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£58 Find Cheap Flights to Istanbul Airport – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
£114
Typical prices: £129-£312
Wizz Air
Tue 9/10Mon 15/10
LTN - IST • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
£58
Typical prices: £89-£215
Wizz Air
Sun 23/9
LTN - IST • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and Wizz Air. Average duration is 4h 00m
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 121 per week
Best reviews • 7.8 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 42% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 36% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 32% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Istanbul Airport!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Istanbul

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

Fri, 9 Oct - Thu, 15 Oct
Wizz Air Logo
07:05 - 13:10LTN  London Luton-IST Istanbul
4h 05mdirect
Wizz Air Logo
13:50 - 16:00IST  Istanbul-LTN London Luton
4h 10mdirect
£114Wizz Air
Thu, 1 Oct - Sun, 11 Oct
Wizz Air Logo
13:30 - 19:30LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
4h 00mdirect
Wizz Air Logo
20:15 - 22:20IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 05mdirect
£115Wizz Air
Tue, 13 Oct - Fri, 16 Oct
Multiple Airlines Logo
11:10 - 22:45LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
9h 35m1 stop Budapest Ferenc Liszt Intl
Multiple Airlines Logo
20:10 - 22:20IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 10mdirect
£115Multiple Airlines
Wed, 9 Dec - Wed, 16 Dec
Multiple Airlines Logo
06:05 - 22:50LTN  London Luton-IST Istanbul
13h 45m1 stop Debrecen
Multiple Airlines Logo
23:25 - 07:40IST  Istanbul-LTN London Luton
11h 15m1 stop Iasi
£116Multiple Airlines
Thu, 28 Jan - Mon, 1 Feb
British Airways Logo
17:30 - 00:25LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
British Airways Logo
08:25 - 09:50IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
4h 25mdirect
£123British Airways
Wed, 25 Nov - Sat, 28 Nov
Turkish Airlines Logo
06:30 - 13:25LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
Turkish Airlines Logo
21:30 - 22:35IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 05mdirect
£126Turkish Airlines
Wed, 25 Nov - Sat, 28 Nov
British Airways Logo
18:05 - 01:00LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
British Airways Logo
18:35 - 19:45IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
4h 10mdirect
£138British Airways
Tue, 6 Oct - Mon, 12 Oct
Lufthansa Logo
17:50 - 02:05LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
6h 15m1 stop Munich Franz Josef Strauss
Lufthansa Logo
03:45 - 09:55IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
8h 10m1 stop Munich Franz Josef Strauss
£138Lufthansa
Sat, 3 Oct - Mon, 5 Oct
Lufthansa Logo
17:50 - 02:05LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
6h 15m1 stop Munich Franz Josef Strauss
Lufthansa Logo
03:45 - 08:15IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
6h 30m1 stop Munich Franz Josef Strauss
£138Lufthansa
Tue, 5 Jan - Fri, 15 Jan
Turkish Airlines Logo
10:05 - 17:00LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
Turkish Airlines Logo
08:05 - 09:10IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 05mdirect
£144Turkish Airlines
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for United Kingdom to Istanbul Airport flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul Airport with more confidence.

What is the cheapest flight to Istanbul Airport?

London Luton Airport to Istanbul Airport is the cheapest route at £114 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Airport is the most popular connection with return deals from £115.

How much is a flight to Istanbul Airport?

A return flight to Istanbul Airport costs £208 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Belfast Intl Airport average £165, while London runs a bit higher at £174.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul Airport?

Friday is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul Airport at £206 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Tuesday is the most expensive at £238.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport?

  • November is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul Airport with an average price of £141 return.
  • July (£279) and August (£269) are the most expensive.
  • Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Istanbul Airport?

Afternoon flights to Istanbul Airport are the cheapest at £180 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at £278.

What is a good deal for flights to Istanbul Airport?

Flights under £129 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to Istanbul Airport at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:

  • London £103
  • Bristol £114
  • Belfast Intl Airport £125
.

When are flights to Istanbul Airport the cheapest?

