Your next international trip could include a free tour or free stay in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines makes long layovers bearable by offering free stuff. But you have to plan ahead when booking your flights to get the deal, especially now that you will be making your connection at the new Istanbul International airport terminal which is very far from the city.
Connect with the “Stopover in Istanbul” program here and read on to find out more about how to qualify for a free hotel stay. The free tour is part of a program called Touristanbul at this link.
Disclaimer: I try to update this post with the latest requirements, but please check the Turkish Airlines website to be sure there are no recent changes.
Why Book on Turkish Airlines?
I’ve found that the Los Angeles to Istanbul non-stop flight on Turkish Airlines is often the fastest way for Californians to connect to the other side of the world — without making an additional stop in London, Frankfurt or somewhere on the East Coast of the US. Even when departing from the East Coast of the USA, the cheapest fare is often on Turkish Airlines. It is part of the Star Alliance.
No matter where your trip starts, it’s the time of your arrival in Istanbul and how you choose your connecting flight on Turkish Airlines to your final destination that matters. It could be the difference between sleeping in a deluxe hotel like the Pullman Istanbul Airport — or spending a rough night in an airport waiting area.
Walking outside the Blue Mosque on a free tour makes for a much more pleasant layover than waiting around at the airport. But make sure you book flights that qualify for a free tour.
How to Qualify for the Free Hotel Room in Istanbul
Here’s the deal: To get the free hotel, your layover must between 20 hours and 7 days. Both your international arrival and connecting flight must be on Turkish Airlines. You must be connecting in Istanbul between two places that are NOT in Turkey.
A codeshare flight will also work, just as long as your ticket number begins with 235. Business class travelers get two free nights in a 5-star or boutique hotel, just one night for economy class in a 4-star hotel.
The deal only works for roundtrips that begin and end in the same country. You can only take advantage of the free hotel on one leg of the trip, either outgoing or return — but not both.
Your trip must also originate in one of the participating countries. Each country has a dedicated email where you can find out if your ticket is eligible. For the USA it is freehotelusa@thy.com. You should apply at least 72 hours before your trip starts.
How to Get a Free Istanbul Tour
If you have a layover between 6 and 24 hours, you might qualify for a free Istanbul tour at this link. Again, you must be connecting between two international destinations that are NOT in Turkey.
The free tour is offered daily at these times:
08:00-11:30 Sightseeing Tour
08:30-15:00 Half Day Tour
16:00 – 21:30 Evening Tour
18:30 – 23:00 Bosphorus Tour (operating between April 01 and October 31)
All participants must check in at the Touristanbul Registration Desk at least 30 minutes before the start of the free tour. You can also inquire on the airline’s website in advance. I recommend doing this because not every ticket qualifies. The rules have changed a bit since I did the free tour. I saw people turned away if they booked an extra long layover to get the freebie. You should be leaving on the next available Turkish Airlines flight. Read the FAQ here.
Do I Need a Visa and Local Currency?
You need to arrive, get through immigration and check in half an hour before the starting time of the tour. They will only offer you a tour that returns to the terminal 90 minutes before your scheduled departure. If the bus is late, they will rebook you. But keep in mind you have to go through normal security again on your way back — and that’s on you.
Whether you need a visa depends where you’re from. If your passport is from the USA, you no longer need a visa to enter Turkey as a tourist. Check the requirements for other countries here. I was traveling on my passport from Slovenia — another country whose citizens do not require a visa to enter Turkey for tourism.
You might also want to change a small amount of your currency into Turkish lire if you want to buy anything beyond the free services offered. For example, the hotel room is free but if you want to take a taxi to a local restaurant for dinner, you’ll need local money if they don’t take credit cards. And you’d hate to visit the Grand Bazaar without being able to haggle and buy something!
Getting to the Touristanbul Desk
To connect with your free tour, the Touristanbul Desk is located opposite Meeting Point 4 on the International Arrivals level. Getting there can be a bit scary.
