Accessibility & Visa

Accessibility

Seating in the middle of the East and West, Istanbul is easily accessible from almost every corner of the world. Europe and the Middle East are only 3 hours away, while the Americas and the Far East are at a distance of less than 12 hours.

Airport & Visa

Istanbul is served by the brand new State-of-the-Art International Ataturk Airport, where more than 50 airlines operate direct flights. Another international airport of Istanbul is the Sabiha Gokcen Airport serving domestic and international flights on the Asian side of Istanbul. The airport is named after the first woman pilot of the Republic of Turkey.

For participants from some countries, a VISA may be required to enter Turkey. Participants are advised to contact the nearest Turkish Embassy in their country. For some nationals, visa applications are available at the airport. For further details please check http://www.mfa.gov.tr/consular-info.en.mfa. If you do apply for your VISA as early as possible.

VISA Assistance Letter

IEEE Communications Society/IEEE WCNC can provide you with a VISA assistance letter.

Authors needing VISA Assistance letters can download them from EDAS

  • Log into EDAS site, and find your paper.

  • Toward the bottom of the page, you will find in the properties column the words "visa letter", and beside it, an image of an envelope outlined in yellow.

  • Click on this envelope, and you will be able to confirm or change your address information reflected in the letter.

  • Then the system will generate the letter for your use.

  • If you have any problems, please click the help tab in the EDAS system.

  • Authors need to indicate in EDAS that they are "presenters" in order to access the visa assistance letters.   

  • If you need a hard copy letter sent to you please complete the form at http://www.comsoc.org/node/add/visa-assistance-request, there is a $25USD mailing fee for hard copy request.

EVERYONE ELSE

Transportation

Airport to city
  • Bus: HAVATAS company operates regular airport to city bus transportation at half hourly intervals from 06:00 till 24:00 hours.
  • Metro: Metro is available.
  • Taxi: Taxis are available around the clock and operate by the meter.
In the city
  • Bus: Public bus transportation has a wide web of services across the city. The fare is the equivalent of $ 1.- One has to pre-buy tickets to board a bus.
  • Taxi: Taxis are available around the clock and operate by the meter.
  • Boat: Ferry boats and fast catamarans operate between the two shores of Istanbul - between Europe and Asia. The boat landings are at Kabatas, Karakoy and Eminonu on the European side and Uskudar, Kadikoy and Bostanci on the Asiatic shores.
  • Metro: An underground metro system is available between Taksim Square and 4th Levent. A light metro operates between Aksaray and Istanbul airport.
  • Marmaray: Newly operating Marmaray connects Asia and Europe via tunnel going under the Marmara Sea. It has connections to metro stations.
  • Metrobus: Operates between Avcilar - Zincirlikuyu - Sogutlucesme

Airport Transfers

Kongresist offers the possibility to organize transfers from and to the airport. Please contact contact@kongresist.com.