Flights to Istanbul Airport are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 36% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight to Istanbul

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Jenna Scatena

Jenna Scatena

Expert on IST

Journalist and Travel Writer, Jenna Scatena is an award-winning travel writer with a love for sharing stories and exploring new places, especially by Vespa. Though she's from San Francisco, she has spent a significant chunk of her vacation days over the last decade eating her way through Texas and sleeping in hotels around the world—especially in California, the Middle East, and Europe.

Key details for flights to Istanbul Airport

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

£58
Best time to beat the crowds (22% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flights from London Luton Airport to Istanbul Airport

When to book flights to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your questions about flights to Istanbul Airport, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • How can I go from Ataturk Airport Istanbul to the city centre?

    The city centre is 22km (14 miles) away. The options available to you are private transfer, airport bus, taxi, city bus, metro, tram and shuttle van. For travellers with emphasis on their comfort, security and convenience, the airport private transfer service is the best option.

  • What amenities can I get at the Ataturk International Airport?

    Those hoping to fly first or business class on Emirates to the Ataturk Airport, can have a pre-flight relaxation in a comfy leather armchair in the Emirates Lounge. The lounge offers champagne and other gourmet Turkish treats. There is also a wellness centre called ‘SkyTeam Lounge' where you can get a full-body massage and where long-haul travellers can de-stress for a while.

  • Is the new Istanbul Airport (ISL) fully operational yet?

    The new Airport will be in full service by the end of 2018. The inauguration date was on the 29th October, 2018. The new airport has a large amount of facilities and shops to host a large amount of international travellers.

  • How can I access the airport free Wi-Fi and how long does it stay free?

    The Ataturk airport has a free Wi-Fi service that lasts for two hours after which you must pay for extra time. So you will have to use the two hours wisely if you hope to remain within the free zone. Be mindful that to connect to the Wi-Fi, you will need a mobile phone that can receive text messages in Turkey.

  • Which airlines operate eco-friendly flights to Istanbul?

    If you are looking for eco-friendly options to Istanbul, we recommend looking at flights on Lufthansa via Frankfurt. These depart from LHR and produce 50% less carbon emissions. Lufthansa, from Manchester, with a stopover in Frankfurt, produces 49% less CO2. From Birmingham, KLM operates via Amsterdam and produces 35% less carbon dioxide.

  • What visa requirements exist for British passport holders in Turkey?

    British passport holders are able to visit Turkey, visa-free for 90 days in a period of 180 days. Your passport needs to have at least one entirely blank page for any stamps, and needs to be valid for a period of 150 days from your arrival date.

  • Which stopover cities are there between the UK and Istanbul?

    If you choose to fly on Lufthansa from Manchester or LHR you’ll be able to stop over in Frankfurt while Whizz Air from London Luton will stopover in Budapest (BUD). Aegean Airlines from Birmingham will have a stopover in Athens (ATH), while KLM flies to Istanbul via Amsterdam (AMS).

  • Which other cities can I access from Istanbul Airport?

    Flying to Istanbul (IST) puts you in the European side of Turkey and you’ll be well-placed to visit other cities such as the seaside town of Tekirdağ on the Marmara Sea, a 1.5 hour drive from the airport. You can also visit the town of Kumköy on the Black Sea Coast, a half hour’s drive from IST. 

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Istanbul Airport?

    Turkish Airlines operates the most flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul Airport at 121 per week, and for this route Turkish Airlines is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul Airport. The two are sometimes different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airports serve Istanbul and the surrounding area?

    Flights to Istanbul can arrive at several major airports serving the metro area, including Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

  • How long are direct flights to Istanbul Airport from different departure cities?

    Direct flight time to Istanbul Airport varies depending on your departure city:
    • from London: 3h 40m
    • from Edinburgh: 4h 15m
    • from Manchester: 4h 00m
    • from Birmingham: 4h 00m

  • Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to Istanbul Airport?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Istanbul Airport are from:
    • London, from £114 return

  • How many flights serve Istanbul Airport?

    Istanbul Airport receives 22 flights per day and 155 per week from across the world. London has the most flights to Istanbul Airport with 106 weekly flights.

