Travelling from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST): What you need to know
Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) is Seoul's main airport. Explore your options for booking a flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST) departing from here.
Hop on a direct Seoul to Istanbul Airport flight and you'll be travelling for around 11 hours 45 minutes.
Istanbul Airport is located in Istanbul. The city runs on the UTC+3 timezone and is six hours behind Seoul.
The most popular route is from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) to Istanbul Airport (IST), with 19 direct services every week. If you'd rather get moving right away, the earliest flight from ICN to IST is the 12:10am Turkish Airlines service. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 11:20pm with Turkish Airlines.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your flight from Seoul to IST. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid any last-minute rush.
Popular months like January or other peak periods mean bigger queues and potential delays. Stay on schedule by arriving at the airport even earlier. Plan for at least four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Airports in Seoul
Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) offers an easy route to your destination. Nonstop flights from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST) depart from this terminal.
At ICN, you'll find a good selection of carriers that offer direct flights from Seoul to Istanbul Airport, such as:
The majority of travellers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines between ICN and IST.
We make it a breeze to find cheap flights from Seoul to IST that include a stopover. To explore your options departing from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, select a flight that has a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Popular stopovers between ICN and IST include:
Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH)
Tashkent Islam Karimov International Airport (TAS)
ICN is around 48 kilometres from central Seoul. If you're catching a taxi, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 50 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel close to Seoul Incheon International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport, these accommodation options will put you conveniently close to check-in:
When it comes to Seoul Incheon International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 74% of flights complete their journey on time.
Seoul Gimpo International Airport (GMP)
Split up your flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport with a stop so you can recharge or cross another place off your list. Some great stopovers between Seoul Gimpo International Airport and IST include:
Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Seoul to GMP in around 35 minutes. The terminal is roughly 16 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 30 minutes.
Catching the earliest flight? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Seoul Gimpo International Airport the day before your Seoul to IST flight:
Most flights that depart Seoul Gimpo International Airport get to their destination on schedule. It maintains a strong on-time performance rate of 80%.
About Istanbul Airport (IST)
Reserve a hotel near IST if you're catching a late flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport. Pick one of these options and be under the covers in no time flat:
To get the best deal, reserve your ride around two weeks in advance of your Seoul to Istanbul Airport flight.
Getting from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Central Istanbul is around 40 kilometres from Istanbul Airport and takes about 45 minutes to reach by car. Work out your options for getting into the city, whether that's with a taxi, car hire or ride-share.
It takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes when travelling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST)
Currently, Rs62,067 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Seoul to Istanbul Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is Rs125,276. Remember fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Lock in cheap flights from Seoul to IST by booking one month ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for finding a bargain.
June is when you're most likely to land a fantastic deal on a Seoul to Istanbul Airport ticket. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
Save time searching for cheap plane tickets from Seoul to IST by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Chase down a great fare on a flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best.'
The best time to fly from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST)
February is the quietest month for flights from Seoul to Istanbul Airport (IST), while August is the busiest. Choose the ideal time to visit Istanbul based on whether you prefer a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
The warmest month in Istanbul is July, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 30ºC. Lock in your Seoul to IST plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
January has temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Seoul to Istanbul Airport around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
After booking your flight from Seoul to Istanbul Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia Museum and Historic Areas of Istanbul are just a couple of the major attractions to add to your Istanbul to-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Hagia Sophia History Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Eskisehir is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've seen Istanbul. Around 225 kilometres away to the southeast, popular attractions include Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri, Archeological Museum and TÜRASAŞ Revolution Cars Museum.
Have time for another stop? Head for Adapazarı. It's roughly 153 kilometres east of Istanbul and is known for highlights including Ağa Cami and Earthquake & Cultural Museum.
