How to come to Istanbul
The fastest, and sometimes, the only way to get to Istanbul is by plane from Europe, East Asia, Africa, the U.S., Canada or Australia. Istanbul has two international airports; one on the European side (New Istanbul Airport) and the other one on the Asian side (Sabiha Gokcen Airport).
If you live in Europe, you can also drive down to Greece or Bulgaria and crossing the provinces to Edirne, Tekirdağ and Kırklareli, but the drive is very long and exhausting. We would only recommend this option if you are scared of flying or you are a road trip lover. If you live in Russia you can drive down to Georgia and crossing all Turkey, but is very long! From Europe, Russia and the rest of the Middle East you can also get there by train or bus. They are long but very fascinating journeys. But let’s see how to get to Istanbul on a case-by-case basis!
How to come to Istanbul from Europe
If you are flying from the United Kingdom the most popular airlines companies that fly to Istanbul are Pegasus, Turkish Airlines and British Airways.
Other airlines that fly to Istanbul from other European cities are: KLM, Ita, Pegasus, Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, Iberia, Brussels Airlines, Vueling, Norwegian, TAP Air Portugal, Air France, Aegean Airlines and Swiss.
Istanbul is well connected to many European cities by highways. Some private Turkish bus companies run scheduled buses to Istanbul from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Greece, Bulgaria, Russia, Georgia, and Romania.
Turkish Railways Authority (TCDD) has regular train schedules from Istanbul to
Budapest, Bucarest, Kishinev, Salonica and Sofia. International trains arrive at Sirkeci station on the European side.
How to come to Istanbul from Italy
If you’re traveling from Italy, the only direct flights from Italy to Istanbul are with Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and Ita from Milan, Rome, Bologna and Catania. The flight take around 2h30min.
Another interesting option is to fly to Istanbul from Alghero, Cagliari, Bari, Brindisi,
Firenze, Genova, Lamezia Terme, Napoli, Olbia, Palermo, Pisa, Rimini, Torino, Trieste, Venezia and Verona. From all these cities the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers but the airports are very well organized to ensure that you do not waste time between flights.
You can also reach Istanbul by car, train or cruise.
These are solutions that can take several days and are best suited for the adventurous who want to visit other states as well.
How to come to Istanbul from the U.S.
If you’re traveling from the United States, the only direct flights from the U.S. to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines from New York, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington. The flight take around 9-13 hours.
Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with Lufthansa or Qatar Airways from Boston, Chicago, Houston, Austin, Buffalo, Burlington, Charleston, Charlotte, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Durham, Filadelfia, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Honolulu, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, Orlando, Phoenix, Portland, Richmond, Rochester, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, Syracuse, Tampa, West Palm Beach. From all these cities the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers but the airports are very well organized to ensure that you do not waste time between flights.
How to come to Istanbul from Canada
If you’re traveling from Canada, the only direct flight from Canada to Istanbul is with
Turkish Airlines from Montréal. The flight take around 9 hours.
Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with Air Canada or Lufthansa from Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton, Fredericton, Halifax, Moncton, Montréal, Ottawa, Québec, Saint John and St. John’s. From all these cities the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers but the airports are very well organized to ensure that you do not waste time between flights.
How to come to Istanbul from Mexico
If you’re traveling from Mexico, the only direct flight from Mexico to Istanbul is with
Turkish Airlines from Mexico City. Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with KLM or Aeromexico from Cancun and Mexico City. In second option the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers but the airports are very well organized to ensure that you do not waste time between flights.
How to come to Istanbul from Argentina
If you’re traveling from Argentina, the only direct flight from Argentina to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines from Buenos Aires. Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with KLM, Air Serbia, British Airways or Aerolineas Argentinas but the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers.
How to come to Istanbul from Brazil
If you’re traveling from Brazil, the only direct flight from Brazil to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines from San Paolo. Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with KLM, Air Serbia, British Airways or Aerolineas Argentinas but the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers.
Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul with GOL Linhas or Latam Airlines from Belo Horizonte, San Paolo, Fortaleza, Porto Alegre, Recife,
Salvador and Rio de Janeiro. From all these cities the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers but the airports are very well organized to ensure that you do not waste time between flights.
How to come to Istanbul from Africa
Each state of Africa is well connected with Istanbul. From the main capitals there are frequent direct flights. From many other cities there are flights with 1 or 2 stopovers.
The most popular airlines companies that fly to Istanbul are:
– Emirates
– Turkish Airlines
– Qatar Airways
– Egypt Air
– Ethiopian Airlines
– Nouvelair
How to come to Istanbul from Asia
Each state of Asia is well connected with Istanbul. From the main capitals there are
frequent direct flights. From many other cities there are flights with 1 or 2 stopovers.
The most popular airlines companies that fly to Istanbul are:
– Emirates
– Turkish Airlines
– Qatar Airways
– Air China
– Malaysia Airlines
– KLM
– Etihad Airways
How to come to Istanbul from China
If you’re traveling from China, there are direct flights from China to Istanbul but not so frequent. The option is often to fly to Istanbul with China Southern, Air China, Malaysia Airlines from Beijing, Canton, Haikou, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Tsingtao but the flight have 1 or 2 stopovers.
How to come to Istanbul from Pakistan
If you’re traveling from Pakistan, the only direct flights from Pakistan to Istanbul are with Turkish Airlines, Emirates, PIA, Qatar Airlines, Kam Air from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore. Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul from Faisalabad, Gilgit, Gwadar, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Sialkot, Skardu and Turbat but the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers.
How to come to Istanbul from Japan
If you’re traveling from Japan, the only direct flights from Japan to Istanbul are with
Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airlines, KLM from Tokyo. Another interesting option, and often cheaper, is to fly to Istanbul from Yonago, Ube, Toyama, Waijima or Akita but the flight will have 1 or 2 stopovers.
How to come to Istanbul from Australia
If you’re traveling from Australia, there aren’t direct flights from Australia to Istanbul. The only option is to fly to Istanbul with Qatar Airlines or Etihad Airways from Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sidney but the flight have 1 or 2 stopovers.
