Travelling from Riga International Airport (RIX) to Istanbul Airport (IST): what you need to know
Book a direct flight from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 3 hours 15 minutes.
Istanbul is one hour ahead of Riga and is in the UTC+3 timezone.
Each week, there are 18 Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport flights. If you want to jet off early, pick the 10:55 Air Baltic flight. If you'd rather make the most of your day before you fly, the last departure is at 19:50 with Turkish Airlines.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your RIX to IST flight. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling during a peak month like August? School holidays and other popular seasons can result in longer lines at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
Turkish Airlines is your gateway to discovering Istanbul (and maybe even some other exciting corners of Türkiye (Turkey)!). Check out the direct flights from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport offered by this popular airline.
Turkish Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for this route.
Think about adding a stopover when booking your ticket from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or perhaps explore a new destination along the way. Here's where you can stop between RIX and IST:
Vienna Airport
Warsaw Chopin Airport
Bucharest Otopeni Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Riga International Airport (RIX) to Istanbul Airport (IST)
The cheapest price we've seen for a one-way Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport flight is 87 €. A round-trip fare is currently 161 €. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares could change.
Score cheap tickets from RIX to IST by booking five months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
The cheapest month for flights from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport is October. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfares if you have a flexible schedule.
Finding cheap flights from RIX to IST couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a new deal comes up.
Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport.
Handy information about Riga International Airport (RIX)
Of all flights leaving Riga International Airport, 79% arrive on time at their destination.
To get to Riga International Airport from central Riga, it takes around 20 minutes if you're going by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 10 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Catching public transport? Expect a journey time of around 35 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel near RIX? If you're boarding an early flight from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport, these stays will have you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)
If you're coming in on a late Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport flight, nothing tops the convenience of being near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and resting shortly after at one of these options near IST:
Pick up a Istanbul Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own set of wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are well-known companies you can book with here.
To lock in the lowest price, reserve your ride from Istanbul Airport about two weeks ahead.
Getting from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Airport to the centre of Istanbul has a drive time of about 45 minutes. It's approximately 40 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour 10 minutes when travelling by public transport.
When to fly to Istanbul Airport (IST)
August is the most popular month for flights from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport. For smaller crowds, travel to Istanbul in March.
Lock in your flight from Riga International Airport to Istanbul Airport for July if you want to go to Istanbul during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 21ºC (70ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).
Look for cheap tickets from RIX to IST 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.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've seen Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, top sights here include The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Izmir is another must-experience destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No trip is complete without seeing Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.