Flying from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know
Planning your getaway starts with figuring out where you'll leave from in Tehran. Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is the city's main base, so explore your options for booking a flight from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) taking off from here.
Expect to be travelling for 3 hours 16 minutes. That's the average journey time for a direct flight from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
Istanbul is 30 minutes behind Tehran. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located in Istanbul, which operates on the UTC+3 timezone.
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route. There are 125 direct flights a week to pick from. If you prefer a later start to the day, take the last flight with Turkish Airlines at 23:05. Choose the first IKA to IST departure with Turkish Airlines at 01:40 if you want to get going earlier.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from Tehran to IST. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll want to head there even earlier during popular months like July. Aim for two hours before a domestic departure and as much as four hours for an international flight. Once you've checked in, you can use any extra time to relax or grab something to eat.
Airports in Tehran
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) provides a hassle-free way to reach your destination. Nonstop flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) depart from this terminal.
Direct flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport are available from numerous airlines at IKA. Get on board with any of these:
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for flights from Tehran to IST leaving from Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Esenboga International Airport (ESB)
Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
IKA is around 56 kilometres from central Tehran. To help work out how to get there, use Google Maps. This handy travel app will show you the fastest route and available public transport options.
Need a convenient place to stay before your flight from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Remis Hotel and Rexan Hotel are close to Imam Khomeini International Airport. They're a particularly good option if you have an early flight out.
About Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
If you have a late flight from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, few things top the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these options near IST:
Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport is approximately 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. With a cab or in your own car rental, the drive is about 50 minutes.
It takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes when travelling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way ticket from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is ر.ق. 521. The cheapest price for a return flight is ر.ق. 949. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Book 7 months before you want to fly. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from Tehran to IST.
Plan your trip for April. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. If you're flexible with your travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the best price across every month.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap flight tickets from Tehran to IST. There's no need to check every day to find out if fares have dropped. We'll tell you as soon as the price changes.
Use the filters to tailor your flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Pick your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals.
The best time to fly from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
August is the busiest month for flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. To avoid the crowds, plan your trip to Istanbul in February when things are quieter.
Lock in your flight from Tehran to IST for August if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
Travel in January for cooler conditions. Temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC. However, this destination promises a good time whenever you book your cheap flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Istanbul right here. Browse these hotels once you've locked in your flight from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport:
One of the best ways to experience Istanbul is to explore its leading attractions. Highlights include Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
Grab the keys to one of our car rentals in Istanbul and see the sights on your own terms. Easily compare prices from trusted rental companies in one place after booking your hotel and cheap flights from Tehran to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
