Istanbul's Atatürk International Airport (IST) at Yesilyurt, 23 km (14 miles) west of Sultanahmet Square, is the busiest of Turkey's major airports.

It's the place most visitors land first. (Here's visa info. Here's info on transport to/from the airport.)

The modern International Terminal Dis Hatlar Terminali) is spacious and efficient, with all the expected services including ATMs (cash machines) from which you can obtain Turkish Liras, currency exchange offices, restaurants, cafes and shops, Emanet (Baggage Check, Left Luggage) and an Airport Hotel.

Note that prices for food and drink at Turkish airports tend to be very high. My quick informal survey showed them to be 40% higher than at expensive Frankfurt Airport, and twice as high as at pricey Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport.

Here's information on Atatürk Airport Lost and Found, if you've lost or forgotten something in the airport or on an airplane.

An underground passage (15-minute walk) connects the International Terminal with the older Domestic Terminal (Iç Hatlar Terminali) and also the Istanbul Metro, called the Hafif Metro ("Light rail system") on many airport terminal signs.

There are several ways to travel between Atatürk Airport and the city center. Here they are.

A half-dozen hotels are within a few km of the airport, and one is right within the International terminal itself. More...

Istanbul's other airport is Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, about 55 km (34 miles) east of Atatürk International Airport (IST). Here's how to travel from Atatürk Airport to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.