Flying from Tehran to Istanbul: what you need to know
Tehran's main base, Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), is where countless incredible trips begin. Explore the options for leaving from here when booking your flight from Tehran to Istanbul.
When choosing where to land in Istanbul, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) are the chief entry points.
Around 3 hours 40 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct Tehran to Istanbul flight.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is 30 minutes behind Tehran.
For a stress-free start to your trip, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. That way, you won't have to rush to catch your Tehran to Istanbul flight.
During popular months like November, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Tehran to Istanbul
RM447 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Tehran to Istanbul. A return flight starts from RM815. These prices may change based on demand.
To score cheap Tehran to Istanbul flights, reserve your journey 11 months ahead of your departure date.
Schedule your trip for April. That's the best month for landing an incredible deal on plane tickets from Tehran to Istanbul. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Finding a cheap flight from Tehran to Istanbul is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as a better deal is available.
Lock in a cheap Tehran to Istanbul flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Tehran
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
Start your trip at Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), which has a range of direct flights from Tehran to Istanbul. From IKA, you can fly straight into Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
You'll find plenty of airlines that offer direct Tehran to Istanbul plane tickets out of IKA. Let one of these carriers take you there:
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for Tehran to Istanbul flights leaving from Imam Khomeini International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some options to consider:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB)
IKA is around 40 kilometres from central Tehran. If you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 30 minutes.
When it comes to Imam Khomeini International Airport's on-time performance, data shows 76% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 32 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive takes around 45 minutes.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Consider staying in a hotel near IST if you have a late flight from Tehran to Istanbul. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Say yes to new adventures by picking up a Istanbul Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and explore beyond Istanbul's usual tourist stops.
Reserving your vehicle from Istanbul Airport about two weeks ahead gives you the best shot at securing a great deal.
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
Once your flight from Tehran to Istanbul has hit the tarmac, you can get to the city centre in around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is roughly 31 kilometres from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
You can expect the trip to take approximately 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel close to SAW. Here are a few options where you can settle in after your flight from Tehran to Istanbul:
No time to waste? The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Istanbul Sabiha Airport rental car. Collect a set of wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the most popular month for flights from Tehran to Istanbul. To travel when it's less crowded, visit Istanbul in March.
Book a Tehran to Istanbul ticket departing in July if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Tehran to Istanbul in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF) on average.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. After booking your flight from Tehran to Istanbul, check out our range of hotels including:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Hagia Sophia, Historic Areas of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum are major attractions which should feature on every Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered after you've experienced Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, top sights here include The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Izmir is another sought-after destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. No trip is complete without experiencing Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.
