Travelling from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Istanbul Airport (IST): what you need to know
The average time for a direct flight from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport is 1 hour 35 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is one hour ahead of Athens.
There are 61 Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport flights each week to choose from.
Get to the airport on time so you don't miss your ATH to IST flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid sprinting to your gate.
During popular months such as August, it's a good idea to get to the airport even earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during a peak period in general.
You'll find a variety of airlines offering direct flights from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport. When you're ready to start your Istanbul holiday, let one of these carriers take you to this memorable corner of Türkiye (Turkey):
Most passengers choose to travel with Turkish Airlines on this route.
Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your trip, or maybe even explore a new city along the way. Check out these options between ATH and IST:
Izmir Airport
Sofia Airport
Thessaloniki Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Istanbul Airport (IST)
The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport flight is 46 €. A return ticket right now is 79 €. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Book six months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from ATH to IST.
Organise your trip for November. That's the cheapest month for flights from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport. If you're flexible with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to see if fares have gone down when you create a Price Alert. We'll let you know as soon as a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from ATH to IST.
Find the right flight for you with the help of the filters. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Handy information about Athens International Airport (ATH)
Of all flights leaving Athens International Airport, 76% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
To reach Athens International Airport from central Athens, it takes around 35 minutes by car. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 32 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Planning to catch public transport? You can expect a journey time of around 40 minutes.
Get your break off to a leisurely start by staying near ATH. Whether you're taking an early flight from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport flight. Reserve one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Hit the road running by picking up a Istanbul Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and experience the lesser-explored corners of Istanbul and beyond.
Booking your vehicle from Istanbul Airport about two weeks ahead increases your chances of getting a good deal.
When to fly to Istanbul Airport (IST)
It's time to pick your dates for your flight from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport. August is the busiest month to head to Istanbul. If you prefer a more relaxed vibe, go in March.
Book your flight from Athens International Airport to Istanbul Airport for July if you'd like to go to Istanbul during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 21ºC (70ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from ATH to IST in January. Temperatures average between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF) then.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've seen the sights of Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, check out popular attractions including The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Izmir is another standout destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No journey is complete without a visit to Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.