  • How do I know if a flight to Istanbul Airport is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Istanbul Airport is around £129 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Istanbul Airport?

    Last-minute fares to Istanbul Airport – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 25% above the average return fare of £208.

  • Which airlines should I consider for flights to Istanbul Airport?

Your guide to booking Istanbul Airport flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Istanbul Airport, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 36% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Istanbul Airport, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around £129 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Istanbul Airport in November. Return fares historically average £141 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to midday to save up to £98 per return. Midday flights to Istanbul Airport average £180 compared to £278 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class, and route. On flights to Istanbul Airport, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, Turkish Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, Wizz Air includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, and British Airways includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • Once you arrive in Istanbul Airport, a few great places to start are Taksim Square, Istanbul City Centre, and Taksim. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.
  • Considering a flight to Istanbul, there are three airports in Istanbul with Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport (IST) located in Yeşilyurt, 23km (14 miles) west of Sultanahmet Square, being the busiest of them all with more connectivity both locally and internationally. Other airports include Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) and the new Istanbul Airport (ISL). If you are heading to the Asian parts of Istanbul like Bosphorus or cities close to it, then the Sabiha Gökçen Airport is a more convenient choice.
  • If you have time to spare at the Ataturk Airport, you can take advantage of the free city tour being offered by Turkish Airways to transit international passengers. The tours are offered twice a day by TourIstanbul. To qualify, you should have at least a 6-hour transit time between 9am and 6pm. The tours are in these timings 09:00-15:00, 09:00-18:00 and 12:00-18:00.
  • Are you anticipating a late arrival at the Atatürk International Airport (IST)? Not to worry, there are a couple of hotels that you can pass the night in. There are several moderately-priced hotels that are within 1 to 8 km away. There are a couple of hotels that are further from the airport so if your flight doesn’t fall in the rush hour, you can stay there.
  • Are you anticipating a long stressful flight to Istanbul? The Ataturk Airport has something for you. You can relieve yourself by getting a massage at Tui Na. Tui Na offers Swedish style massages. You can get these massages fully clothed. Tui Na is located in the Departures area near Gate 216.
  • Do you have a knack for history and aviation? Then you are in luck. A historical museum owned by the Turkish Airforce grants you access to interesting historical planes dating as far back as 1912. The museum also offers exhibitions of helicopters, hovercrafts, jet motors and more.
  • Istanbul Airport (IST), one of Turkey’s busiest airports, is the main hub for Turkish Airlines. As one of the main transport hubs in Europe, flying into IST will make it easy for you to connect to Turkish Airlines flights to other cities in Turkey, like Ankara and Antalya, as well as cities in surrounding countries, such as Greece and Bulgaria.
  • If you are flying from London Heathrow (LHR), TAROM includes both a hand luggage and hold luggage option in its fares. Turkish Airlines from all UK airports will include a hold luggage option for an extra cost. From Manchester, via LHR, British Airways also includes a hold bag in the fare.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Istanbul

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Istanbul? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.4
Turkish AirlinesOverall score based on 4473 reviews
7.8Crew
7.3Comfort
7.5Food
7.5Entertainment
7.3Boarding
Airline reviews

My first time in business class The in flt staff was outstanding in every aspect of service, the food was amazing, the business seat space made the 11 hour journey easy peazy

10.0 ExcellentAnonymous, Sept 2026
Read more Turkish Airlines reviews

My first time in business class The in flt staff was outstanding in every aspect of service, the food was amazing, the business seat space made the 11 hour journey easy peazy

Food could of been a bit more premium, but everything was excellent. LOVED the innovative boarding drinks and terrific service!

Staff could have been friendlier and offered drinks more often

They have adopted a crazy "no paper boarding passes at all cost policy". We spent half an our at the checkin stall – my elderly mother and her grandchildren were flying. She had no phone reception for some reason (besides being an inexperienced smartphone user), the kids had dumbphones, And they still won't issue a paper boarding pass. We had to do a lengthy dance with getting the boarding pass SMS on my phone and transferring them to her phone via WiFi. This was horrible, honestly. I can't imagine how they could manage it without me being there. Trees (and airline profits) should be less important than people.

