Sleeping in Airports

Ankara Airport Guide

Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or are just quickly passing through, our Ankara Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit.  Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.

prices for everything are EXORBITANT. If you’re not an Oil Sheikh, bring even your bottled water to drink along. -a traveller

ESB Airport Overview

ankara airport guide
(Photo courtesy of a Guest Traveller / 16Mar2019)

To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Ankara Esenboga Airport.

What to Expect

Ankara Airport (code: ESB) consists of two spacious, modern terminals (Domestic and International) connected within one building. There are up to two dozen eateries and shops, primarily on the airside, but they are reportedly quite expensive. WiFi is available to help you pass the time. And additional comfort can be found through fee-based access to one of the airport’s first-class lounges. See Airport Lounges in the guide below for locations and rates.

Sleeping in Ankara Airport

We have only one review from a traveller who has experience sleeping in this airport. This reviewer had difficulties finding appropriate sleeping spots and was repeatedly questioned by airport security and staff (though language comprehension difficulties may have been partly to blame). For uninterrupted sleep, there are hotels near the airport. See Airport Hotels in the guide below or read traveller airport reviews for more tips.

To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips and photos. You can also visit the airport’s website for current information. For more airport information, scroll down to explore more in our Ankara Airport Guide.

In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.  For more information on Europe’s Schengen Area, click here.

Airport Hours

The airport is open 24 hours.

Rest & Relaxation Zones

There are no dedicated sleeping areas, quiet areas or rest zones. If this information has changed, click here to update this guide.

Airport Hotels

If sleeping in Ankara Airport sounds like a nightmare, there are hotels near the airport:

  • Ibis Ankara Airport Hotel – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
  • Anadolu Hotels Esenboga Thermal  – No airport shuttle. » Check Rates

For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Ankara Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.

Airport Lounges

Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships

Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and to also find out how you can gain lounge access with just an economy class ticket!

International Departures
  • Primeclass Lounge – Locations: Domestic Terminal, Airside, next to Gate 109. Hours: open 24 hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge pass • Lounge membership programs.
  • Comfort Lounge – Location: International Departures Floor, mezzanine, Airside, After Passport Control. Showers are available. Hours: Open 24 Hours. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Lounge membership programs.

Airline Lounges

  • Millennium Lounge Temporarily Closed Available for passengers of select airlines and holders of an İş Bank Card or TAV Passport Card. Hours: 24 hours. Location: Airside, International Terminal, Mezzanine Level, Departures Area.
  • THY Domestic CIP LoungeTemporarily Closed – Available for Turkish Airlines passengers. Hours: 24 hours. Location: Airside, Domestic Terminal, Arrivals Level, between Gate 106 and Gate 107.

Related Pages: Ankara Airport Lounges

Drinking Water

At the time of this update, we have no information about drinking water for travellers with refillable water bottles. If you know, click here to update this guide.

Food & Drinks

Food concessions throughout the terminal operate with varying schedules. A reader tells us that BTA Restro is open 24 hours a day. Location: food court next to the fountain.

Luggage Storage & Lockers

Need to store your bags for a few hours or a few days? A left luggage office is available. Fees are charged daily. Location: Domestic Arrivals floor. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Mobile Charging

Several readers have sent us some mobile charging locations. Check out the pillars in the Domestic Departures (near Burger King) and the power outlets in Cafe Nero and Teras Cafe.

Showers

Showers are available in the Comfort Lounge.  Location: International Departures Floor, Airside, Mezzanine.  The rate to access the lounge is 55 € (including VAT) per person for three hours.  Unfortunately, if there is one, we do not have information about the additional fee to use the shower.  If you know, click here to update this guide.

WiFi/Internet

Free WiFi is available at Ankara Airport.

Safety & Security

Sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s important to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:

  • Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is located and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
  • Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
  • Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who awoke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
  • Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay awake, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.

More Airport Information

More Services, Facilities & Things To Do On A Layover At The Airport
ATMs / Cash Machines – Need cash? ATMs are available. Fees may apply, so check your bank’s fee schedule and daily withdrawal limit if you are travelling internationally. You may also want to notify your bank of your travel plans. Locations: the Arrivals and Departures floors of the Domestic and International Terminals.

Baby Care Facilities – Locations: Arrivals and Departure floors in the Domestic and International Terminals.

Baggage Trolleys – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage trolleys are available.

Currency Exchange – There are two currency exchange offices: International Departures and International Arrivals.

Duty-Free & Shopping – A variety of retail shops are available. The Duty-free shopping area is located on the Arrivals level in the International Terminal. Hours: Unknown.

Food & Drinks – see “Food & Drinks” above.

Hair Salon – Parisli Cemil offers hairstyling services for men and women. Location: International Arrivals floor mezzanine, near the food court. Hours: unknown.

Hotels – see “Airport Hotels” above.

Information Desks – Location: Domestic Arrivals • Domestic Departures • International Departures.

Lounges – see “Airport Lounges” above.

Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.

Luggage Wrapping – Location: Domestic and International Check-in areas. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Medical Services – PortClinic is available to attend to minor medical emergencies. Location: Arrivals Level, in between Domestic and International Terminals.

Mobile Charging – see “Mobile Charging” above.

Pharmacy – Havalimanı Eczanesi. Location: Domestic Arrivals floor mezzanine near the food court. Hours: open 24 hours.

Prayer Area – A total of 12 “mescits” (Muslim prayer rooms) are available throughout the terminal, with two each in these locations: Domestic Arrivals, landside, behind the Lost Property Room • end of the Domestic Departures lobby • end of the International Departures lobby • International Terminal mezzanine (airside) • VIP building • CIP building. Hours: Open 24 hours.

Rest Zones – see “Rest Zones” above.

Smoking -Smoking is permitted on the outdoor terrace of the Nero Cafe (Domestic Terminal, 2nd Floor, Landside) and in the Seferi Cafe (Arrival Area, near the bus gate).

Showers – see “Showers” above.

SIM Cards – A reader has asked us to include where to buy SIM Cards. If you know, click here to update this airport guide.

Airlines
Ankara Airport is served by the following airlines: Anadolu Jet • Ariana Afghan Airlines • AtlasJet • Azerbaijan Air • Deutsche Lufthansa Ag • German Wings • Germania Fluggesellschaft • Iran Air • Iraqi Airways • KAM Air • Mahan Air • Pegasus Airlines • Qatar Airways • Royal Jordanian • Saudia Airlines • SunExpress • Turkish Airlines • Turkmenistan Airlines • Zagros Jet.
Airport Transportation: Getting To/From The Airport

Airport Shuttle

ESB airport is connected to the city center and surrounding areas via shuttle bus. At least two providers service the airport. Visit the Havas website or the Belko Air website to plan your route.

Bus

City bus route 442 (Aşti – Havaalani – Kizilay) runs in a circuit between the airport and Ulus, Kizilay and Aşti Bus Station. Pick-up from the airport is located on the arrivals level outside both terminals. For schedules, route information and fares, visit the bus website.

Car Rentals

The following car rental agencies are located on-site: Avis • Budget • Garenta • Tur Mobile • Rent Go • Windycar • Avec • Green Motion • Sixt • Europcar • Enterprise • B2 Car Lease • Cantral • Myfleet • Goldcar • 5S • Payless • Papillon • Cizgi.

Hotel Shuttles

At the time of this update, no hotels offered an airport shuttle. See also Airport Hotels above.

Taxis

Taxis are available in the ground transportation area of both airport terminals on a 24-hour basis. All taxis are metered, and reservations are not required.

Last updated: 2024-08-26

This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning.  All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice.   The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or  write a review.