10th Short Course/Conference on Applied Coastal Research
4 - 6 SEPTEMBER 2023 • Dedeman İstanbul Hotel, ISTANBUL / TURKEY

USEFUL INFORMATION

TRANSPORTATION

Istanbul has always been a meeting place and a cross point destination. Located at the crossroads of East and West, Istanbul offers easy air connections. Getting to and from Istanbul has never been easier. With a capacity of far over 25 million travelers per year Istanbul is surprisingly within reach - in fact, it's less than a three-hour flight from most European cities.

Istanbul Airport houses an Aircraft Maintenance and Repair Centre and it provides service in compliance with the EU standards. This centre, established over 700,000 square meter area located between the two parallel runways, offers services to Turkey at international standards and promises hope for the future of Turkish aviation sector. Having become an emerging business line in Turkey, aircraft maintenance and repair sector will have the opportunity to become the leader of the industry worldwide thanks to the centre established.

The Istanbul Airport strengthens Istanbul, the center of a vast geography from the East to the West, with its extremely high capacity, various kinds of facilities and sound infrastructure opportunities. Having a strategic location considering the transfer routes, Istanbul acts as an attractive hub for transit flights between the USA and Europe, as well as the Middle East, Central Asia and North India.

Today, the Istanbul Airport launches flights to a total of 146 destinations at various continents within 3 hours connecting 120+ countries, 60+ capital cities, 250+ international and 50 domestic destinations. When the airport is put into operation in full capacity, the number of flight destinations will exceed 350.

The city is reachable via ship from Italy, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries, and is in addition a major port of call for cruise lines and chartered yachts. Via land, several rail lines connect Turkey to neighboring countries as well as many bus lines which easily and affordably connect Istanbul to other cities across Turkey, Europe and the Middle East. Highways represent another increasingly viable alternative to getting in and out of Istanbul.

Airport Transport to / from the City Center

The airport being quite far from the city center, the taxi ride to Taksim or Sultanahmet may cost you a bit; it will be around 500TL for Taksim and 650TL for Sultanahmet.

To find them, get out of the airport and pick one that is in the line. Taxis in Istanbul are yellow or light blue, do not ride in the car of anyone else. Please note that the maximum number of passengers in an Istanbul taxi is 4.

Be careful, not all Istanbul taxis are honest, especially in touristic areas, sometimes they see the tourists as a way to make some extra Turkish Liras, so one advice, always go by the meter and don't try to negotiate!

The Havaist shuttles:

These are the shuttles belonging to the municipality of Istanbul. You will find them at the exit of Istanbul Airport. The shuttles operate almost 24/7. It is the best option to reach the city center. The ticket for Taksim costs 136 TL (appr. 5 EURO), payable by credit card or "Istanbulkart" and the ride takes about 1.5 hours. You will find the machines just in front of the shuttle stop from which you can buy or reload this public transport card which you can then use for all means of transport in town. The shuttle makes several stops on the way, (4.Levent Metro - Zincirlikuyu Metrobus - Beşiktaş - Taksim), most people stop in Taksim.

Once in Taksim Square you can take a taxi or public transport to get to your hotel.

Istanbul's second airport, Sabiha Gökçen, is located in the Anatolian side of the city. From Sabiha Gökçen, there are also several ways to get into the city.

There is the Havaist bus service to Kadıköy and Taksim.
Departure Point in Kadıköy is Kadıköy Rıhtım İETT Bus Stops.
It takes approximately 1.5 hours from/to Taksim to/from Sabiha Gökçen and this period may vary according to the traffic density. Routes are as follow;

  • Departure: Taksim-Beşiktaş- Bosphorus Bridge -Tem Access Road-Sabiha Gökçen Airport
  • Return: Sabiha Gökçen Airport -Kavacık-FSM Bridge-1.Levent-Zincirlikuyu Metrobus- Dolapdere-Taksim
  • Ticket Price: 100 TL (appr. 4 EURO)

For more information about Sabiha Gökçen transportation, please click here.

If you stay at Dedeman Istanbul Hotel which is SCACR 2023 Conference Venue the easiest way to reach the hotel is Istanbul Airport.

You can take a "yellow" taxi which costs 500 TL (appr. 20 EURO) from Istanbul Airport to Dedeman Istanbul Hotel.

Or you can take Havaist Shuttle an stop hat Taksim as described above. Or you can stop at Beşiktaş. After both directions you can take a taxi which costs;
100 TL (appr. 4 EURO) from Taksim to Dedeman Istanbul Hotel
60 TL (appr. 2 EURO) from Beşiktaş to Dedeman Istanbul Hotel

In addition to all these alternatives there is also metro transportation from Istanbul Airport to a certain point close to the city center. In the coming days, it is planned to open the Gayrettepe station, which is close to Dedeman Istanbul Hotel.

The Turkish Lira is the official currency of Turkey. Credit cards are widely used and accepted. Visitors can use their Visa and Master Cards. ATMs can be found all around the country. All of them offer foreign language options and pay out Turkish liras. Foreign exchange offices may be found throughout the country. Operating hours are mostly Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00. In the arrivals section of İstanbul and Sabiha Gökçen Airports, there are 7/24 open exchange offices. Also the exchange offices located in shopping malls and touristic areas are open later and on Saturdays.

Istanbul falls in the Eastern European Time Zone. Eastern European Standard Time (EET) is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+2).

Turkey's electrical system operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets.

September is the end of summer and start of autumn in Istanbul. At the start of the month, temperatures are still high, it's likely to be hot and dry. But by the end, temperatures have fallen rapidly, rainfall averages have risen, and it will feel much cooler.

The average temperature in Istanbul in September is 21°C, with highs of 25C. The highest temperature ever recorded in the area at this time is 35°C. Overnight, the temperature drops to around 16°C; the lowest temperature ever recorded in the area at this time is 7°C, at the end of the month, but for the most part it's unlikely to get that cold. It's still quite warm and pleasant in Istanbul at this time, if temperatures aren't quite as scorching as in preceding months, like August and July.

Istanbul is a culinary delight no matter what your budget. From simple workers' eateries and sidewalk cafes to posh culinary palaces with liveried waiters, Turkish cuisine is good and the value-for-money unbeatable. A typical Turkish dish generally consists of lamb, mutton, and veal with a variety of vegetables. Pilaf, all kinds of pastry, bulgur, haricot beans, rich olive oil, and vegetables are also common side dishes. Meatballs, shish kebab, and doner kebab are also classic dishes. Because of its coastal location, fish is also popular although it is usually cooked simply, such as grilled, or fried with olive oil and lemon juice. Istanbul is the commercial and cultural center of Turkey; and there are restaurants of many nationalities such as Korean, Russian, Italian, and Chinese.

Famed as the City of a Thousand Colors and Fragrances, Istanbul is a paradise for shoppers. A large variety of traditional carpets, jewels, gold, and leather goods can be purchased on the street in the tourist areas, or one can visit the city's modern shopping malls where Turkish brand goods can be found. The shops are open from 08:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar open their gates at 08:00 and close at 19:00. The large shopping malls open from 10:00 to 22:00 seven days a week. Shops do not close for lunch.