Travelling from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN): What you need to know
Planning your holiday begins with figuring out where you'll fly out of in Istanbul. Istanbul Airport (IST) is the city's main airport, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) leaving from here.
Expect to be in the air for 9 hours 55 minutes. That's the average journey time for a direct Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport flight.
Seoul Incheon International Airport is located in Seoul. The city is in the UTC+9 timezone and is six hours ahead of Istanbul.
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) is the most popular route. There are 19 direct departures a week to pick from. If you prefer to head out later, hop on the last flight with Korean Air at 9:45pm. Go for the first IST to ICN departure with Turkish Airlines at 1:45am if you're aiming for an earlier start.
Your flight from Istanbul to ICN won't wait if you're running late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're flying internationally.
Popular months like August or other peak periods mean longer waiting times and potential delays. Get a head start by arriving at the airport even earlier. Aim for at least four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) makes it easy to travel directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) operate out of this terminal.
At IST, there's a good selection of airlines offering direct flights from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport, such as:
The majority of travellers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines between IST and ICN.
We make it simple to book cheap flights from Istanbul to ICN that include a stopover. To explore your options departing from Istanbul Airport (IST), uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Some popular stopovers between IST and ICN include:
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)
Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Located around 40 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul, IST can be reached in about 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport? Avoid the mad dash to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these stays close to Istanbul Airport:
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Split up your flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport with a stop so you can recharge or tick another place off your list. Popular stopovers between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and ICN include:
Dubai International Airport (DXB)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Doha Hamad International Airport (DOH)
SAW is around 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. It'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 1 hour 40 minutes.
Got an early start? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to ICN flight:
When it comes to keeping flights on track, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 68%.
About Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
Reserve a hotel near ICN if you have a late flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport. Settle into one of these accommodation options and get some sleep sooner:
Booking your vehicle around four weeks in advance of your Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport flight can help you lock in a great deal.
Getting from Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) to central Seoul
From Seoul Incheon International Airport, central Seoul is around 48 kilometres away. It takes about 1 hour 5 minutes to get to the city centre by car.
Travelling on public transport takes around 50 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport is 252 €. For a return flight on this route, the best price is 427 €. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
To score cheap flights from Istanbul to ICN, book your plane ticket five months before your planned departure.
Organise your trip for October. That's the best month for scoring cheap Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport tickets. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Finding a cheap plane ticket from Istanbul to ICN is easy with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as prices go down.
Lock in a cheap flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport by using filters. Select your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN). January is when most people visit Seoul. If you like things a bit more low-key, go in December.
When booking your Istanbul to ICN plane ticket, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Seoul, with temperatures ranging from 19ºC (66ºF) to 32ºC (90ºF).
January sees temperatures of between -12ºC (10ºF) and 4ºC (39ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Seoul
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Seoul right here. Explore these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Istanbul to Seoul Incheon International Airport:
There are so many things to see and do in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Gyeongbokgung Palace, Bukchon Hanok Village and N Seoul Tower are top attractions which should feature on every Seoul itinerary.
Explore more of South Korea
Seoul has plenty going for it, but there are so many other corners of South Korea you'll want to see. Around 257 kilometres southeast of Seoul, a visit to Daegu will fill your itinerary to the brim. Don't miss top attractions like Alive Aquarium Daegu, Nature Park and Seonsa Historical Park.
If you're eager to discover another great destination in South Korea, consider Daejeon, roughly 153 kilometres southeast of Seoul. National Science Museum, Temi Park and Yuseong Hot Springs are among the biggest draws.