Cheap flights from Edinburgh to Istanbul

January is the cheapest month on this route, and it is also the quietest. Edinburgh is cold and damp, Istanbul is cool and often wet, but the city is calm and the fares follow. Spring and autumn sit in the middle: mild weather in Istanbul, thinner crowds, prices that have not yet climbed to summer levels. Summer is when both cities fill with visitors, and the days around the winter holidays are busy in both directions. If your dates are flexible, midweek departures usually cost less than weekend ones. For winter trips, booking a few weeks ahead is enough; for summer, give yourself more room, because the direct seats go first.

Turkish Airlines is the full-service name on the nonstop run, and its fares generally bundle more than a bare ticket, though what is included depends on the fare you choose. Pegasus, Easyjet, Jet2, Sun Express and Norwegian International are the low-cost carriers here: you are buying a seat and a small cabin bag, and hold luggage, seat choice and food are extras. Emerald Airlines, KLM Cityhopper and BA CityFlyer suggest a connecting itinerary rather than a straight flight, so weigh the whole journey before you compare those fares with a nonstop. Two tickets at a similar level are rarely the same product, so read the inclusions.

Your flight lands at either Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen, and the two are a long way apart, so check which one your ticket uses before you arrange a transfer. Istanbul Airport is the larger of the two and sits on the European side; Sabiha Gokcen is on the Asian side and handles much of the low-cost traffic. Both are well outside the centre. Metro lines, airport buses and taxis serve each of them, and the metro is the option that does not sit in traffic. Allow real time for the run into town, because Istanbul is vast and a hotel that looks close on a map can still be a long ride. If you are flying on to another Turkish city, keep both legs at the same airport.

Currency

TRY (₺)

Power sockets

Type C, F · 230 V

Language

Turkish

Emergency number

112, 177

Driving side

right

Calling code

+36

Internet domain

.tr

Population of Istanbul

15.7 M (2023)

Time zone

UTC+03 (Europe/Istanbul)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Edinburgh has a single airport, so check the Istanbul airport on your ticket instead, because the two are far apart.
• On Pegasus, Easyjet, Jet2, Sun Express and Norwegian International, decide on a checked bag before you pay, since adding it later costs more.
• If the fare routes you through Amsterdam or London, check whether it is one ticket or two, because separate tickets mean you collect your bags and carry the risk.
• Check Turkey's entry rules for your passport before you book, including how much validity you need left.
• Compare January with the summer months on the price calendar before you fix your dates.
• Flying in winter? Leave room for weather delays at either end.