For one thing, most of the people disembarking your international flight to Istanbul will be heading down the corridor marked “International Transfers.” You take the less popular path to baggage claim, passport control and the domestic terminals. Don’t panic if you see a sign that offers the free stay to travelers from Pakistan. Transit passengers from any country with qualified connecting flights on Turkish Airlines are eligible.
This was the desk that handled both free hotel rooms and tours at the old IST airport. The shiny new terminal has a dedicated desk for Touristanbul tours.
What About Your Carryon Luggage?
Your checked bags have most likely been sent to your final destination. Make sure you have everything in your carry-on bag that you need for your free tour. There is a secure luggage check (for a small fee) next to the hotel desk if you’d rather leave your bag behind.
Wait in line to show your passport and connecting boarding pass to someone at the desk. They will confirm if you are eligible for the free tour or hotel offer and then instruct you to wait for the next departing bus, typically less than 15 minutes. Passengers’ names will be called, and the group will be led out to a waiting bus at the curb.
If you leave any belongings on the bus during the Turkish Airlines free tour of Istanbul, it’s at your own risk. So either check your carryon bags or be prepared to lug them around for a few hours.
Touristanbul Day Tours
The shortest option — from 8AM to 11:30am — was mostly a drive-around with a few stops for photo opportunities and some free time at the Dolmabahçe Palace. Later tours are longer and include a free breakfast, lunch or dinner. You’ll only see the exteriors of some must-see attractions like the Blue Mosque or Hagia Sofia. All tours are conducted in English.
There is so much to see in Istanbul that you really need more than just a few hours to properly experience its top attractions. But if this is your only shot at seeing one of the world’s great historic cities, or you’d like to revisit some memorable sites free of charge, go for it! It certainly beats trying to pass more than six hours waiting at the airport.
A fun photo op outside Hagia Sofia — you don’t go inside on the Turkish Airlines free tour.
Free Evening Tour of Istanbul
My son and I took the free evening tour (4 pm to 9:30 pm) on a recent flight from Ljubljana to Tbilisi, Georgia. Our connecting flight left in the wee hours of the morning and we didn’t want to take a chance on our computer bags being locked up in the luggage check, so we lugged them along with us into the tour bus. This also meant we had to carry them on the walking tour. Be warned: it is a LOT of walking over uneven pavements, hills and steps.
Our guide expertly led us through a small outdoor market and then into Hippodrome Square, where we admired the Egyptian Obelisk, the German Fountain and the Serpentine Column. From there, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia were steps away. We stopped for outdoor photo-ops outside before continuing on to the Grand Bazaar for some shopping time.
The Al Nakhla restaurant served our group a free three-course dinner as part of Turkish Airlines free evening tour of Istanbul.
Free Food in Istanbul
We boarded the bus again to reach the restaurant that served a free three-course dinner to our group on its second floor. Vegetarian meals are an option if you ask. I am an adventurous traveler who likes to try everything, and I’ll confess that some of the new tastes didn’t agree with me. I paid the price later when my stomach rebelled during my connecting flight to Tbilisi.
I also underestimated how exhausted I would be after hours of trudging along with my heavy computer bag. I let down my guard In the scramble to clear security on the way back and a pushy gentleman made off with my treasured winter hat — made of Austrian alpaca fur.
NOT Qualifying for a Free Hotel in Istanbul
The hotel option is not as well publicized as the tours for a reason: not everyone qualifies on every trip. For example, I passed through Istanbul on my trip to Egypt. But my family didn’t want to take a chance on a one-hour connection time for the flight to Cairo. So, we booked a connecting flight that left the next day. We were NOT eligible for a free overnight in a hotel because we had turned down the option of the flight that left on the same day. We stayed at our own expense at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Istanbul West, which offered a free shuttle to the new terminal.
