Flying from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Around 4 hours 5 minutes is how long you can expect to be travelling on a direct flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3. The city is three hours ahead of London, where London Gatwick Airport is located.
With 33 flights a week between the two airports, London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route. Turkish Airlines operates the earliest flight at 05:20. If you're eager to make the most of your day before flying, the last departure from LGW to IST is with Wizz Air UK at 21:50.
To avoid missing your LGW to Istanbul flight, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
During popular months like July, it's wise to get to the airport even earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for international flights when you fly during a peak period in general.
Start your trip at LGW and fly straight to Istanbul Airport (IST). That will be your arrival point when searching for London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul tickets.
Check out the deals with Turkish Airlines. This carrier operates direct flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing for plane tickets from LGW to Istanbul, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Located around 40 kilometres from central London, LGW can be reached in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 20 minutes.
Booked an early flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels close to LGW:
London Gatwick Airport scores top marks for its on-time performance. 82% of flights that depart LGW arrive at their destination as scheduled.
How to find the cheapest flights from London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Istanbul
$70 is currently the lowest price for a one-way London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul flight. Return plane tickets start at $147. These prices can change depending on availability.
Book one month before your departure date. Research on pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from LGW to Istanbul.
June is the best month for picking up an incredible deal on London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul tickets. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
Save time looking for cheap flights from LGW to Istanbul by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Tailor your trip with filters. Pick your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
The distance from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is roughly 40 kilometres. It takes around 45 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 10 minutes.
Think about booking a hotel close to IST if you have a late flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul. Check in to one of these accommodation options and make your first night all about rest:
Lock in the best possible rate by reserving your vehicle from Istanbul Airport about two weeks before your flight from LGW to Istanbul.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Once your flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul has hit the runway, you can reach the city centre in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is roughly 48 kilometres from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
You can expect the journey to take roughly 1 hour 40 minutes on public transport.
Following your LGW to Istanbul flight, rest your head at a hotel close to SAW. These are some comfortable accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
Get exactly what you want. Booking your ride from SAW four weeks ahead of time often means better deals and a greater range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
It's time to choose your travel dates for your flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul. August is the busiest month to visit Istanbul. If you want a more low-key vibe, go in February.
The warmest month in Istanbul is July, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC and 30ºC. Book your London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Search for a cheap ticket from LGW to Istanbul around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
After booking your flight from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul, find a hotel that offers the right mix of comfort and location. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be tricky to work out where to begin. Historic Areas of Istanbul, Hagia Sophia Museum and Hagia Sophia History Museum are top sights which should feature on any good Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've visited Istanbul, now it's time to discover more of Türkiye (Turkey). Journey about 354 kilometres east to Ankara to check off its must-visit sights. From The Roman Theatre to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Izmir is another must-experience destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. No trip is complete without dropping by Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.