Istanbul, June 2027: Conference League Final and European Games Travel Guide
Updated October 15, 2026
Istanbul hosts the UEFA Conference League final on June 2, 2027 and the European Games from June 16 to 27. Two big events, two weeks apart, in one city.
This guide covers the dates, the venues, getting in from both airports, tickets and how to stay online with a Turkey eSIM.
7 min read
The short version
- Conference League final: Wednesday, June 2, 2027. European Games: June 16 to 27, 2027.
- The final is at Beşiktaş Stadium on the Bosphorus. Gymnastics at the Games is at the Sinan Erdem Dome in Ataköy.
- Tickets for neither event are on sale yet. For the 2026 final, UEFA ran its public ballot in March.
- Turkey is outside EU roaming. A Turkey eSIM installed before you fly works from the moment you land, with no store visit.
Two events, one June
The Conference League is UEFA's third club competition, after the Champions League and the Europa League. Beşiktaş Stadium also hosted the 2026 Europa League final and the 2019 Super Cup.
The European Games are a multi-sport event run by the European Olympic Committees. Istanbul 2027 is the fourth edition, with 26 sports confirmed, 22 of them on the LA28 Olympic program.
Several sports use the Games as a step toward Los Angeles 2028 qualification. Rowing beach sprint, weightlifting and squash make their European Games debut.
Dates and key days
The Conference League final is on Wednesday, June 2, 2027. UEFA has not published the kickoff time; the 2026 final started at 21:00 Central European time, which would be 22:00 in Istanbul.
The European Games open on Wednesday, June 16 and close on Sunday, June 27, 2027. The full session schedule has not been published yet.
There are two weeks between the final and the opening of the Games. Most fans will pick one event, or fly in twice.
Venues
The final is at Beşiktaş Stadium, a short walk from Kabataş on the European shore. The European Games use venues that already exist or were already planned, with no extra construction.
As of October 2026, only some European Games venues are confirmed. Check your sport's venue before you book a hotel, because crossing Istanbul takes time.
Beşiktaş Stadium, Dolmabahçe
Hosts the Conference League final on June 2. Around 40,000 seats on the European shore of the Bosphorus, next to Dolmabahçe Palace.
Sinan Erdem Dome, Ataköy
The indoor arena hosts all five gymnastics disciplines at the European Games: artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, acrobatic and aerobic.
Atatürk Olympic Stadium, Başakşehir
Istanbul's Olympic stadium, at Olimpiyat station on the M9 and M11 metro lines. The organizers have not yet said which events it will host.
From IST and SAW to the venues
Istanbul has two international airports: Istanbul Airport (IST) on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Metro, trams and city ferries all take the Istanbulkart transit card.
IST to Beşiktaş by metro
Take the M11 metro to Gayrettepe, about 30 minutes, then the M2 to Taksim and the F1 funicular down to Kabataş. The stadium is a short walk along the shore.
IST to Beşiktaş by Havaist bus
The Havaist HVİST-16 bus to Taksim costs 470 TL, takes around 90 minutes and accepts bank cards. Many departures stop at Beşiktaş square on the way.
SAW to Beşiktaş
Take the M4 metro from the airport to Kadıköy, then the city ferry across to Beşiktaş, about 20 minutes on the water. The Havabüs coach to Taksim takes about 90 minutes and costs 485 TL.
To the European Games venues
The M11 from Istanbul Airport runs straight to Olimpiyat station at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium. For the Sinan Erdem Dome, take the M1A metro or the Metrobus to Ataköy-Şirinevler and walk over the footbridge.
A 22:00 kickoff means the final ends after midnight, when most ferries have stopped. Plan a taxi, a ride-hailing app or the walk up to Taksim for the way back.
Where to stay and the June weather
For the final, Beşiktaş, Taksim and Karaköy keep you close to the stadium. Kadıköy on the Asian side is one ferry ride away.
June in Istanbul is warm: Turkey's state weather service gives average highs of 27°C and lows of 18°C. Rain falls on about five days in the month.
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Tickets: what we know
As of October 15, 2026, UEFA has not opened sales for the 2027 final. For the 2026 final, the public ballot ran from March 16 to 20 on uefa.com, with up to two tickets per person and prices from €25 to €190.
Each finalist club also sells its own allocation to its fans. For the European Games, no ticket sales or prices have been announced yet.
Any site selling final tickets today is not an official seller, because no sale has opened. Use uefa.com/tickets or your club's own ticket office.
SIM vs eSIM in Turkey
Turkey is outside the EU roaming zone, so EU and UK plans charge extra or sell daily passes. You will need data for e-tickets, maps, ride-hailing and transit routes.
Turkish operators sell prepaid lines at airport stores with your passport. A foreign phone on a Turkish line works for 120 days, after which it must be registered for a fee of over 50,000 lira.
A Turkey eSIM skips the store: you install it before you fly and data works when you land. eSIMPal's Turkey plans run on Türk Telekom and Vodafone.
Pick your Turkey eSIM plan for Istanbul
Live prices for Turkey. Install before you fly, land with data, and top up in the app any time.
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Frequently asked questions
When and where is the 2027 Conference League final?
On Wednesday, June 2, 2027 at Beşiktaş Stadium in Istanbul, by the Bosphorus next to Dolmabahçe Palace. UEFA has not published the kickoff time yet.
When are the 2027 European Games?
From June 16 to June 27, 2027 in Istanbul. It is the fourth edition, with 26 sports confirmed so far.
How do I get tickets for the 2027 Conference League final?
Sales have not opened. For the 2026 final, UEFA ran a public ballot on uefa.com/tickets in March and each finalist club sold its own allocation, so expect a similar process for 2027.
Which Istanbul airport is closer to Beşiktaş Stadium?
Both work. From Istanbul Airport (IST), take the M11 metro and change to the M2 and the F1 funicular, or the Havaist bus that stops at Beşiktaş. From Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), take the M4 metro to Kadıköy and the ferry to Beşiktaş.
Do I need a visa for Turkey?
Citizens of most EU countries, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia can visit Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days in 180. Cyprus passport holders need a visa, so check the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs table for your passport.
Will my phone be blocked in Turkey?
Only if you put a Turkish SIM in it and use it for more than 120 days without registering the phone. The rule covers phones on Turkish lines; with your home SIM or a travel eSIM you are roaming, so it does not come into play on a short trip.
Does EU roaming work in Turkey?
No. Turkey is outside the EU roaming zone, so EU and UK plans charge extra. A Turkey eSIM gives you local-rate data from the moment you land.
Going to Istanbul in June 2027? Stay connected with eSIMPal
E-tickets, ferries, maps and match-day plans all run through your phone. Install an eSIMPal Turkey eSIM before you fly and land with data that works from arrivals, no roaming bill and no SIM store queue.
Last checked October 15, 2026. Based on UEFA's announcement of the 2027 final and its 2026 ticket sale notice, the European Olympic Committees' sports program for Istanbul 2027, European Gymnastics' event page, transport pages from Istanbul Airport, Metro Istanbul, Havaist and Havabüs, the telecom regulator BTK on device registration, Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa table and Turkish State Meteorological Service climate data. Kickoff times and venues can change, so check uefa.com and the European Olympic Committees before you book.
