Getting to Istanbul
Unless you're taking a cruise from the Greek islands, or taking a tour around Turkey, the most common way of getting to Istanbul is by plane.
The largest airline in Turkey and the one that operates most flights from Istanbul is Turkish Airlines (THY).
Flights to Istanbul
From the UK, there are direct flights from London and Manchester. From London, Pegasus is the most common airline. From Manchester, there are direct flights from Turkish Airlines, while Air France and Lufthansa offer connecting flights via their respective hubs in Paris and Frankfurt.
From the USA, New York, Chicago, Miami, LA, Washington DC, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Detroit, San Francisco, and Seattle have direct, non-stop flights. The most common operator is Turkish Airlines, while Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines offer connecting flights through their hubs in Frankfurt and Vienna.
From Australia, there are no direct, non-stop flights to Istanbul. Turkish Airlines operates Melbourne to Istanbul flights via Singapore and Sydney to Istanbul flights via Kuala Lumpur. Qatar Airways, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines offer connecting flights via hubs in Doha, Dubai, and Singapore.
To find the best prices, you can use the Introducing Istanbul flight search engine:
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul has two international airports: The Istanbul International Airport (ISL) and Sabiha Gökçen. The first of the two is closer to the city center, and is used by operators such as Turkish Airlines and Iberia, while the second is 31 miles (50 km) towards the Asian side, and is the usual base for airlines such as Vueling and Pegasus.
Until 2019, Istanbul had a third airport, the Atatürk. However, this airport has been closed and will become an exposition and entertainment center.
If you would like more information about the different airports, or an idea of how to get between them and the center of the city, you can find information in the next section:
Getting to the centre from the airports
Istanbul Airport
Sabiha Gökçen Airport
Arriving By Train
Turkey has a good rail network, and it is well connected with trains from other Turkish cities, as well as other European countries (such as Germany, Greece, or Bulgaria). Interrail tickets are accepted for travel to Istanbul.
