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Arrival and information
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Istanbul's
airport
, 24km west, has two connected terminals, international and domestic. Buses run to Taksim Square northeast of Beyoglu ($4) stopping at Aksaray, from where trams run to Sultanahmet ($0.40). Taxis taking the direct route along the seafront road (Sahil Yolu) cost $12-15 - make sure they use the meter. Construction work on the airport metro station is due to be completed by the end of 2002, when it will give a direct link to the centre. There are two main
train stations
: trains from Europe terminate at
Sirkeci
, linked to Sultanahmet by a short tram ride; trains from Asia end at
Haydarpasa
on the east bank of the Bosphorus, from where you can get a
ferry
to KarakAśy and a bus from there to Sultanahmet. From Istanbul's
otogar
(bus station) at Esenler, around 15km northwest, the better bus companies run courtesy minibuses to various points of the city including Taksim, although if you're heading for Sultanahmet it might be quicker to take the
metro
(actually an express tramway) to Aksaray, where you can change to the EminAśnA?-bound tram line which passes through Sultanahmet and Sirkeci. Most buses arrive at the Esenler
otogar
, including European and Asian services, although some also stop at the Harem bus station on the Asian side, from where there are regular
dolmuses
to Haydarpasa station.
The most central
tourist office
is in Sultanahmet near the Hippodrome on Divanyolu Caddesi (daily 9am-5pm, sometimes later; tel 0212/518 8754); with other branches at the airport and the two train stations. They usually have a good range of brochures and maps and can help with accommodation. Other useful information
for tourists (each section contains more specific sub-sections): |
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Turkey,
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