Osmanli
Your first day in Istanbul starts with organising your arrival, not with filling every hour with an activity. Make the transfer to your hotel clear and leave time to settle in before any tour. Arriving in the morning is different from arriving in the evening, and a delayed flight or airport formalities can change the day’s plan. That is why it is better to build a programme that can be confirmed rather than linking several bookings to tight timings.
Send the correct arrival details
When arranging your airport-to-hotel transfer, state the airport, flight number, arrival date and scheduled time, then the hotel name and link, and the number of passengers and pieces of luggage. See the Istanbul airport transfer booking guide to prepare your request. Don’t just write “Istanbul Airport” if you mean Sabiha Gökçen Airport; ask for written confirmation of the airport, meeting point and service required.
Don’t tie a tour directly to your landing time
Landing time is not the same as the time you leave the airport. Let the team assess whether a tour is suitable based on your flight details and pick-up time, and don’t assume a fixed duration for the drive or arrival formalities. If your flight arrives late, a hotel transfer and some rest may be the best option, with the tour starting the next day.
Coordinate with your hotel before you travel
Ask the hotel about check-in time and whether you can leave your luggage if you arrive early. This service and its arrangements are the hotel’s responsibility and are not automatically part of the airport transfer. Keep your booking confirmation, address and contact number, and tell the transfer team if you have a new address or a different entrance that needs extra instructions.
Choose one activity that fits your time
Once you know your arrival and settling-in time, compare day trips in Istanbul and ask the team for an option that suits the time available. Avoid combining a long trip outside the city with an arrival on the same day. If you want a flexible programme, discuss a private tour by car and set the start, finish and stops before confirming your request.
A simple plan for a family arrival
Put the hotel transfer first, then food and rest according to your family’s needs. Pack children’s essentials in an easy-to-reach bag, and tell the team in advance about any seating or luggage needs so they can confirm what is available. Children under three travel free on tours; however, don’t assume special transport equipment is available without confirmation.
If your flight changes
Tell the team about any change to your flight number or time as soon as you know, and ask how it affects your transfer and tour. Don’t rely on automatic tracking or unlimited waiting unless the booking team has confirmed them. Keep the latest arrangement message so you don’t go to a meeting point or time that is no longer valid.
Send your details to Osmanli Travel
Specify your date, hotel, number of travellers and children’s ages, then send a booking request from the day trips page. The team checks availability and arrangements; submitting the form is not a final booking confirmation. We are available from 8 am to 11 pm, seven days a week.
