and 500 different species. One of the specialities of the zoo is that it has created a natural habitat for the animals to move around freely instead of caging them. Make sure you are all set for a long walk since the zoo is quite big. You will also find a lot of water fountains in the zoo and play areas for the kids.

The Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is yet another popular tourist that you can visit. It used to be a winter home of industrialist, James Deering and is a blend of European and Italian Renaissance style architecture. You will love the gardens and the outdoor area here. Bayside Marketplace is one of the most popular shopping areas in Miami. Located on the Miami waterfront, you will find a lot of unique shops here and a lot of souvenirs to take back home, too. Bayfront Park is another wonderful place to go to that has a lot of sculptures and monuments spread across 32 acres of space. It is a famous place to host musical performances since it also has an amphitheatre and makes for a great place to take pictures. Make sure you also head to Wynwood to catch the beautiful wall arts. You will find a lot of graffiti paintings on the walls here that make it a spot you must visit in Miami. Little Havana is in the Cuban district of Miami and is known for its cultural scene. You will find a lot of restaurants and food stalls here, in addition to Latin music. You can also attend the Calle Ocho Festival in March that celebrates the Cuban culture.

Things to do in Miami

Since Miami Beach is one of the main highlights of the city, you can try a bunch of beach activities here like swimming, paddle surfing or even take a speed boat tour. You can also try deep-sea fishing in Miami. Since it is a hot party destination, you can also experience the crazy nightlife here. The food and cocktail in Miami are to die for, and you will simply love it. Take a walking tour of the Art Deco Museum and make sure you also hire a guide for this one. You can challenge your photography skills at the Wynwood Walls, and we are certain the pictures here will get you loads of likes and followers on social media.

Food and Restaurants in Miami

It is not difficult to find your favourite type of cuisine in Miami. Be it Japanese food or Cuban cuisines, and you will find everything here. Owing to its proximity to the ocean, seafood is also a speciality here. You can head over to Garcia's Seafood Grille and Fish Market for sustainable seafood. You can also try Versailles Restaurant for authentic Cuban cuisine or Chef Creole's at Little Haiti for Caribbean food. You can also head to House of Food Porn for sushi and other kinds of Japanese food. La Mar by Gaston Acurio at Mandarin Oriental, is another restaurant that is recommended by food experts. Aromas del Peru serves the best Peruvian food in Miami. You can also try Cuban and Spanish food at El Mago de las Fritas. Head over to Lagniappe for a glass of wine. It has an impressive menu of different types of wine that you can choose from.

How to reach Miami (Transportation)

The Miami International Airport is about 16 km away from Downtown Miami. The flight connectivity to Miami from India is excellent. However, be prepared for tedious hours of flights and more than one layover. Though there are flights to Miami that only have layovers in one city, the duration is close to 22 hours. It is not very easy to get cheap flight tickets to Miami from India, so make sure you plan and book it way in advance. It is also advisable to book your hotel in Miami well in advance to avoid any inconveniences. Layovers at London, New York and Istanbul are some of the popular routes to Miami via air. Miami airport is well-equipped with lounges, shopping arenas, restaurants, cafe, WiFi, smoking rooms, children's area and prayer area. You will not get bored at all if you are waiting to board your flight. With so many options to dine in and sip a coffee, Miami airport makes sure that it stands out. Not to mention, you will also get a taxi and other transport services from the airport quite easily. The airport also has art exhibitions for passengers. The airport has specific exits and areas for pets and service animals.

  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.