Istanbul

Domestic
I have not arrived on a domestic flight into Istanbul

International
On arrival you head up the jet bridge and then walk along a long corridor that connects all the gates for this wing of the airport. These all lead back to a central balcony area where you descend down into a lower hallway which then leads to immigration. Once through immigration you exit, via a duty free shop, into the massive baggage reclaim hall, from baggage reclaim its through customs and out into the arrivals hall

Immigration was speedy, despite the lengths of the queues

The baggage reclaim hall is enormous with at least 15 if not more belts

Customs was busy when I passed through with several people pulled over and lots of guards keeping an eye on passengers passing through

At the time of visiting in 2021 there were no public transport options for getting to the city centre, other than taxi. A rail link is currently under construction

Domestic
I have not flown domestically from Istanbul

International
To gain access to the airport you first have to present your travel documents and then pass through a security screening area. You then reach the massive check-in hall that stretches the entire length of the terminal building. After checking in you join the queue for passport control and then through to another security screening area before reaching the massive departures lounge. Air bridges are located on six arms that reach out from the main terminal building.

Several cafes and restaurants landside, lots of services airside

Several cafes and restaurants landside, lots of services airside

Several cafes and restaurants landside, a full food court airside offering pretty much everything

Very little landside, but once through airside most of the main terminal building is taken up with shops

The toilets were all clean and well maintained