Tourexpi
Turkish Airlines Offers Free Film Studio Tours in Istanbul for Transit Passengers
Among
the highlights is a visit to the Bozdağ Film Studio in the northern district of
Beykoz, where many popular Turkish historical dramas are filmed.
Transit
passengers can board a dedicated TourIstanbul bus from the airport to explore
the Bozdağ Film Studio complex, the third-largest film studio in the world and
the largest in Europe, covering 200 acres. Productions such as Diriliş:
Ertuğrul, Kuruluş: Osman, and Destan are filmed here.
Participants
are guided through the film sets and introduced to Turkish history, culture,
and the behind-the-scenes world of Turkish television. The experience includes
traditional Turkish food—such as soup, dishes prepared in a six-burner
cauldron, and rice pudding—as well as hands-on activities like glassmaking
workshops and a performance of Atların Destanı (Legend of the Horses). After
the tour, passengers are returned to the airport in time for their connecting
flights.
According
to Abdullah Yormaz, Marketing Manager at Turkish Airlines, the studio tours run
once daily between 12:00 and 18:00 local time. Passengers who meet the layover
requirements can register for the experience through the Turkish Airlines
website or by visiting the TourIstanbul desk at the airport.
“Today
we have 25 participants, but during the early summer, we sometimes host up to
100 people a day,” Yormaz said. “Since the start of the year, around 3,000
travelers have taken part in the tour, with last year’s total reaching 5,000.”
He
added that many guests specifically choose the film studio tour out of six
available options, particularly fans of Turkish historical TV series. “Visitors
come from South America, Asia, the Middle East, and especially from Turkic
republics. Interestingly, we’ve had a growing number of guests from Mexico. We
also see strong interest from passengers coming from the United States, many of
whom are of Pakistani or Indian origin, as well as from Arab countries,
Kazakhstan, the Asia-Pacific region, and Indonesia.”
Mani
Krishna, an Indian citizen living in Mexico, took the tour during a layover on
the way to New Delhi. “We arrived in Istanbul after a 15-hour flight and
decided to join the tour before our next leg. It was recommended by a friend.
Everything was free, and the food was delicious. It was the perfect break to
get some fresh air after a long journey.”
Abdulsalam
Arbaoui, a traveler from Tunisia, shared his appreciation for the tour as well.
“I even went to Friday prayers with local Turkish people. The atmosphere was
warm and welcoming. It’s my first time here, and I’m very happy. I’ve watched
Turkish series before and, as a Muslim, I really enjoy them. Through these
shows, I see how Turkish and Tunisian cultures connect.”
Image
Credit: © AA
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