Travelling from Istanbul to Tehran: what you need to know
Istanbul is home to two main airports where you can kick off your trip. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Istanbul to Tehran departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Touch down at Tehran's primary gateway, Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA).
Around 3 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Istanbul to Tehran flight.
The timezone in Tehran is UTC+3:30, which is 30 minutes ahead of Istanbul.
With 91 weekly flights between the two airports, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from Istanbul to Tehran with Turkish Airlines at 01:15. If you'd like to make the most of your day before taking off, the latest flight from IST to IKA is with Qeshm Air at 23:00.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Istanbul to Tehran flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Be prepared for longer queues during popular months like April. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures will help ensure a smooth travel experience.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Tehran
Rs13,436 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Tehran. A return flight starts from Rs33,913. These fares can change depending on availability.
Book one month before travelling. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Istanbul to Tehran flights.
Plan your trip for April. That's the best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to Tehran. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Getting a cheap flight from Istanbul to Tehran is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when a better deal is available.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' Istanbul to Tehran flights.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
You can catch a direct flight from Istanbul to Tehran departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Start your journey at IST and come in for landing at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA).
These are some of the top carriers offering direct Istanbul to Tehran plane tickets from IST:
We make it a cinch to book an Istanbul to Tehran flight with a stopover. To see all your options leaving from Istanbul Ataturk Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Esenboga International Airport (ESB)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
IST is around 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel near Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Istanbul to Tehran, these accommodation options will put you nice and close to your departure gate:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Rather fly from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)? This popular hub offers nonstop flights from Istanbul to Tehran, seamlessly connecting you to Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA).
You can take your pick of airlines that offer direct Istanbul to Tehran plane tickets from SAW. Jet off with any of these carriers and head straight to your destination:
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Istanbul to Tehran flight. Visit friends or family or tick a new city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, here's where you can stop between Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Tehran:
Esenboga International Airport (ESB)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Sharjah International Airport (SHJ)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in around 1 hour 30 minutes. The terminal is roughly 31 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 55 minutes.
Start your holiday sooner with an additional night away from home. Before catching your flight from Istanbul to Tehran, stay in one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 76.93%.
Arriving in Tehran
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
The distance from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to central Tehran is approximately 40 kilometres. It takes about 1 hour to get to the centre driving.
Touching down on a late flight from Istanbul to Tehran? Grab your luggage and head straight to the comfort of a nearby hotel. Two good options close to IKA are Remis Hotel and Rexan Hotel.
Best time to go to Tehran
April is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Tehran, while July is the busiest. Find the ideal time to go to Tehran based on whether you want a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Book an Istanbul to Tehran ticket departing in July if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Tehran to range from 23ºC to 38ºC.
January has average temperatures of between -6ºC and 10ºC. Search for cheap flights from Istanbul to Tehran around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Tehran
After booking your flight from Istanbul to Tehran, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Tehran:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to start. Golestan Palace, National Museum of Iran and Azadi Tower are popular attractions which should be on every Tehran itinerary.
Explore more of Iran
Tehran is easy to fall in love with, but there are so many other corners of Iran just waiting to be discovered. About 338 kilometres south of Tehran, a trip to Isfahan will keep your itinerary busy. Start with attractions like Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Chehel Sotoun and Vank Cathedral.
Around 32 kilometres west of Tehran, Karaj is another favourite stop in Iran. Start your sightseeing at Lale Park, Fatemiyeh Park and Vahdat Park.