Travelling from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know
Around 4 hours 10 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, which makes Istanbul three hours ahead of London.
Flights from LGW to IST start from 06:40 — the earliest with Wizz Air UK. The latest departure is at 22:30 with Turkish Airlines. In total, there are 52 weekly London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flights.
To ensure you catch your LGW to IST flight, allow plenty of time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
During popular months like August, you'll want to get to the airport earlier than normal. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of international flights when you travel during peak periods in general.
Turkish Airlines is your gateway to exploring Istanbul (and maybe even some other exciting corners of Türkiye (Turkey)!). Check out the direct flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport offered by this popular carrier.
The majority of travellers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines on this route.
Consider adding a stopover when booking your ticket from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' to break up your journey, or enjoy a detour to a new and interesting place. Here's where you can stop between LGW and IST:
W. A. Mozart Salzburg Airport
Dubrovnik Airport
Frankfurt Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Right now, ر.ق. 166 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is ر.ق. 293. Bear in mind that fares can change due to demand when booking.
Score cheap tickets from LGW to IST by booking seven months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for picking up a bargain.
The cheapest month for flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is June. Use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest prices if you have a flexible schedule.
Picking up cheap flights from LGW to IST is a breeze with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as fares go down.
Tailor your flights using filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
Handy information about London Gatwick Airport (LGW)
When it comes to London Gatwick Airport's on-time performance, 69.26% of flights arrive within the scheduled timeframe.
London Gatwick Airport is around 80 kilometres from central London. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 1 hour 20 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
The trip on public transport will take about 1 hour 25 minutes.
Searching for a handy hotel close to LGW? If you've booked an early flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, these accommodation options will have you sleeping moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Book a hotel close to IST if you're on a late London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. Choose one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are top outlets you can book with here.
Lock in the best rate by booking your ride from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks in advance of your trip.
Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the centre of Istanbul has a drive time of about 50 minutes. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 45 minutes.
When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
April is the busiest month for flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. For a quieter experience, travel to Istanbul in February.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with the temperature ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Lock in your flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from LGW to IST in January. Temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC then.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've seen Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres away to the east, its best 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 trip is complete without a visit to Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.