Touristanbul 2026: Turkish Airlines’ Free Layover Tour & Free Hotel Explained - Turkey travel guide, tips and tour insights | My Turkey Adventure

Touristanbul 2026: Free Turkish Airlines Layover Tour

Last reviewed: 5 September 2026 by İlyas Bayrak, licensed Turkish guide. Quick Answer: Touristanbul is Turkish Airlines'' free service for passengers connecting through Istanbul Airport (IST) with a layover of roughly 6 to 24 hours . It includes a guided city tour with a meal, at no extra cost. Separately, Turkish Airlines offers free hotel accommodation on very long connections — traditionally from about 20 hours in economy and 10 hours in business . Both are subject to seat availability and to you being allowed to enter Türkiye (visa-exempt or holding an e-visa ), so always confirm the current rules with the airline before you count on them. I flag the baggage allowance mismatch for guests travelling from the US/UK: their international tickets allow 2x32kg, while the standard allowance on Turkish Airlines/AJet domestic tickets is 15-20 kg. The agency must arrange all domestic tickets in advance with "Upgraded/Business Baggage". What Exactly Is Touristanbul? It is a hosted group tour run for transit passengers. You leave the airport with a guide, see a fixed set of sights, eat a provided meal, and return to the terminal in time for your onward flight. Several departures run through the day, each with a different length and route — short options cover the Old City, longer ones add the Bosphorus side or a museum. It is genuinely free. What you pay is flexibility: fixed departure times, group pace, and no say in the stops. Who Qualifies for the Free Tour? You must hold a Turkish Airlines international-to-international connecting ticket through IST . Your layover normally needs to be between about 6 and 24 hours . You must be legally able to enter Türkiye — visa-free, or with an approved e-visa . Check passport validity rules too. Places are limited and allocated first-come, first-served at the Touristanbul desk in the arrivals area. How Do I Sign Up for Touristanbul? Land at IST and follow signs to passport control / arrivals . Find the Touristanbul / Hotel Desk in th

Moments from our tours

Travellers with their guide beneath an arched mosque courtyard entrance.
Travellers with their guide beneath an arched mosque courtyard entrance.
An ornate historic ceiling photographed during a tour.
An ornate historic ceiling photographed during a tour.
A guest and guide sharing a conversation beside the waterfront.
A guest and guide sharing a conversation beside the waterfront.
Travellers exploring the decorated vaulted passage of an Istanbul bazaar.
Travellers exploring the decorated vaulted passage of an Istanbul bazaar.
Travellers gathered in Sultanahmet with the Blue Mosque behind them.
Travellers gathered in Sultanahmet with the Blue Mosque behind them.