Departing from

LHR 🇬🇧

London Heathrow Airport

A capital of villages

London is a vast, low-slung capital that grew by absorbing villages, so it reads as dozens of distinct neighborhoods rather than one grid. The Underground and a dense rail network make it a transit city at heart; in the center a car is a liability, discouraged by narrow streets and the congestion charge. The landmarks and business districts cluster in the middle, but much of London is the high streets and parks further out. It is large, so crossing town takes longer than the map suggests.

City access

Heathrow is the main airport, west of London and among the busiest in Europe. It has a fast dedicated rail link to the center and is also on the Underground, so reaching the city without a car is straightforward. Allow extra time at peak hours, both on the roads and through its large terminals.

Arriving at

IST 🇹🇷

İstanbul Airport

The city on two continents

Istanbul straddles the Bosphorus, the only major city set on two continents, with most of its life on the European side and a fast-growing Asian side across the water. It is huge and hilly, layered with Byzantine and Ottoman history around the old core and dense modern districts running for miles. Ferries, trams, and metro lines tie it together, though traffic across the bridges can be heavy. Its two airports sit far apart on opposite sides of the city, so the one you use shapes the trip.

City access

Istanbul Airport is the large main hub, well to the northwest of the city on the European side. It connects by metro and airport buses, but it is a long way out, so allow a generous hour or more into the center depending on traffic. It sits far from the second airport, so the two are not easy substitutes.