Travelling from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Expect to be travelling for 4 hours 30 minutes. That's the average time for a direct flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul.
Istanbul is three hours ahead of Edinburgh, where Edinburgh Airport is located. Istanbul observes the UTC+3 timezone.
The busiest route is from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Choose from 11 services every week between these two airports. If you'd like to get on your way as soon as you can, the earliest flight from EDI to IST is the 10:35 Turkish Airlines service. If you'd rather fly out later on, the final departure is at 16:50 with Turkish Airlines.
To avoid missing your EDI to Istanbul flight, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
If you're heading away during a bank holiday or another peak period, allow for even more time. A good general rule is two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Lines at check-in and security will be longer.
You can book a direct Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul ticket. Start your trip at EDI and touch down at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Take to the skies with Turkish Airlines. This well-known carrier offers direct flights from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and possibly even tick off a new city. When browsing for flight tickets from EDI to Istanbul, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER)
Dusseldorf International Airport (DUS)
Travelling from central Edinburgh to EDI takes about 40 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want a stress-free start to your trip? Stay near EDI. Whether you're taking an early flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels have you covered:
Of the departures from Edinburgh Airport, 67.94% land on time at their destination.
How to find the cheapest flights from Edinburgh Airport (EDI) to Istanbul
ج.م. 3,475 is the lowest price we've seen for a one-way Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul flight. A round-trip flight ticket right now is ج.م. 7,350. Depending on when and how early you book, these fares can change.
To score cheap flights from EDI to Istanbul, reserve your journey two months before your departure.
June is the best month for nabbing a fantastic deal on Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul tickets. If you're looking to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
You don't need to keep looking every day to find out if fares have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll update you when there's an even bigger deal on cheap flights from EDI to Istanbul.
Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with our filters. Then, sort the results for your flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is around 48 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. If you're grabbing a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes about 50 minutes.
Travelling by public transport takes about 1 hour 45 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these hotels near IST:
Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are well-known companies to choose from here.
Get the best deal by reserving your ride from Istanbul Ataturk Airport around two weeks ahead of your flight from EDI to Istanbul.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
After your flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in around 55 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is roughly 48 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
The trip will take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to drop your things at near SAW. Unwind and get cosy after your EDI to Istanbul flight at one of these well-located options:
Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car quick and easy. These suppliers are located in or around the terminal and will have you ready to go in a flash.
Score the best price by securing your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
Travel to Istanbul during high season if you want a bustling atmosphere, but remember that prices may be higher. Alternatively, book your flights from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul in the off-season when prices are cheaper and it's quieter.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Lock in your Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul flight ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
January has average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for a cheap ticket from EDI to Istanbul around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from Edinburgh Airport to Istanbul, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:
The Basilica Cistern and Topkapi Palace are just the start of the popular attractions to add to your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Galata Tower.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of Türkiye (Turkey) you should also see. About 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will keep you on the move. Check out popular attractions like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
Izmir is another must-experience destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No journey is complete without seeing Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Alsancak.