Luxury and Adventure
I’ve done the free hotel offer twice. The first time was a trip from Maldives in 2013, with a connecting flight to Rome the next day. I was taken to the modest Akgun Istanbul Hotel, located midway between the airport and the city center but a long taxi ride away from the famous sights of Sultanahmet. Having already done the grand tour of Istanbul, I enjoyed an authentic neighborhood experience. I changed about $20 dollars at the hotel front desk and asked for their restaurant recommendation to enjoy dinner at a Turkish pide (pizza) place called Kul Sofrasi few blocks away. It was packed with friendly locals. An English-speaking staff member helped me choose vegetarian dishes.
Stranger Danger: People inside the restaurant took great care of a solo woman traveler, but I drew some catcalls in the neighborhood, despite being modestly dressed in slacks and long sleeves. I wouldn’t recommend being out alone after dark in a non-touristy neighborhood. Women are not required to cover their heads in Turkey unless visiting a mosque, but light hair is an attention getter.
More recently, my hotel experience was a lot more posh. The bus pulled up to a fancy Pullman airport hotel, part of the same luxury chain I had enjoyed in Bangkok. Upon check-in I was informed that “your pickup time is 4am.” The front desk provided brochures of nearby restaurants, some offering a free pickup from the hotel. I didn’t change any money on this trip because I decided to relax instead of going out. I was more tired from the long flight than hungry.
My room was elegantly appointed with high-end toiletries, a coffee maker and complimentary water. The window between the shower and bedroom would have been a lot more interesting if I wasn’t alone. The 2nd floor room didn’t have much of a view through the grimy glass, but it was on the same floor as the massive spa and fitness center. Guests can use the facilities free of charge, but I hadn’t packed a bathing suit or workout wear in my carry-on. Wearing only the Turkish towel they provided, I enjoyed the women-only section of the sauna and Turkish bath. That night, I drifted off to sleep — warm, happy and clean in my free hotel room!
Early Wakeup Call
As promised, the Turkish Airlines bus was at the front door of the Pullman to collect me promptly at 4 am. Your assigned pickup time is not negotiable. But there’s always one joker in the group who delays everyone’s return to the airport by not being ready. Please don’t be that person. The bus might have to stop at more than one hotel along the route back to the terminal.
It was too early to enjoy the hotel’s breakfast that often is included in the deal. However, as a Star Alliance Gold member, I was able to feast in the splendid Turkish Airlines lounge after I cleared security at the airport.
Important Update: New Istanbul Airport
My son recently claimed the free hotel night on a connection through Istanbul’s new international terminal. It is so new and remote that there are not many nearby hotels and you’ll be taken to a hotel closer to the old Ataturk airport, which is now for cargo only. Be prepared to spend up to an hour on the bus EACH WAY.
This also means that your pickup time will be three hours before your departing flight. As a result, my son enjoyed a free dinner in the hotel because his zero-dark-thirty pickup wouldn’t allow him to have the included breakfast — or even a full night’s sleep. He said the hotel seemed deserted except for Turkish Airlines passengers staying for free.
Terry’s Travel Tips
Booking your flight: Your arriving and connecting flights through Istanbul must BOTH be on Turkish Airlines to qualify for free stuff. Your ticket number must begin with 235.
Access to Turkish Airlines lounge: This is why it pays to earn Gold Status on a Star Alliance airline; you have access to the Turkish Airlines Miles and Smiles Lounge, even if you are traveling on an economy ticket. There is a more luxurious lounge for business class ticket holders only. Don’t enjoy the amenities too much; no boarding announcements are made, so keep an eye on the big board and allow plenty of time to walk to your gate in the humongous terminal.
Other free tours: I’ve also enjoyed free tours from Incheon Airport in Seoul, South Korea and from Changi Airport in Singapore. If you have a few hours to wait in Tokyo’s Narita airport, you can easily take a local train to visit the impressive shrine town of Narita on your own.
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