Staff friendly. Business class but issue with flat bed. Incoming Turkish flight delayed. Made connection due to fast buggy but luggage did not make it. Confusion at Delhi airport

Very good overall.... apart from the cost of extra check ed in luggage where they charge £17 per kg, and no option to just buy an extra bag allowance (at least on the route I took)

Very old plane on the Istanbul to Bangkok flight, had an emergency exit isle row, no where to put anything, on a plus point loads of leg room. Food was the best I have had in 39 years of flying.

It was a nightmare. I booked business class ticket from Ediburgh to Beirut via Istanbul to attend a funeral. I had a wonderful experience flying to Istanbul from Edinburgh. Then I could not get a boarding pass issued to Beirut. It seems that although they booked me and I had a reservation number, I had no seat allocated and the flight was full. I was asked to go from one desk to another and made to wait for 2 hours. I missed my flight as I did not have a seat assigned and it was full. The only option was to put me on the next flight, 6 hours later, for a fee of over $400. They said that was the best they can do to 'help me' and to 'take it or leave it'. Well, I was not about to be bullied; I stood my ground. I booked and paid premium for the journey, which was confirmed. The eventually accepted to not charge me extra and i waited a total of over 8 hours in the airport with no compensation. On top of my grief with the risk of missing the funeral service, I had to put up with their indifference and condescending attitude. They spoke about me in Turkish thinking I would not understand (I hold a British passport) in front of me. When they eventually handed my passport and boarding pass back to me, I showed them I was born in Istanbul and that I understood everything and said a condescending 'thank you' back to them in Turkish. You should have seen their faces. I said that consumers have rights and it is a shame that Turkish Airlines does not have good customer service to at least acknowledge and apologize for errors committed by the airline. Blaming the me, the client, for such an error and placing unreasonable ultimatums, rudeness and dismissiveness to be rid of me, particularly when I was vulnerable and visibly grieving was really shocking... The airline taints the city of Istanbul and the people of Türkiye. Such a shame.

A good airline, but at checking in, they allocated seats for my wife, and I far away from each other, and to change them, they wanted a payment, such a bad policy, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth All was good on the plane, good food, but the air hostess was abrupt and a bit rough dealing with the passengers, but one has to find excuses for staff working under pressure

I found it okay. Did not think the food was that great. And the service could have been better. Seat was a little cramped. Delay getting to Istanbul made me rush all the way across the airport to get to the connection. This was a not good experience.

Check in, was fine, boarding was good, we left on time, punctual flight, aircraft condition was also good, Boeing 737-600 , all went well, I did not expect more or any better

Flight changed and cancelled several times over the months in advance that I booked it. However, actual flight went well, no delays, spacious seats. Had some landing issues but otherwise, fine. Also loved that they don’t check weight of luggage!

Seats are disaster, not comfortable at all. With my height 183 cm there were no space for my legs... The airplane was Turkish airlines and no entertainment on board.

Bad. Cancelled and delayed flight. Payed 25£ for seat but got just normal one. No one refunded the money.

I resent being called a ‘guest’ of Pegasus airlines and then they refuse to give me water, because they want to sell it to me. Also, the baggage allowances are ridiculously stingy. I also resent the way staff are on the look out to catch passengers out. I would never dream of treating my ‘guests’ like Pegasus treats us.

Great flight and great crew. Many thanks to them for their hard work making our trip so relaxing.

The plane was too hot inside. There was no entertainment and we had to sit on the plane for one hour before takeoff. There was no free wifi.

