Direct flights to Istanbul

Istanbul is packed with attractions, fascinating culture and beautiful historic buildings. One of the world’s busiest and most densely populated cities, Istanbul is an interesting blend of East and West and home to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The city's over-abundance of important historic buildings and exciting new art galleries and museums provides visitors with more than enough to see during the day, but it's at night that the place swings into high-velocity, mega-stylish action. With so much to see, it would be easy to spend several weeks in Istanbul exploring the many attractions, great shops and the superb cuisine.

Find a direct flight to Istanbul

Popular as a city break destination as well as the ideal starting point to explore the rest of Turkey, there are many airlines which fly into Istanbul. You can find direct flights to Istanbul from most parts of the world – in the list below we have gathered some of the most popular connections.

From the US

• Direct flights from New York (JFK) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Chicago (ORD) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Miami (MIA) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST)

From Europe

• Direct flights from London (LHR) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Paris (CDG) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Athens (ATH) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Belgrade (BEG) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Frankfurt (FRA) to Istanbul (IST)

From Asia

• Direct flights from Tehran (IKA) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Tel-Aviv Yafo (TLV) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Dubai (DXB) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Beirut (BEY) to Istanbul (IST)
• Direct flights from Jeddah (JED) to Istanbul (IST)

What to experience in Istanbul

The city of Istanbul is actually spread across two continents with the old part of the city located in Europe and the newer and more modern Istanbul located in Asia. The Bosphorous Strait separates the two and Istanbul’s prime location meant that it was an important shipping port and trading centre as well as being the capital of the Roman Empire (as Constantinople) before it was conquered as part of the Ottoman Empire in the 1450s.

Ancient Istanbul is full of glorious Byzantine ruins, ancient churches and mosques, hamams, palaces and bustling bazaars. In contrast, new Istanbul is known for its hip style, trendy nightlife and western shopping boutiques. Some of the must-see attractions in Istanbul include the Topkapi Palace home to several Sultans and full of beautiful treasures, the Blue Mosque with its elaborate minarets, stunning glass windows and exquisite tiles, the Aya Sofya (sometimes known as Hagia Sofia) which is one of Istanbul’s most famous and grand monuments dating back to 360AD and renowned as one of the world’s greatest buildings.

The Basilica Cistern is also well worth a visit, an underground subterranean world with a fascinating history and perfect in the summer for escaping the heat of the city. If you want to escape the bustle of the city, head to the Princes’ Islands located just outside Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. Catch a ferry to one of the 9 islands where the only means of transport are by foot, bike or horse-drawn carriages.

Looking for a cheap flight to Istanbul?

Directflights.com is one of the leading travel comparison sites comparing thousands of airfares to find you the cheapest flights to your chosen destination. We advise you to book in advance and avoid the peak months to travel if you want to find the best offers on cheap flights to Istanbul, we can also search for the best value last minute flights.

Istanbul climate – what to expect

Istanbul has a Mediterranean climate according to the Koppen climate classification system, although its climate becomes more oceanic toward the north. In summer the weather in Istanbul is hot and humid, with the temperature in July and August averaging 23 °C (73 °F). Summers are relatively dry, but rainfall is significant during that season. Extreme heat, however, is uncommon, as temperatures rise above 32 °C (90 °F) on only five days per year on average.

During winter it is cold, wet and often snowy, with the temperature in January and February averaging 4 °C (39 °F). Snowfalls tend to be heavy, but the snowcover and temperatures below the freezing point rarely last more than a few days. Spring and autumn are mild, but are unpredictable and often wet, and can range from chilly to warm, however the nights are chilly.