Flights to Istanbul

A flight from London to Istanbul takes approximately four hours.

You’ll find great value flights to Istanbul throughout the year, even during the most popular months. Mid-April to early June is an ideal time to visit, when the temperatures are cool enough during the day to explore all the sights, but warm enough at night to enjoy the city’s rooftop bars and outdoor restaurants. For some late summer sun, travel between September and October. There are plenty of beaches along Istanbul’s Black Sea coast that can easily be reached on a day trip.

Trips to Istanbul can easily align with your budget. Keep an eye out for historical sites that you can walk to and admire from the street, and cheap local eats – like kebabs made by street food vendors – that are found all across the city. 

If you’re arriving at Istanbul International Airport, it takes about an hour to reach the city centre via an airport shuttle bus or taxi. It takes the same amount of time if you’re travelling from the city’s other international airport, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen. At both airports you can purchase a travel pass to use the city’s public transport system during your stay.

You can also hire a car with British Airways if you want to get out of Istanbul and see more of what the surrounding area has to offer. You’ll receive great benefits, with all mandatory charges included and 24-hour customer support, plus you’ll collect Avios points on every rental.

Istanbul’s unique combination of East and West delivers a striking contrast between ancient history and modern life. Historic sites including the Roman Hippodrome and Hagia Sofia now sit side-by-side with luxury hotels, and traditional hamams next to high-end spas. In recent years, the city has established itself as a renowned culinary destination, offering Michelin-starred restaurants alongside the delights of authentic Turkish street food. Swap the sights and sounds of the city for the relative silence of Princes’ Islands, an hour’s ferry ride into the Sea of Marmara. Cars are banned on the islands, and visitors can explore the pine forests, beaches and narrow streets by foot, bicycle and even horse-drawn carriage.

You can book a hand baggage-only ticket or make the most of our generous baggage allowance. If you choose economy standard or one of our British Airways Holidays’ packages, each passenger can check in a bag weighing up to 23kg – in addition to a handbag, laptop case or other small bag. Families travelling in any cabin with younger children can also check in one car seat and one fully collapsible pushchair. Read more about baggage allowances for children.

If you’re flying in our business cabin, you can check in two bags weighing up to 32kg each. Read our baggage guide for full details.

Citizens of the UK and Ireland and EU passport holders do not need a visa to visit Turkey, but they will need to hold a valid UK passport with at least six months validity. If you hold a passport from a country or territory outside of these areas, you may need to apply for a visa before you travel. You can find out more about visa requirements for all the countries we fly to at the IATA Travel Centre.

Discover outstanding service from the moment you book. Fly with just hand baggage and you can carry two bags free of charge. Choose our checked baggage option and you can travel with hand baggage and a 23kg bag checked into the hold, plus enjoy free seat selection 24 hours before you fly. On board you’ll find HEPA-filtered air, quality on-board catering, and a warm, uniquely British welcome.

Simply relax and let us take care of you, every step of the way.

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• Flight only prices are updated every 24 hours and are accurate when published. Flights at these prices are limited and may sell out quickly.
• Package holiday prices (flight + hotel or flight + car) prices are updated every 24 to 48 hours and are accurate when published and may vary upon reaching subsequent pages. Availability may be extremely limited particularly during peak periods.
• Return fares displayed are the lowest adult return prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges, based on a 7-day return journey.
• Each–way fares displayed are the lowest adult each-way prices in the cabin specified based on the lowest adult return prices for a 7 day travel period, including all taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
• One-way fares displayed are the lowest adult prices in the cabin specified including taxes, fees and carrier charges available in this period.
• Package holiday prices (flight + hotel and flight + car) shown are in GBP per person based on 2 adults sharing one room or one car and prices include taxes, fees and carrier charges unless otherwise specified. Flight + car prices based on drivers aged 30-70 years.
• Additional charges will be applied for payments made using a corporate credit card.
• Advertised fares are available on ba.com. Additional charges may apply if purchased through British Airways outlets or travel agents.
• Combine and save on Holidays: Guaranteed savings are only available when booking a Flight + Hotel or Flight + Car booking including one land product, it does not apply to a ‘Customise your trip’ holiday including more than one hotel and / or car.
• Package holidays are protected under British Airways Holidays Ltd by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 5985.
• Standard British Airways terms and conditions apply