Flying from Milan to Istanbul: what you need to know
Organising your flight from Milan to Istanbul begins with finding the best airport to start your journey. Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP), Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY) and Milano Linate Airport (LIN) are the main departure points in Milan.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's major entry points.
Around 2 hours 50 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct Milan to Istanbul flight.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, making Istanbul two hours ahead of Milan.
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route that connects these two cities. There are 28 flights a week to pick from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from Milan to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines at 19:50. Go for the first MXP to IST departure operated by Turkish Airlines at 06:50 to maximise your time in Istanbul.
Leave enough time to catch your Milan to Istanbul flight. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like July, it's best to get to the airport well in advance. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you fly during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Milan to Istanbul
Book three months before you want to travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap Milan to Istanbul flights.
June is the best month for nabbing an awesome deal on a plane ticket from Milan to Istanbul. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Locking in a cheap flight from Milan to Istanbul is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has dropped.
Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Milan to Istanbul flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Milan
Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP)
You can book a direct flight from Milan to Istanbul jetting off from Milano Malpensa Airport (MXP). Begin your journey at MXP and come in for landing at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that offers direct Milan to Istanbul plane tickets leaving from MXP.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and possibly even explore a different city. When browsing Milan to Istanbul flights leaving from Milano Malpensa Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Top options include:
Belgrad Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG)
Sofia Airport (SOF)
Naples International Airport (NAP)
Travelling from central Milan to MXP takes about 55 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 40 kilometres in 45 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Have an early flight from Milan to Istanbul? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these stays close to Milano Malpensa Airport:
68.23% of flights leaving from Milano Malpensa Airport make it to their destination on time.
Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)
Prefer to take off from Orio al Serio International Airport (BGY)? This hub offers direct flights from Milan to Istanbul, seamlessly connecting you to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
From BGY, you can lock in a direct Milan to Istanbul plane ticket with Pegasus.
Split up your Milan to Istanbul flight with a stop so you can recharge or cross another place off your list. Some great stopovers between Orio al Serio International Airport and Istanbul include:
Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
You can reach BGY from the centre of Milan in about 1 hour by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport takes roughly 2 hours 20 minutes to travel the 48 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from Milan to Istanbul, take it easy in one of these hotels near Orio al Serio International Airport:
Orio al Serio International Airport has an on-time performance rate of 67.49%. This figure gives an insight into how often flights that depart from this airport arrive on schedule.
Milano Linate Airport (LIN)
Booking a ticket from Milan to Istanbul with a stop or two can give you more departure time choices and access to lower fares. When leaving from Milano Linate Airport (LIN), here are a few places you can detour to on the way to Istanbul:
Naples International Airport (NAP)
Palese Airport (BRI)
Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO)
From the centre of Milan, LIN is around 8 kilometres away. It takes roughly 30 minutes to reach the airport by car and 45 minutes or so if you take public transport.
Take the uncertainty out of departure day — stay near Milano Linate Airport and know you'll be at your gate with time to spare. Get comfy at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Milan to Istanbul flight:
Flights that take off from LIN land at their destination within the scheduled time frame 79.56% of the time.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
The distance from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is approximately 32 kilometres. It'll take you about 50 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It usually takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.
Consider booking a hotel close to IST if you're coming in on a late flight from Milan to Istanbul. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are popular outlets to choose from here.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks in advance of your Milan to Istanbul flight.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Central Istanbul is located around 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). As soon as your flight from Milan to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 55 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near SAW. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from Milan to Istanbul:
Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car quick and easy. These trusted providers are located in or around the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Get exactly what you want. Booking your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time often means lower prices and a bigger choice of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the busiest month for flights from Milan to Istanbul. To travel when it's less crowded, head to Istanbul in February.
Book a Milan to Istanbul ticket departing in August if you want to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Milan to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Istanbul right here. Browse these options once you've locked in your flight from Milan to Istanbul:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are popular attractions which should be on every Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered after you've seen Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, top sights here include Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
Around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul, Izmir is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.
