Istanbul has always been a meeting place, a crosspoint and a destination. With the Ataturk Istanbul International Airport, getting to and from Istanbul has never been easier. With a capacity of 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.

The recommended airport is the Atatürk International Airport. It is located on the European side of the city and serves domestic and international scheduled and charter flights 24 hours a day. It is located 24 km west of the city centre. The Ataturk International Airport is served by more than 50 major airlines, flying to hundreds of cities around the world. There are direct flights from over 130 international airports to Istanbul.

In addition to the Ataturk International Airport, Istanbul has a second airport located on the Asian side of the city, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, which is an important arrival point especially for charter and cargo flights and special events.

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.

GETTING AROUND

Airport Transport to /from City Center (Taksim Area)

Most flights arrive at İstanbul Atatürk Airport, which is located 24 km west of the city centre. From this airport, there are several ways to get into İstanbul.

Havataş Shuttle Services leave every half hour (between 4 am and 1am) and run between Atatürk Airport and the city center (Taksim square). Depending on traffic, it can take about 40 minutes to travel between the airport and Taksim. Departure/arrival point in Taksim is across Divan Hotel, in front of Point Hotel.

Routes are as follow;

Departure:Taksim-Aksaray-Coast Road-Atatürk Airport

Return: Atatürk Airport- Coast Road -Bakırköy-Yenikapı-Aksaray(Marmaray)-Taksim

Ticket Price: 15 TL

You may visit www.havatas.com for the timetable

Private transfer could be booked through the congress secretariat.

The Metroline (subway) is located inside the airport and connects with the city's rail transit system.

Taxi rides (please see note on taxis below) between the airport and city center (e.g. Taksim) currently cost around 40TL.

The 96T city bus operated by IETT also goes downtown but has fewer departure times.

İstanbul'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 Havataş shuttle bus service to Kadıköy and Taksim. Departure/arrival point in Kadıköy is Kadıköy Rıhtım İETT Bus Stops. Depending on traffic, it can take approximately 1.5 hours from/to the city center (Taksim square) to/from Sabiha Gökçen.

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: 15 TL

You can take the public bus run by IETT. The E10 line goes to Kadıköy. From there you can take a ferry if you plan to continue to the European side

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

Taxis

All taxis are yellow in Istanbul and they all have taximeters. Please make sure that the taxi driver turns on the taximeter at the beginning of the rid. There is no central taxi dispatch service in Istanbul. Each neighborhood is served by its own list of taxi dispachers. It is not uncommon to flag down a taxi cab on the street.

For more information about how to transport within the city, please click here. ( http://howtoistanbul.com/en/getting-around/1727 )

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

Currency

The Turkish Lira is the official currency of Turkey. Bank notes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 TL. Coins come in the amounts of 1, 5, 10 and 25 Kuruş and 1 Lira.

ATMs

ATMs can be found all around the country. All of them offer foreign language options and pay out Turkish liras. Cash withdrawal limits vary from bank to bank and are around 800 TL to 1.500 TL.

Exchanging Currencies

Foreign exchange offices, which are known as "döviz bürosu” are widespread. Operating hours are mostly Monday to Friday, from 09:00 to 17:00. In the arrivals sections of the Atatürk and Sabiha Gökçen Airports, there are 24-hour exchange offices. Also exchange offices located in shopping malls and touristic areas can remain open later and on Saturdays. US Dollars and Euros are accepted in touristic districts like Sultanahmet and Taksim but rates are often not competitive.

Credit Cards

Credit cards are widely used and accepted. Visitors can use their Visa and Mastercards but Amex and Diner's are often not accepted.

Traveller's Cheques

Traveller's cheques can be changed at banks or post offices. Note that you'll need to have a valid passport with you.

There is a lot to be seen in Istanbul and Turkey. A selection of tours will be available in association with the congress including to the famous sites at the Historical Peninsula -also known as the Old City- and the Bosphorus cruises. The Aegean, Anatolian and Mediterranean sections of Turkey are also packed with archaeological sites of varying ancient civilizations.

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 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 centre of Turkey; and there are many international restaurants such as Korean, Russian, Italian, and Chinese. American-style fast-food outlets are becoming more popular, but for a quick snack it is recommended to fill up at the plethora of tiny takeaways offering kebabs and snacks. It is easy to sample good quality regional cuisine in typical small restaurants, usually at low cost, especially in the commercial and business areas.

Turkey's electrical system operates on 220 volts, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs that fit into recessed wall sockets. You will need a plug adapter and possibly voltage converter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit.

Congress registration fees do not include the insurance of participants against personal accidents, sickness and cancellations by any party, theft, loss or damage to personal possessions. Participants are advised to take out adequate personal insurance to cover travel, accommodation, cancellation and personal effects.

It is recommended to have a travel insurance policy with a full medical coverage before traveling. Note that in some cases, a Europe-only travel insurance policy does not cover you on the Asian side of İstanbul.

Famed as the City of a Thousand Colours 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 8:00 to 21:00 from Monday to Saturday. The Grand Bazaar and Spice Bazaar open their gates at 8:00 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.

All registered participants are cordially invited to attend the Congress Welcome Reception. Further details on the social program will be listed on the website.

Note: The organizing committee reserves the right to modify social events.

Service charges are included in the cost of all goods and services. Although it is not mandatory, a small tip is customary for good service. As a guideline, add about 10% to the total bill. When paying by credit card, a cash tip is preferred.

All participants are required to show a valid passport on entrance to Turkey. Citizens of some countries are required to obtain a visa before arrival from the Turkish Embassy or Consulate and some may obtain e-Visas via the website ww.evisa.gov.tr before arrival. The most updated visa information can be received from the website of the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

For further information please contact the nearest Turkish Embassy or Consulate to check the visa regulations.