Flying from Belfast to Istanbul Airport (IST): What you need to know
Istanbul is three hours ahead of Belfast. Istanbul Airport is located in Istanbul, which runs on the UTC+3 timezone.
For stress-free travel, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your flight from Belfast to IST.
Head to the airport even earlier during popular months like June. Aim for two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight. After checking in, you can use any extra time to finalize your plans or simply relax.
Airports in Belfast
Belfast International Airport (BFS)
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling and maybe even tour another city. When browsing cheap flights from Belfast to IST leaving from Belfast International Airport (BFS), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to discover where you can stop along the way. Here's where you could connect through:
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Geneva Airport (GVA)
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
BFS is about 19 kilometres from central Belfast. If you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 45 minutes.
Looking for a comfortable hotel close to Belfast International Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Belfast to Istanbul Airport, these accommodation options will put you moments from your departure lounge:
Of all flights leaving Belfast International Airport, 68% land on schedule at their destination.
George Best Belfast City Airport (BHD)
Split up your flight from Belfast to Istanbul Airport with a stop so you can recharge or tick a new place off your list. Some great stopovers between George Best Belfast City Airport and IST include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
You can reach BHD from the centre of Belfast in about 15 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 25 minutes to cover the 5 kilometres or so.
Kick off your holiday early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your Belfast to IST flight, stay in one of these hotels close to George Best Belfast City Airport:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, George Best Belfast City Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 69%.
About Istanbul Airport (IST)
Have a late flight from Belfast to Istanbul Airport? Don't let it rob you of real rest. Stay at one of these hotels near IST and turn out the lights sooner:
Grab a Istanbul Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own set of wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are leading providers to choose from here.
For the best deal, book your ride around two weeks ahead of your Belfast 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. Explore your options for getting into the city, whether that's with a taxi, car hire or ride-share.
When travelling by public transport, expect a journey of around 1 hour 10 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Belfast to Istanbul Airport (IST)
Currently, ج.م. 3,993 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Belfast to Istanbul Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is ج.م. 6,838. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Don't leave everything to the last minute. You're more likely to find cheap flights from Belfast to IST if you book in advance. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird discounts.
If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll give you the cheapest price across every month when searching for your Belfast to Istanbul Airport ticket.
There's no need to check every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal comes up on plane tickets from Belfast to IST.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from Belfast to Istanbul Airport.
The best time to fly from Belfast to Istanbul Airport (IST)
August is the most popular month for flights from Belfast to Istanbul Airport (IST). Visit Istanbul in November for a more low-key escape.
Lock in a Belfast to IST plane ticket departing in August if you're eager to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
January sees temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for cheap tickets from Belfast to Istanbul Airport around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Istanbul right here. Explore these options once you've locked in your flight from Belfast to Istanbul Airport:
There are loads of awesome things to do in Istanbul when you're ready to go sightseeing. Head straight for Hagia Sophia Museum followed by Historic Areas of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia History Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Eskisehir is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've seen Istanbul. Around 225 kilometres away to the southeast, its top attractions include Eskişehir, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri.
If you're interested in discovering another corner of Türkiye (Turkey), consider Adapazarı, about 153 kilometres east of Istanbul. Ozanlar Ulu Cami, Güllük Cami and Valide Cami are among its highlights.
