Tel Aviv Yafo to Istanbul Flights

  About Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv is a small city in Israel that has a vibrant nightlife, rich culture and history. You will also find some of the best desserts in the city at several ice cream parlours. While the city has embraced the modern way of living, it also manages to strike a balance between preserving its traditions and welcoming modernity. The city is also known for its diverse dining scenes and for serving the best Israeli food you'll ever get anywhere else. The Tel Aviv Port is one of the major attractions in the city that is also a hotspot for young couples and friends to stroll around at night. It is Israel's second-largest city and has a very artistic feel to it. Waking up to the view of the turquoise blue waters and sandy beaches is literally a dream come true. Tel Aviv is one of the most underrated vacation spots in the world and definitely needs more attention than it gets. Make sure you add the city to your travel itinerary right away. No one has ever come back from the city feeling disappointed, a little blue maybe because their vacation ended.

Best Time to Visit Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv experiences winter from December to February when the temperature ranges from 9 to 19 degree Celsius. While it is not too cold, it is not too hot either. Make sure you book your hotel in Tel Aviv for several weeks in advance to avoid the price surge. The city expects a lot of youngsters around this time who either want to take a stroll by the shore or just hit the beach, but since the water is way too chilly in winter, most travellers settle for a stroll. However, there are chances of it raining during this season, too. Make sure you pack an umbrella if you are planning a trip to Tel Aviv during this season. You will also have to book your flight tickets to Tel Aviv in advance to dodge the surge. It will be difficult to get cheap flight tickets to Tel Aviv so close to the peak season. You can attend events like the Tel Aviv Jazz Festival or the Tel Aviv Samsung Marathon in February.

Spring season hits Tel Aviv in March and April. The temperature ranges from 11 to 22 degree Celsius making this the perfect season to plan a trip to the city. The summer crowd is yet to hit the city, so you have the beaches and most tourist attractions all to yourself. While the days can get pretty warm, the nights are colder. Tourists love sitting at the outdoor cafes and just admiring the beautiful view of the city. You will still not be able to go for a swim in the Mediterranean because it is still going to be pretty cold out there. You can take part in Israel Independence Day celebrations if you are going to take off to Tel Aviv in April.

May to August is summer in Tel Aviv, and the temperature ranges from 17 to 30 degree Celsius. This is the perfect time for you to put on your fanciest bikini or swimwear and head to the beach. You can go for a swim or just enjoy a little sunbathing. June to August are the driest months in Tel Aviv since it doesn't rain at all during this time, which is one of the reasons why it sees a peak in tourism in summer. You might want to book your hotel in Tel Aviv for several months in advance because it will get packed for the summer. You might also land exciting flight deals to Tel Aviv if you book it in advance. You can attend festivals like Tel Aviv Pride, TLVFest, The Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival and the White Night International Festival, also called Laila Lavan.

September to November is autumn season in Tel Aviv and the temperature ranges from 14 to 29 degree Celsius. If crowded places or crowds, in general, tend to ruin your holiday, this is the perfect time for you to head to Tel Aviv. However, hotel and flight rates do not see a dip at all. You can attend events like High Holy Days, DLD Tel Aviv Innovation Festival and Tel Aviv Night Run.

Places to Visit in Tel Aviv

The Beach Promenade is one location that is jammed with tourists and locals, especially during peak season. It gives you easy access to the church but also to the series of cafes. Rabin Square is Israel's most famous plaza and an important site to visit. It has a memorial for Israel's late Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated after a pro-peace rally. Jaffa's Old City is yet another port city near Tel Aviv that will leave you stumped. The shopaholic in you will screech right through the roof at Jaffa's flea market. Tel Aviv port is also a famous spot among youngsters that offers a beautiful view of the sea. The Great Synagogue on Allenby Street attracts a lot of party animals and can be called a nightlife hotspot. You can also visit the Tel Aviv Museum to know more about its history. The city has a lot of museums and historical monuments that art and history buffs would enjoy thoroughly. However, most tourists just come here for the party.

Things to do in Tel Aviv

Sign up for a guided tour of the city that includes all the museums and historical tours. You can also explore these on your own if you don't want help. The city has quite a few recreational areas like the Tayelet, Neve Tzedek, Jaffa, Tel Aviv Port and the list goes on. Tel Aviv city has about 16 beaches with clean toilers and outdoor showers, but that's not what they pride themselves on the most. The clean beaches and blue waters are what invites tourists to the city. You can try top sea surfing or regular surfing, snorkelling, boating and other such water-related activities. You can also sign up for one of Israel's food tours and get to sample some of them. The shopping scene in Tel Aviv is exciting, and you will certainly end buying more than you want to. The city is also known for its happening and exciting nightlife. Make sure you attend at least one of the parties. If you have taken off to Tel Aviv with your friends, you won't have to rely on an external company of strangers, but even so, Tel Aviv is one party destination that you don't want to miss at all. You can also sign up for a cooking class in the city and learn how to cook Israeli food. If you are staying in a guesthouse of sorts with kitchen facilities, you can head to the market, buy some fresh produce and recreate the meals you learnt all by yourself. You might want to uncork the wine bottle before you finish cooking.

Foods and Restaurants in Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv has a very eclectic dining scene but more than that, a vibrant nightlife. From quaint cafes to fancy restaurants and cafes, you will find everything that suits your taste buds here. Hummus Masabacha, Kanafeh and Sabich are some of the highly recommended Mediterranean cuisines that you will find here. You can head to Night Kitchen for an authentic and delicious variety of Mediterranean cuisines. If you feel like treating yourself to some seafood, you can head to Shila - Sharon Cohen's Kitchen and Bar. Santa Katarina is another popular restaurant known for bringing something new to its menu constantly and for its tasty Mediterranean food. It is not easy to find kosher options in Israel easily, but you can head to Falafel Hakosem that has been getting great reviews from tourists and the locals. The House of Hummus and Abu Hassan are some of the other popular options you can try here. Dallal Bakery is a favourite amongst the locals and the tourists.

How to reach Tel Aviv

Ben Gurion Airport is the main international airport that serves Israel and is about 20 km away from Tel Aviv. The flight connectivity to Tel Aviv from India is decent. Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines have frequent flights to Tel Aviv from India with layovers at Addis Ababa and Istanbul. You might get cheap flight tickets to Tel Aviv if you are travelling during the offseason. Make sure you are also hooked to your phones or screens whenever there is a sale on tickets. If you are lucky, you might get exciting flight deals to Tel Aviv online. Even though the airport is quite far from the city, getting a cab from the airport does not prove to be a task. The airport has free WiFi, premium lounges, duty-free shops, 24-hours medical care, ATMs, restaurants, cafes, currency exchange and so on. Based on the flight that you choose, your plane journey can be anywhere between 18- 25 hours. Make sure you book a ticket that has a lesser travel time.

  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.