Cheap flights to Istanbul

Flights to Istanbul

It's hardly surprising Istanbul is such a popular travel destination; it's the largest city in Europe and has a long history going right back to 660 BCE. Formerly the Turkish capital, parts of Istanbul are classed as a World Heritage Site, and the city is also a thriving cultural hub hosting a range of arts and film festivals. There are two main Istanbul airports: Istanbul International and Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen.  Both are within easy reach of the city centre and offer plenty of transfer options.

Which is the main airport in Istanbul?

Istanbul International Airport is the main airport for the city, with Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen coming a close second.  Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport is 28 miles from the city centre, and public transport options into the city include shuttle buses and taxis. Istanbul International Airport is 22 miles from the city and public buses are available between them. Metro links from both airports to the city centre are planned for the future.

Which airlines offer flights to Istanbul?

It's anticipated that around 16 million passengers will use use Istanbul Airport in 2019, and popular airlines offering flights to Istanbul International include British Airways, which offers direct flights from London Heathrow, and Air France, with flights from Paris. Turkish Airlines is the major provider of flights to the airport, from locations such as Washington, Boston, Manchester,Toronto and Los Angeles. Airlines offering flights to Sabiha Gökçen  include Emirates, Nile Air, Atlas Global, with flights from Stansted, and Turkish Airlines, which provides flights from Frankfurt and Milan Malpensa.

Why travel by plane to Istanbul?

Direct flights from the UK to Istanbul take around 4 hours, so flying is definitely the quickest travel solution. Many visitors from the UK travel to Turkey for holiday and business purposes; no matter the reason for the travel, flying to Istanbul will offer them the fast and convenient connection they need. Flights to Istanbul are available from London airports and large regional hubs such as Birmingham and Manchester, making planning a trip from most areas of the UK easy to plan.

Before you travel to Istanbul by plane - good to know!

The Istanbul airport infrastructure has been upgraded considerably since the former international hub, Ataturk, did not have capacity for all arriving flights. Once the Metro links are in place from both of the current local international airports, travelling into Istanbul city centre will be smooth and quick. Istanbul visitors with limited available time will appreciate a trip to Miniaturk in the Golden Horn area, as this delightful theme park showcases all the major Istanbul attractions and landmarks in miniature. This is also a great day out for families.

How to Get to Istanbul by Plane

Airlines offering flights to Istanbul include British Airways, Turkish Airways, KLM, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Swiss Air and Egypt Air, among others. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (24 km outside of the city centre) and Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (35 km from the city centre) are the nearest airports to Turkey's largest city. Kacaeli (77 km), Bursa (86 km), Tuirdag (124 km) and Kutahya (197 km) are other nearby facilities. All airports provide adequate travel to the city via road and rail connections. Airport shuttle services such as the Havatas regularly travel between the airport and the city. The F1 Taksim-Kabataş Funicular and the T1 Kabataş-Bağcılar tramway are also useful connections. Airline or airport buses also connect the facility to the railway station, from which passengers can commutte to Istanbul city.

Istanbul

Istanbul has long been the financial and cultural hub of Turkey. It is an extremely accessible city, thanks to its location within both Europe and Asia. With its remarkable peninsula, abundant history and beautiful landscapes, Istanbul is an inspiring location where visitors come face to face with cultural legacies spanning thousands of years. Many visitors enjoy visiting a Hamam whilst in the city. Conveniently, each neighbourhood in Istanbul homes at least one historic Hamam.