Flying from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB): What you need to know
Begin your journey at one of Istanbul's main airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Check out your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) departing from either of these.
Take off on a direct Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport flight and you'll be travelling for around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Istanbul and Ankara (where Ankara Esenboga Airport is located) share the UTC+3 timezone. That means you won't have to adjust your watch once you arrive.
With 113 direct flights a week between the two airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) is the busiest route. Turkish Airlines operates the earliest flight at 1am. If you're eager to get more out of your day before flying, the last departure from IST to ESB is with Turkish Airlines at 11:55pm.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are tried-and-true travel tips. Show up at the airport on time to catch your flight from Istanbul to ESB.
You can expect longer lines during popular months such as August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Get to your destination in one go from Istanbul Airport (IST). Direct flights from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) can be booked from here.
Turkish Airlines is a popular carrier that operates direct flights from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport leaving from IST.
The majority of passengers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines from IST to ESB.
Travelling from central Istanbul to IST takes about 1 hour 10 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or take a taxi, you'll cover the 40 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Want a stress-free start to your travels? Stay near Istanbul Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels offer the perfect solution:
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Think about kicking off your journey from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). You can book a direct Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) plane ticket with departures from this hub.
From SAW, direct flights from Istanbul to ESB are available with AJet.
AJet is the most popular choice for travellers flying from SAW to ESB.
With 66.53% of services arriving as planned, Pegasus Airlines is the top on-time carrier flying between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Ankara Esenboga Airport.
Using public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in about 1 hour 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometres away, and making the trip by car takes approximately 1 hour 5 minutes.
Catching an early morning flight? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to ESB flight:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 68%.
About Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
Book a hotel near ESB if you're catching a late flight from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport. Pick one of these options and get some sleep sooner:
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around three weeks in advance of your Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport flight.
Getting from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to central Ankara
Ankara Esenboga Airport is about 23 kilometres from central Ankara. How long it takes to get to the centre in a taxi or car hire depends on the time of day. Do some research before your trip.
It takes around 50 minutes if you're using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
Rs6,070 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport. A return flight starts from Rs12,198. These prices may change depending on availability.
Snap up cheap flights from Istanbul to ESB by booking 11 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for landing a bargain.
Plan your trip for April. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport tickets. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to ESB by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when prices go down.
Filters make it easier to dig up a deal for your flight from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport. Pick the departure times, carriers and stops that look good to you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the best price quickly.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
December is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB), while July is the most popular. Pick the ideal time to visit Ankara based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Ankara is August, with temperatures ranging between 14ºC and 35ºC. Book your Istanbul to ESB plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport in January when temperatures are between -6ºC and 9ºC.
More about Ankara
After booking your flight from Istanbul to Ankara Esenboga Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Ankara:
Your Ankara trip should come with a side of sightseeing. Top attractions that should be on your list include The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is always a good idea, but there are so many other parts of Türkiye (Turkey) you'll want to see. Around 257 kilometres south of Ankara, a visit to Konya will keep your itinerary busy. Start with attractions like Mevlana Jalaluddin-i Rumi Mosque, Süleymaniye Cami and Mevlana Whirling Dervishes.
Kayseri is another sought-after destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 257 kilometres southeast of Ankara. No journey is complete without seeing Mount Erciyes, Hunat Bath and Kayseri Castle.
