Istanbul

Turkey

Getting the group's arrival in Istanbul to line up

Istanbul is the only major European city split across two continents, with the Bosphorus separating the European side from the Asian one. For a group trip, in practice almost everything that matters — Sultanahmet, the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar, Beyoğlu — is on the European side, so there's no need to cross continents to fill the trip.

Istanbul Airport (IST), the big one handling nearly all international flights, is north of the European side; the Havaist shuttle or the metro connect it to the centre in a journey that usually takes around an hour. Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), the second airport, is on the Asian side and sits considerably further from the historic centre: if the group lands split between the two, matching arrival times matters more than ever.

The Istanbulkart card covers the metro, tram, bus and also the ferries that cross the Bosphorus, which are also one of the cheapest and most scenic ways to see the city from the water without booking a tourist cruise.

Depending on nationality, some visitors need to arrange an e-visa before travelling: it's worth checking well ahead, since this is one of the few destinations on this list where that step can apply.

Why Istanbul works for a spread-out group

Istanbul gets flights from across Europe at very varied hours, so there's usually enough room for a spread-out group to land without much of a gap, though it's worth checking carefully whether a flight lands at the European or the Asian airport before assuming anything.

Joivia compares every traveller's flights at once and scores each combination on two things: the group's total price and how grouped the arrivals are, so nobody burns hours waiting alone at the terminal.

Search flights to Istanbul with your group

How to plan the trip when the group flies from several cities →

How much it costs to fly to Istanbul from each city

Of the months we currently have data for, the cheapest to fly to Istanbul is October 2026.

Per-person, one-way prices for the cheapest flight we've seen on each route; data updated on 30/08/2026. These are indicative and change constantly: always confirm the final price on the provider's website.

Is there a direct flight to Istanbul?

Of the 1664 flights to Istanbul we've seen in the last 10 days, around 25% are direct.

Which airlines fly to Istanbul

Which cities have a direct flight, and how long it takes

When there's a layover, where is it usually?

The most common layover we've seen is Belgrade.

What time flights land in Istanbul

Based on the direct flights we've seen on each route, here's roughly how arrival times spread out depending on where each person flies from:

Window between the earliest and latest of every ten flights, based on direct flights seen recently: not a fixed schedule, just what usually happens.

Where to meet after landing at the Istanbul airport

If the group lands split between IST and SAW, the simplest option is to meet straight at the accommodation on the European side rather than at the airport: the journey from SAW is noticeably longer, and crossing from one airport to the other isn't worth the time.

Which Istanbul airport suits each traveller

Istanbul has several airports and Joivia searches them as a single city, so there's no need to pick one in advance:

Which countries have a direct flight to Istanbul

Istanbul is well connected across Europe thanks to being a hub for Turkish carriers, with daily frequency from Spain, Germany, the UK and Italy. Central and Eastern Europe is also well covered, with Poland and Romania among the origins with the most direct flights.

Before you go to Istanbul

Frequently asked questions about going to Istanbul as a group

Which Istanbul airport is better, IST or SAW?

IST is on the European side, where almost all the sights are, and its journey to the centre is shorter. SAW, on the Asian side, tends to have cheaper flights but a noticeably longer journey.

Do you need a visa to visit Istanbul?

It depends on nationality: some visitors need an e-visa arranged online before travelling. It's worth checking well ahead of booking the flight.

When is the best time to visit Istanbul?

Spring and autumn offer milder temperatures than summer, which can get quite hot, and smaller crowds at the main sights.

How long is the flight from Milan Malpensa to Istanbul?

The direct flights we've seen average about 3 h.

Which airlines fly to Istanbul?

Among the flights we've seen, Wizz Air, easyJet, Wizz Air, Wizz Air and Ryanair operate the most.

Is there a direct flight to Istanbul?

Not many: around 25% of the flights we see are direct.

Other destinations for a group trip

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