Get out of the airport and tour the city! You won't regret it. - What an experience! I had one eight hour and one ten hour layover in Istanbul on my trip to and from Sri Lanka. I arranged a city tour for both layovers and had a wonderful experience. The company was accommodating and they allowed me to map out my visit. My tour guide Ece was exceptional and quite the historian; I learned so much. She was funny, kind and extremely professional. Most importantly, Ece knows the city like the back of her hand. It’s amazing how she can navigate the city, the side streets and the markets! I could not have asked for a better tour guide. In 6 hours I visited a Turkish Bath, visited a mosque, strolled through the Bazaar and Spice Market and sat for cups of Turkish coffee. Being that I was traveling solo on both layovers it was also nice to have a female tour guide. It was definitely a memorable visit, one that I will remember for a lifetime! Why stay in the boring airport when you can explore the beautiful city of Istanbul? Turkish airlines provides free tours, but this tour is worth paying for. I promise!