Transportation

Turkish Airlines provides a special discount of 5% to 20% for participants who buy their tickets from travel agencies or Turkish Airlines offices. Participants are required to provide confirmation of registration to the congress and a discount code to benefit from this opportunity. Please contact Mrs. Yasemin Kirec (yasemin@delano.com.tr) for more information.

Transportation from the Airport

From the Atatürk Airport and the Sabiha Gökçen Airport “HAVATAŞ Shuttle Company” departs in every 30 minutes to the city center. This trip costs you around 6€ from the Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and 9€ from the Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW).

The fastest option to reach the city center is by taxi (available 24 hours at the airport). It costs around 25/30€ and takes 45-60 minutes depending on the traffic.

In both Atatürk airport and Sabiha Gokçen airport, on July 21st from 8:30 to 19:30, staff members of the congress will be at your disposal. They will display a sign similar to the homepage of the website. In Atatürk airport, they will guide you towards shuttles which will operate as a ring service. Departure times for free shuttles are 10:00 / 11:00 / 12:00 / 13:00 / 14:00 / 15:30 / 17:00 / 18:30. In case you are not willing to wait, you will be directed to the other facilities above. In Sabiha Gokçen airport, our staff will help you at finding the Havataş shuttles. Please note that a shuttle service from hotel areas to Santral campus is organized on July 21st. Details are provided in the News and Events of the website.

Public Transportation in Istanbul

As a city of over 12 million people, Istanbul has its share of traffic madness. But since all our venues and hotels are fairly close to one another, this should not constitute a problem for the conference attendees. The easiest way to get around between short distances is by taxi. All taxis have taximeters, and the rates are reasonable – just make sure the meter opens at 2,50 TL (approximate exchange rates are 1 Euro = 2,30 Turkish Lira, 1 USD = 1,80 Turkish Lira).

If you prefer to use the public transportation system, you should obtain the public transportation pass called “Akbil” which can be bought from all major bus stops and subway stations. For buses, trams and the subway, single fare is 1.50 TL. For some trams or the subway, you can buy tokens at the entrance.

From Taksim Square to Bilgi University

We have organized a congress shuttle service from Sunday July 22nd to July 26th with a pick-up point in each of the hotel areas (Taksim, Pera, Old Town, and Sutluce), and at the Bilgi Tophane residence. The shuttle service is organized as follows:

TAKSIM AREA
- Morning pick up point: in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel (Taskisla Caddesi)
- Ring service on July 21st from 16:00 to the end of welcome reception
- Ring service between 8:00 and 9:30 to Santral, and from Santral after the plenary lecture on July 22nd and 24th, after the congress dinner on July 23rd, and after lunch on July 26th

PERA AREA
- Morning pick up point: in front of Pera Palace (Tepebaşı Çamlık Sokak)
- Ring service on July 21st from 16:00 to the end of welcome reception
- Ring service between 8:00 and 9:30 to Santral, and from Santral after the plenary lecture on July 22nd and 24th, after the congress dinner on July 23rd, and after lunch on July 26th

OLD TOWN AREA
- Pick up point: in front of the Hamidiye Hotel
- Shuttle at 8:15, after the plenary lecture on July 22nd and 24th, after the congress dinner on July 23rd, and after lunch on July 26th

SUTLUCE AREA
- Morning pick up point: in front of Hilton Garden Hill Hotel
- One shuttle at 8:30 to Santral, and back to Hotel after the plenary lecture on July 22nd and 24th, after the congress dinner on July 23rd, and after lunch on July 26th

BILGI TOPHANE RESIDENCE
- Morning pick up points: in front of the Tophane
- One TURSAN Shuttle at 8:15 and after the plenary lecture on July 22nd and 24th, after the congress dinner on July 23rd, and after lunch on July 26th

The congress logo will be displayed at the pick-up points in Taksim and Pera areas. Please also note that congress information desks will operate at Marmara Pera hotel (Pera area) and at Point hotel (Taksim area). You will be given help there about shuttles and any other issue.

Istanbul Bilgi University also offers a ring service from Taksim square to Santral campus throughout the day (from 8:00 to 18:30). The Bilgi shuttles are operated by TURSAN, and you will see SANTRAL on a banner behind the windscreen. Please contact the registration desk for further details. For shuttle schedules, please click here.

You can also reach Santral campus by taxi. The price of a ride from Taksim to Santral should not exceed 20 Turkish Liras.