The Istanbul Ataturk Airport is 15 miles (23km) west of Istanbul and takes around thirty minutes to reach Taksim Square. Fees depend largely on the destination in Istanbul but should be around US$20. Rates are as much as fifty percent higher at night. Passengers should only take metered taxis and insist drivers turn the meter on. To reserve a taxi in advance contact Taxi Reservations.

There is a multilevel car park opposite the terminal with fees ranging from YTL 8.25 for the first hour to YTL 26 per day. Long-term parking is in an open parking lot and costs YTL 20 per day or YTL 137 per month.

Car rental companies include Avis, Budget, Hertz, Alamo, National and Sixt.

The Istanbul Metro system provides quick and easy access to the city, including the intercity bus terminal. Tickets cost around TRY 1.30. Use metro station Zeytinburnu and transfer to a tram to reach the Eminonu ferry or Sea Bus docks. The airport Havas Bus leaves from the Departures terminal gate and connects to Taksim Square or Kozyatagi. Shuttle buses depart from 4am to 1am, and take 40 minutes into the city. Taxis are also available and cost roughly $20 into downtown. Taxi rates are 50 percent higher between midnight and 6am.

Tel: +90 212 463 3000.

None.

Banks, ATMs and bureaux de change are available. A pharmacy, children's playroom, hairdresser, florist, newsstand and medical services are available. Facilities for the disabled are good, but those with special needs should make prior arrangements with their airline. Other facilities include tourist information and hotel reservations, bars, restaurants (very overpriced), duty-free shopping, a conference centre, post office and 24-hour left luggage.

Turkish is the official language, but English is widely understood in the main tourist areas.

The official currency is the New Turkish Lira (TRY), which was introduced on 1 January 2005, whereby six zeros were dropped from the TL and the sub-unit New Kurush was created. Currency can be exchanged at banks, exchange booths, post offices, airports and ferry ports; banks have the worst rates and highest commissions, but will exchange lesser known foreign currencies. Banks open mainly Monday to Friday, but some are open daily in tourist areas. ATMs are widely available in major cities and tourist areas, but Turkish ATM keypads usually do not have letters of the alphabet on their keys. Most bank branches have ATMs which accept Cirrus and Plus. Major credit cards are widely accepted; the most popular are Visa or MasterCard, but American Express is accepted in many of the more expensive places. Travellers cheques can be exchanged at some banks and currency exchange offices, but are not as welcome as cash or credit cards. US dollars or Euros are preferred. Some pensions and hotels in the most popular destinations accept US dollars as payment.

Walking through the metro access tunnel only takes 10 minutes. Shuttle buses and taxis are also available.