Arriving at Istanbul Airport - love the new digs!

Istanbul is so special, it needs two continents! (Sign at the new IST Airport)

Tuesday                                                                                                October 5, 2021

I love flying into Istanbul -  its unique setting within the Bosporus and surrounded by so much blue - with ships, and beautiful colored buildings and the minarets of the mosques looking so elegant. It's truly one of the world's great cities!

One of the many beautiful mosques you can see on your flight approach for landing

Still construction around the airport - it opened in April 2019.

We were excited to see Istanbul's new airport, which opened in 2019 and replaced the lovely, but crowded Ataturk Airport.  The new digs are impressive - and the walking from one set of gates to another is as well!.  We landed in the B area, and went to the E gates for our second flight to Venice's Marco Polo Airport.  It was a hike!

The architectural space is soaring and pleasing.  It reminds me of Madrid's Barajas terminal.  And there is a very fun place in the center of the complex - a series of wooden structures that are meant to look like the Old Bazaar in Istanbul, where many traditional products are being sold.  I have to stop on our return and take home some Turkish lokum - yum!

The curves and supports in this new Istanbul airport are reminiscent of Madrid's beautiful Barajas terminal (see my earlier blog post from 2019)

Love the curved roof over this coffee shop, creating a space within a space.

These wood structures evoke the feeling of Istanbul's famous bazaars - with their many stalls and wonderful items for sale.

I need to return for some Turkish delight candy.  I'm a huge fan!

We didn't have time to visit the Turkish Airlines Lounge, as we only had an hour between our flights.  Too bad, as their lounge has been a highlight in the past and I'd love to see the new one.  But we were pleased when we headed down to the E gates and checked in with passport control and all was in order.  I was fascinated watching the list of cities on the departures board as we waited - you can go anywhere - so many tempting cities to still visit.

The expansive open space around the E gates.

So many choices - so many cities to visit!

Great view of the terminal tower and the setting sun, as we departed for Venice.