Travelling from Montreal to Istanbul: what you need to know
Planning your holiday starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Montreal. Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) is the city's main base, so explore your options for reserving a flight from Montreal to Istanbul departing from here.
Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's major gateways.
The average duration of a direct Montreal to Istanbul flight is 9 hours 25 minutes.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, which makes Istanbul eight hours ahead of Montreal.
With three flights a week between the two airports, Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route. Board the first flight from Montreal to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines at 19:45. If you'd like to make the most of your day before flying, the latest flight from YUL to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 21:10.
To ensure you board your Montreal to Istanbul flight, leave enough time for things like check-in and baggage drop. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months like July. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Montreal to Istanbul
265 € is the best price for a one-way ticket from Montreal to Istanbul. Return flights start at 524 €. These fares may change based on availability and demand.
Book one month before you travel. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Montreal to Istanbul flights.
The best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Montreal to Istanbul is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare all available prices, then choose the dates that offer the biggest savings.
There's no need to check every day to find out if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from Montreal to Istanbul.
Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Montreal to Istanbul flight results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best.'
Flying from Montreal
Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL)
You can catch a direct flight from Montreal to Istanbul departing from Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL). Begin your journey at YUL and end it at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Be on the lookout for promotions with Turkish Airlines. This carrier offers direct Montreal to Istanbul plane tickets from YUL.
Located around 16 kilometres from central Montreal, YUL can be reached in about 25 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport is roughly 45 minutes.
After a leisurely start to your break? Stay near Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Montreal to Istanbul or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are perfect:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport, data shows 67% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.
YUL's address is 975 Romeo Vachon Street North.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're catching a taxi or a ride-share, the drive will take around 45 minutes.
Getting to the centre by public transport takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Reserve a hotel close to IST if you have a late flight from Montreal to Istanbul. Check in to one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Istanbul Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top outlets to choose from here.
Get the best deal by booking your ride from Istanbul Airport around two weeks before your departure date.
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
After your flight from Montreal to Istanbul has hit the runway, you can get to the city centre in around 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is approximately 31 kilometres from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW).
If you hop on public transport, the ride to the centre will take you 1 hour 40 minutes or so.
You'll find some comfortable places ready to welcome you near SAW. Unwind after your Montreal to Istanbul flight at one of these perfectly located options:
The quickest way to reach your destination is with a Istanbul Sabiha Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and be on your way in a flash.
Don't pay more than you need to. Securing your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at SAW will help you save.
Best time to go to Istanbul
March is the quietest month for flights from Montreal to Istanbul, while August is the busiest. Figure out the best time to go to Istanbul based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
Lock in a Montreal to Istanbul ticket departing in July if you want to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Montreal to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF).
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Montreal to Istanbul, browse our range of accommodation options including:
Hagia Sophia and Historic Areas of Istanbul are a couple of leading attractions to put on your Istanbul itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've seen Istanbul, now it's time to explore more of Türkiye (Turkey). Journey around 354 kilometres east to Ankara to tick off its leading attractions. From The Roman Theatre to Kocatepe Mosque and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Izmir is another favourite destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. No trip is complete without seeing Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.