Flying from Belfast to Istanbul: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Belfast to Istanbul. Belfast International Airport (BFS) and George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD) are Belfast's main airports.
When working out where to land in Istanbul, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the chief entry points.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is three hours ahead of Belfast.
Leave enough time to make your Belfast to Istanbul flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a popular month like August? School holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer lines at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Belfast to Istanbul
To find cheap Belfast to Istanbul flights, book early. Airlines generally offer lower fares when tickets are first released.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest plane tickets from Belfast to Istanbul across every month. It's an easy way to snap up a bargain if your plans are flexible.
There's no need to check every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Belfast to Istanbul.
Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines by using the filters. Or sort your Belfast to Istanbul flight results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Flying from Belfast
Belfast International Airport (BFS)
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your trip — and perhaps even visit a new city. When browsing Belfast to Istanbul flights leaving from Belfast International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
Geneve Airport (GVA)
BFS is about 19 kilometres from central Belfast. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 2 hours.
Catching an early flight from Belfast to Istanbul? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by choosing one of these stays near Belfast International Airport:
67.55% of flights taking off from Belfast International Airport arrive at their destination on time.
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)
Split up your Belfast to Istanbul flight with a stop so you can freshen up or tick a new place off your list. Popular stopovers between George Best Belfast City Airport and Istanbul include:
Manchester Airport (MAN)
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can get to BHD from the centre of Belfast in about 10 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport will take roughly 20 minutes to travel the 5 kilometres or so.
It's your holiday, so why not book an extra night away? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near George Best Belfast City Airport the day before your flight from Belfast to Istanbul:
George Best Belfast City Airport has an on-time performance rate of 68.3%. This figure highlights how frequently flights that take off from this airport land at their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
The distance from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is roughly 32 kilometres. It'll take you around 50 minutes to reach the centre driving.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Belfast to Istanbul, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these accommodation options near IST:
Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own set of wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top outlets you can book with here.
Booking your ride from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks ahead gives you the best chance of locking in a great deal.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
As soon as your flight from Belfast to Istanbul has touched down, you can get to the city centre in around 55 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is approximately 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
If you're catching public transport, it'll take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.
After your flight from Belfast to Istanbul, settle in at a hotel close to SAW. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you switch to relaxation mode:
Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car quick and easy. These providers are located around or in the terminal and will have you behind the wheel before you know it.
Get first dibs on the best options. Securing your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time often means better prices and a greater selection of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the busiest month for flights from Belfast to Istanbul. To escape the crowds, head to Istanbul in February.
When booking your Belfast to Istanbul tickets, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.
If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Belfast to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
After booking your flight from Belfast to Istanbul, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just the start of the big attractions to add to your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Galata Tower.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul will leave a lasting impression, but there are so many other corners of Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored. About 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will keep you on the go. Start with attractions like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
If you're ready to explore another side of Türkiye (Turkey), consider Izmir, roughly 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are the start of reasons to visit.