Travelling from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul: what you need to know
The average length of a direct flight from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul is 4 hours 5 minutes.
Istanbul is three hours ahead of London, where London Heathrow Airport is located. Istanbul runs on the UTC+3 timezone.
With 62 flights a week between the two airports, London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route. British Airways operates the earliest flight at 06:10. If you're eager to get more out of your day before jetting off, the latest flight from LHR to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 22:35.
To avoid rushing for your LHR to Istanbul flight, leave plenty of time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Flying during a peak month like July? School holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues and delays at security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
Start your journey at LHR and fly straight to Istanbul Airport (IST). That's where you can expect to touch down when searching for London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul tickets.
Turkish Airlines is a leading airline that operates direct flights from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul.
Consider adding a stopover to potentially unlock a cheaper plane ticket from LHR to Istanbul. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' during your search. Take a detour (and maybe pocket some savings) by stopping at one of these popular airports:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Munich Franz Joseph Strauss Airport (MUC)
Located around 26 kilometres from the centre of London, LHR can be reached in about 45 minutes by car. The journey on public transport will take roughly 25 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your holiday? Stay near LHR. Whether you have an early flight from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
78% of flights taking off from London Heathrow Airport arrive at their destination on time.
How to find the cheapest flights from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Istanbul
The best price we've found for a one-way London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul flight is Rs34,765. The cheapest price for a return flight is Rs57,167. Keep in mind fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
Book eight months before travelling. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from LHR to Istanbul.
Schedule your trip for January. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul tickets. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to access the cheapest price across every month.
You don't need to check in daily to see if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment there's an even better deal on cheap flights from LHR to Istanbul.
Tailor your flights with filters. Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) is around 40 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes roughly 45 minutes.
Travelling to the centre on public transport typically takes 1 hour 10 minutes.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul. Reserve one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Booking your vehicle from Istanbul Airport around two weeks in advance of your flight from LHR to Istanbul can help you lock in the lowest rate.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
The centre of Istanbul is located around 48 kilometres from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Once your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 1 hour 5 minutes.
If you choose to travel on public transport, you'll reach the centre in 1 hour 40 minutes or so.
Following your LHR to Istanbul flight, tuck yourself in at a hotel near SAW. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Get exactly what you want. Securing your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time often means lower prices and a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month for flights from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul. To skip the crowds, plan your trip to Istanbul in February.
Before booking a London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul plane ticket, think about what kind of weather you prefer. July is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC to 30ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from LHR to Istanbul in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from London Heathrow Airport to Istanbul, find a hotel that offers both comfort and a great location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. Historic Areas of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia Museum and Hagia Sophia History Museum are popular attractions which should feature on any well-planned Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, popular attractions include The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Izmir is another sought-after destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. No journey is complete without a visit to Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.