Flying to Istanbul with a baby: 9 tips from landing to hotel

Flying to Istanbul with a baby is easier than the long airport corridors suggest. Both airports are modern, families often get help in queues, and the city is used to children. The tricky part is usually the last hour: luggage, the transfer and arriving at a hotel with a tired baby. These nine tips cover the whole journey.

Before flying to Istanbul with a baby

1. Know which airport you land at

Istanbul has two airports. Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side is the larger one; Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) is on the Asian side. Both are 45 to 90 minutes from the centre depending on traffic, so check which one is closer to your hotel before you book the flight.

2. Decide what to bring and what to rent

A gate-checked stroller is handy on the walk to passport control, but full-size strollers, car seats and travel cots are heavy and often get damaged in the hold. Many families bring only a carrier and rent the rest. Our guide rent or fly with it? compares both.

3. Book the transfer with a car seat

Yellow taxis at the airport almost never have child seats. If you book a private transfer, ask for a seat for your child's age and weight, and ask again the day before. Otherwise, hold your baby in a carrier for the shortest possible ride and use a rented car seat for every trip after that.

On the plane

4. Feed on take-off and landing

Breast, bottle or a dummy helps with ear pressure. Flights from Europe are three to four hours; from the Gulf, around four.

5. Pack a small bag for the last hour

A change of clothes, nappies, wipes, a snack and a muslin. Put it where you can reach it while holding a baby, not in the overhead locker.

At the airport

6. Passport control

Queues can be long at peak times. Staff often wave families with small children to a shorter line; if not, ask politely. Check the visa rules for your passport on the official e-Visa site before you travel.

7. Baggage and the walk out

Trolleys are free. Put the baby in a carrier and the bags on the trolley; it's easier than pushing a stroller and a trolley at once.

Arriving at the hotel

8. Have the equipment waiting

We don't deliver to the airport, but we can deliver to your hotel before you arrive. Many families book a crib for the first evening so the baby can sleep straight away; reception keeps it until you check in.

9. Keep the first evening simple

Order food to the room, give a warm bath, and save the sights for tomorrow. Istanbul is one hour ahead of most of Western Europe in summer and two in winter, which is easy for babies to adjust to.

Flying to Istanbul with a baby: what goes in the cabin bag

Keep the cabin bag light but complete, because delays happen and the walk from the gate to passport control at Istanbul Airport can be long. Pack enough nappies for twice the flight time, a full change of clothes for the baby and a spare top for you, a muslin, a small blanket for the air conditioning, snacks and an empty bottle you can fill after security. Liquids for babies, such as milk and baby food, are normally allowed in reasonable amounts; have them ready to show at security. A soft carrier is the easiest way to keep your hands free in the queue. And add a small toy your baby hasn't seen before: it buys ten quiet minutes at the right moment.

Questions parents ask

Can I take a stroller to the gate in Istanbul?

Most airlines let you check a small stroller at the gate and return it at the aircraft door or on the belt. Ask at check-in, as rules vary by airline.

Is there a baby room at Istanbul Airport?

Yes, both airports have baby care rooms with changing tables. Ask any information desk for the nearest one.

Can you deliver equipment to the airport?

No. We deliver to hotels, apartments and homes. Booking delivery to your hotel means everything is ready when you arrive.