$149 Find Cheap Flights from London to Istanbul – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from London to Istanbul Airport:

• Earliest: departs at 06:00 and lands at 09:56
• Latest: departs at 22:40 and lands at 02:36.

The flight takes about 3h 56m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from London to Istanbul Airport:

• Economy class
• Business Class

A direct flight from London to Istanbul Airport takes 3h 56m, covering 3,967 km.

Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

Return flights from London to Istanbul Airport range from $219 to $532, with an average of $350 over the past 12 months. Anything below $219 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 22% above the $350 route average. Book 9 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, stopover flights are cheaper than direct options on average. Stopover fares average $322 return via Izmir Adnan Menderes Arpt (ADB), compared with $346 for direct.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge $25–$142 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on London to Istanbul Airport flights, with 47% leaving in that window. Evening departures account for 30%, Afternoon flights for 16%, and Night flights for 7%.

One-way fares from London to Istanbul Airport are currently lower than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $159, which is 41% below the typical average for this route.

Istanbul Airport (IST) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around $15 for economy cars. Top options include:

• CIRCULAR
• Avec Car Rental
• Ok Mobility
• Alamo
• Autounion Car Rental

Flights from London to Istanbul Airport may depart from several airports in London area, including London City (LCY), London Gatwick (LGW), London Heathrow (LHR), London Luton (LTN), London Southend (SEN) and London Stansted (STN). Flights usually arrive at Istanbul (IST).

Night flights have the fewest delays on this route, while afternoon departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the London to Istanbul Airport route, 9% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 2h 01m.

One-stop flights from London to Istanbul Airport most commonly connect through:

• Frankfurt am Main (FRA) – 28% of one-stop connections
• Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) – 24% of one-stop connections
• Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC) – 17% of one-stop connections
• Warsaw Frederic Chopin (WAW) – 10% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 10% on flights from London to Istanbul Airport. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $363 return on average, while Tuesday is the most expensive at $403, a difference of $40.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

4 airlines operate flights between London and Istanbul Airport. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• Turkish Airlines
• British Airways
• easyJet
• Wizz Air

Flying via Munich Franz Josef Strauss (MUC) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 7h 10m, compared to 7h 17m via Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and 7h 36m via Bucharest Otopeni Intl (OTP).

Istanbul Airport is 3 hours ahead of London (Turkey Time vs British Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

Some of the most popular sights in Istanbul Airport are Taksim Square, Ayasofya, and Istanbul Congress Center. These are among the most viewed places in Istanbul Airport on KAYAK.

Among airlines operating London to Istanbul Airport flights:

• Wizz Air: offers extra legroom; offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• Wizz Air: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Turkish Airlines: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• British Airways: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.

The TAV Airport Hotel can be accessed via the terminal but also offers a free airport shuttle if you are staying landside (for this you need a visa). If you do not have a visa you will need to stay in the airside rooms in the hotel.

Turkish Airlines flies from T2 to Istanbul while British Airways flies from T5 which is the hub for the national carrier of the UK. Be sure to check which terminal you are flying out of before arriving at the airport.

WiFi access is free for two hours. However, in order to access this your mobile will need to be capable of receiving texts in Turkey. If this is impossible, international passengers can go to Starbucks which has free WiFi for customers, or alternatively you can pay for one of the lounges.

By far the safest and most comfortable option is the private transfer service. It can be pricey as the cost of this service is around EUR25 per person (approximately GBP22) one way, but the car will be for your group alone and could be more reliable than a taxi.