Touristanbul 2026: Free Turkish Airlines Layover Tour & Hotel

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. 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 the arrivals hall and show your boarding pass and passport. Pick the departure that fits your connection — staff will refuse a tour that cuts your check-in too fine. Clear passport control, board the bus, and keep your onward boarding pass with you at all times. Return with the group and re-enter through international departures. Allow at least 3 hours between your