Travelling from Philadelphia to Istanbul: what you need to know
Philadelphia's main base, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), is where many unforgettable trips begin. Explore the departure options from here when planning your flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul.
Hop off your plane in Istanbul at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, which makes Istanbul seven hours ahead of Philadelphia.
Leave enough time to catch your Philadelphia to Istanbul flight. As a rule of thumb, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling during a popular month such as August? Public holidays and other popular seasons can mean longer queues at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
How to find the cheapest flights from Philadelphia to Istanbul
Booking in advance is often the key to locking in a cheap Philadelphia to Istanbul flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer you get to departure, the more you'll likely pay.
If you're willing to be flexible with your travel plans, use the 'Whole month' search tool. It'll give you the lowest price across every month when searching for your plane ticket from Philadelphia to Istanbul.
Cut down on the time spent looking for cheap flights from Philadelphia to Istanbul by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when a lower fare pops up.
Lock in a cheap Philadelphia to Istanbul flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Philadelphia
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
We make it a breeze to book a Philadelphia to Istanbul flight with a stopover. To see the options departing from Philadelphia International Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Next, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to tour the city of your choice. Top stopovers include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
PHL is around 11 kilometres from central Philadelphia. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take you 15 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 45 minutes.
Need a convenient hotel near Philadelphia International Airport? If you're boarding an early flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul, these accommodation options will put you moments from your check-in counter:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Philadelphia International Airport, data shows 78.93% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
You'll find PHL at 8500 Essington Ave.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes around 50 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there on public transport.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these hotels near IST:
Travel at your own speed with an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and chase adventure across Istanbul and beyond.
To secure the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport around two weeks in advance of your Philadelphia to Istanbul flight.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
The centre of Istanbul is around 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Once your flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul has landed and you've made your way through the terminal, expect a drive of around 55 minutes.
You can expect the journey to take roughly 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul, settle in at a hotel near SAW. These are some great options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Forget about inconvenient public transport schedules or waiting in a long cab line. Pick up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car and take your trip in whatever direction you choose. Check out the rates and availability from Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your ride from SAW four weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the most popular month for flights from Philadelphia to Istanbul. To skip the crowds, go to Istanbul in February.
Lock in a Philadelphia to Istanbul ticket departing in August if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC (68ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
Look for cheap flights from Philadelphia to Istanbul in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF) on average.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Istanbul right here. Check out these options as soon as you've locked in your flight from Philadelphia to Istanbul:
There are so many things to explore in this city it can be hard to know where to begin. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are top sights which should feature on any good Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've experienced Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, popular attractions include Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
Izmir is another well-known destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No journey is complete without visiting Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.
