Flying from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Around 11 hours 16 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3. The city is 6 hours behind Tokyo, where Narita International Airport is located.
With 9 weekly flights between the two airports, Narita International Airport (NRT) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route. Turkish Airlines operates the earliest flight at 10:15. If you're eager to get more out of your day before jetting off, the last departure from NRT to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 10:35.
Give yourself enough time to catch your flight from NRT to Istanbul. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a peak time like July? Major public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer queues at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
You can book a nonstop flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul. Start your trip at NRT and touch down at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Keep an eye out for offers from Turkish Airlines. This carrier operates direct flights from Narita International Airport to Istanbul.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and possibly even explore another city. When browsing flights from NRT to Istanbul, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE)
Incheon International Airport (ICN)
You can travel to Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes without a visa if you have a passport from Japan. But before reserving your cheap tickets from Narita International Airport to Istanbul, double-check for the newest rules and regulations. Visa rules are subject to change, and you may require some documentation if your trip is for business or another reason.
To get to NRT from central Tokyo, it'll take about 58 minutes by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 64 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Have an early flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these stays close to NRT:
How to find the cheapest flights from Narita International Airport (NRT) to Istanbul
Rs89,696 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Narita International Airport to Istanbul. Return flights start at Rs148,147. These prices can change depending on availability and demand.
Lock in cheap tickets from NRT to Istanbul by booking at least 9 months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Narita International Airport to Istanbul. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Log into your online account or use the app to set up a Price Alert. We'll get in touch right away if there's a better deal on this route. It's simple to do, and it'll save you time looking for flight tickets from NRT to Istanbul every day.
Use the filters to tailor your flights from Narita International Airport to Istanbul. Simply select your preferred departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is about 50 minutes by car. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.
Travelling to the centre by public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near IST:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Central Istanbul is located around 48 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Once your flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 57 minutes.
You can expect the journey to take roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes on public transport.
You'll find some great places to drop your things at near SAW. Unwind and get cosy after your flight from NRT to Istanbul at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month for flights from Narita International Airport to Istanbul. To avoid the crowds, travel to Istanbul in February when it's quieter.
Lock in your flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul for August to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
For cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from NRT to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Istanbul right here. Check out these hotels after you've booked your flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just two of the leading attractions to put on your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Galata Tower.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Narita International Airport to Istanbul to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus we give you all the info you need on car rentals in Istanbul, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.