Travelling from Brussels to Istanbul: what you need to know
Brussels has a couple of airports where you can kick off your travels. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Brussels to Istanbul flying out of Brussels Airport (BRU) or Brussels S. Charleroi Airport (CRL).
When it comes to planning your arrival in Istanbul, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the chief entry points.
Hop on a direct Brussels to Istanbul flight and you'll be in transit for an average of 3 hours 25 minutes.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, making Istanbul two hours ahead of Brussels.
Brussels Airport (BRU) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are 30 weekly departures to choose from. If you have things to do before heading off, the last flight from Brussels to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines at 18:50. Go for the first BRU to IST departure with Turkish Airlines at 07:15 to make the most of your arrival in Istanbul.
For a stress-free start to your trip, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your Brussels to Istanbul flight.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're travelling during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Brussels to Istanbul
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Brussels to Istanbul is ج.م. 2,692. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ج.م. 5,153. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
To secure cheap Brussels to Istanbul flights, reserve your trip two months before your departure date.
May is the best month for picking up an incredible deal on a plane ticket from Brussels to Istanbul. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for each month.
Save time searching for cheap flights from Brussels to Istanbul by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Find an affordable Brussels to Istanbul flight with the help of our filters. Select your preferred departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Brussels
Brussels Airport (BRU)
Begin your travels at Brussels Airport (BRU), which has a range of direct flights from Brussels to Istanbul. From BRU, you can fly seamlessly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Lock in your Brussels to Istanbul plane tickets with Turkish Airlines. This airline is a top pick for direct flights from BRU.
We make it a breeze to find a Brussels to Istanbul flight with a stopover. To see the options departing from Brussels Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, simply choose a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Top stopovers include:
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
BRU is around 8 kilometres from central Brussels. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be around 40 minutes.
Want a handy hotel near Brussels Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Brussels to Istanbul, these accommodation options will have you nice and close to your departure gate:
71.97% of flights leaving from Brussels Airport reach their destination on time.
Brussels S. Charleroi Airport (CRL)
You can catch a nonstop flight from Brussels to Istanbul out of Brussels S. Charleroi Airport (CRL). Start your travels at CRL and come in for landing at Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
From CRL, you can lock in a direct Brussels to Istanbul plane ticket with Pegasus.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your Brussels to Istanbul flight. Visit friends or family or cross another city off your list. Whatever you decide to do, check out these stops between Brussels S. Charleroi Airport and Istanbul:
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG)
You can get to CRL from central Brussels in about 55 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 35 minutes to travel the 40 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Brussels to Istanbul, take it easy in one of these hotels near Brussels S. Charleroi Airport:
Brussels S. Charleroi Airport has an on-time performance of 72%. This figure sheds light on how often flights that leave from this airport land on schedule.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is approximately 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 50 minutes.
If you're taking public transport, expect a journey time of around 1 hour 45 minutes.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Brussels to Istanbul. Check in to one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Begin your adventure by picking up an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car to explore Istanbul and beyond.
For the best deal, book your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport around two weeks in advance of your Brussels to Istanbul flight.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Central Istanbul is around 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Once your flight from Brussels to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've made your way through the terminal, the drive should be around 55 minutes.
Public transport will get you there in about 1 hour 30 minutes.
After your flight from Brussels to Istanbul, kick back at a hotel close to SAW. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make collecting a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car simple. These companies are located in or around the terminal and will have you on your way in a heartbeat.
Avoid potential price surges. Reserving your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at SAW can get you a lower rate.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the most popular month for flights from Brussels to Istanbul. To skip the crowds, go to Istanbul in February.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Lock in your Brussels to Istanbul ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
Search for cheap flights from Brussels to Istanbul in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from Brussels to Istanbul, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Every great adventure has to include some sightseeing. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are attractions you won't want to skip in Istanbul.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Türkiye (Turkey) just waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will keep your itinerary busy. Start with popular sights like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
If you're eager to discover another well-known destination in Türkiye (Turkey), consider Izmir, roughly 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are among the biggest draws.