Online check-in was unavailable for my flight. So I waited 40 min in the queue at the check-in counter. Then, unlike any other airline in the world (and I am a very frequent international flyer) Pegasus was adamant that my CPAP was just another carry on and that I had to pay extra for it. Then, after I had paid in advance for a seat, they insisted I could not sit in an exit row because I was over 60 years old (I'm clearly in good shape and buy exit row seats more or less weekly). We pushed back harder and harder and insisted on talking to the station chief, who spoke with the counter staff by phone (not to me) and eventually relented. Experience on boarf was ok-- for a budget airline.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGVSRsasQcG/?igsh=dmkxa2s1eHNlbHZs

The airport staff were some of the worst I've ever flown, and I fly at least 50x every year. From the staff at the gate, to the check in staff, to the ticketing sales staff. My experience in Instanbul was so bad Ill.never fly Pegasus again. They were incredibly rude, dismissive and not helpful whatsoever. This is the worst of the worst if you want to fly a budget airline I'd go elsewhere. The airplane seats are really uncomfortable and don't recline at all, you get charged for every single thing so in the end you will pay more flying with them. The crew on the plane were the only kind people we encountered with Pegasus.

The crew were outstandingly kind and cheerful. We carried our cat and they offered help.

Late departure. No announcements. Boarding was a disaster. Some kind of technical issue scanning boarding passes.

All good but air not give the pasing er any food even glase of water

Flight delayed by 1hr when we already boarded because someone had to get off. Leg room is terrible for 6ft people like me.

Pleasant and friendly staff. Comfortable aircraft. Speedy boarding. Took off on time. Arrived earlier than scheduled. Overall very enjoyable flight.

I have a walker I need it to get from the plane to customs and baggage claim. It had a huge orange tag on it saying it should be given to me as I got off the plane. It was not and the flight staff didn’t know where it was—both on my flight to London and on the return. In It was very frustrating

They forced me to check my wheel bag because there was a full flight. This was very frustrating. I went out of my way when planning my trip to not have to check any bags. Usually, they ask people if they are willing to check a bag they do not force people. This felt like bad planning on the part of the airline.

Had a plane! Have a plan! Have my luggage! 10 hours of travel turned into 50 hours. Good Lord!

Business class to Istanbul. Packed flight. Cabin crew seemed incapable of differentiating between economy and business passengers with regard to access to the WC which meant whole flight I had people standing in aisle and leaning into my aisle seat, queueing for the front WC. Crew put it down to a lack of curtain between the two classes. The seats, for a 3hrs55 min flight were just standard seats with middle seat unoccupied. So nothing special apart from the food, which was mediocre. Aside from the roast chicken dinner (‘special’ traditional British menu option, which looked poor but tasted good I gather). However 2 king prawns does not make a main course salad.

Terrible. Missed my flight to final destination because of delayed British Airways flight. Had to spend 12 hours in airport and $1500 for new plane tickets

I asked for a wheelchair. I have a back health condition. I had to walk a lot

Boarding = No one respected the boarding groups. The ground crew did nothing to enforce the boarding system. What is the point of being a Gold member when there are no benefits to that? Tired old plane

The flight and the staff was excellent. Only bad thing is no entertainment and you have to pay for anything other than water.

Flight departed 45 mins late Crew great Food items missing from breakfast

Far easier than I expected it to be. Checked in online & had our boarding passes emailed through. Straight through security & boarded on time. No issues.

Great crew. Seats do not recline :( but it is budget so i should have known. Otherwise comfy leather chair. Slight slim chair but again budget so expected. No entertainment do makes journey boring. Recommend packing plenty of snacks and games or download plenty of films and music in your device. Staff excellent. Clean flight. On time.

Half an hour delay. Squeezed into a small Departure Lounge with very few seats. Noisy flight with screaming unruly kids. Loud IPads and Phones. Heaven!

Were delayed in the airport for 5 hours with no explanation. Flight kept getting delayed by an hour at a time and wizz air staff were no where to be found

It's a budget airline. Great for short flight. Smooth landing.

4 hr delay and only told less than 2hrs before. Only given water and nuts on the flight as complimentary service. Left to wait in rain before boarding.

To be honest I did not like anything. Communication to why my flight was cancelled mid air 2 and half hours into my flight. Customer service desk were not helpful with providing information or a solution on what can be done.

What I liked new airplane Sitting was extremely uncomfortable! Crew not smiley at all Always chewing gum

The flight was cancelled just 4 hours before the take off...

No food on board. Not comfortable. Had to move seats was delayed more than 3 hours.

More options for your flight to Istanbul