Flight Routes from London Gatwick to Istanbul

Compare cheap outbound and return flights from London Gatwick (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) and find the best offer from numerous airlines and travel agencies.

Trip type
Cheapest roundtrip flight
from€103
Fastest outbound flight
Fastest inbound flight
non-stop flights
26x / week
Flight distance
2,488 km
Time difference
Most popular airlines
  1. Turkish Airlines
  2. Wizz Air UK
  3. Air Transat

Flight schedule from London Gatwick (LGW) to Istanbul (IST)

Select a travel date in the flight schedule for the route from London Gatwick (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) and compare affordable flight deals.

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Active filtersnone
Matching outbound flightsLGW–IST · 25 of 25
fromto
dep.arr.
durationstopovers
  1. 5 – 11 October 2026
  2. 12 – 18 October 2026
  3. 19 – 25 October 2026
    1. LGWIST
      1 stopover
      1. Vueling Airlines
    2. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    3. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    4. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    5. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    6. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    7. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    8. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    9. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    10. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    11. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    12. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Turkish Airlines
    13. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Air Transat
    14. LGWIST
      1 stopover
      1. Wizz Air
    15. LGWIST
      non-stop
      1. Wizz Air UK

      Tips and tricks to help you find cheap flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul

      Favourite airline: Wizz Air UK
      94 % of travellers choose to book flights on this route with Wizz Air UK, Air Baltic and Turkish Airlines.
      Wizz Air UK
      76 %
      Air Baltic
      12 %
      Turkish Airlines
      6 %
      Cheapest weekday: e.g. Saturday
      The cheapest ticket prices are available for flights departing on a Monday and Saturday.
      Direct flights are cheaper
      Compared to flights with a stopover, direct flights are £172.00 cheaper on this route.
      non stop flight
      1 stop
      04h 05min
      27h 40min
      58 £
      230 £
      The favourite connection is non-stop
      Direct flights are especially popular on this route. 82 % of travellers will book a non-stop flight.
      Route
      bookings
      Direct flights
      04h 05min, from 58 £
      82 %
      1 stopover Riga International Airport
      27h 40min, from 230 £
      12 %
      1 stopover Frankfurt-Main
      08h 05min, from 265 £
      4 %

      Useful information about the flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul

      An ancient Turkish city

      Istanbul is a city steeped in history, wonderful flavours and cultures. As an influential trade city since ancient times, it has a thriving modern economy and reflects the many wonders of its ancient influences. Some of these include beautiful attractions such as the Roman hippodrome, Egyptian obelisks, Christian mosaics and much more. The Prince Islands are also well worth visiting as they are enchanting and completely car free, with only horse drawn carriages allowed.

      Best time to travel and festival highlights

      The ideal time to visit Istanbul is from May to October. Some of the attractions you can enjoy during this period are the Commemoration of Atatürk on the 19th of May, also Youth and Sports Day, while Republic day falls on the 29th of October. Another interesting time to visit the city is at the end of Ramadan, during the Festival of Eid. The dates of this celebration are based on the Islamic lunar calendar and vary. It is a festival filled with much celebration, food and entertainment, which makes it a wonderful experience to behold. 

      Istanbul: what to know before you leave

      The Istanbul time zone is two hours ahead of London. All British nationals need a visa, which can be obtained online, and all passports must be valid for at least six months from the date of entering Turkey. Before you travel to Istanbul, it is recommended that you get vaccinated for hepatitis A, typhus, tetanus and diphtheria. It is also good to practice your haggling skills as the markets, such as the Grand Bazaar and Egyptian Bazaar, have wonderful merchandise and souvenirs, but they are often overpriced and haggling will help you get a good deal.

      Inside knowledge on travel and accommodation

      Travel options from airport to city are either shuttle buses which are provided by HAVATA and IETT for about 50 TRY and leave from floor -2. Alternatively, the taxi fare into central Istanbul is about 200 TRY. Both options take about 40 minutes for the journey in light traffic conditions, and considerably longer during rush hour traffic.

      Istanbul has an extensive and cheap public transport system, which includes buses, metro transport, minibuses, ferries and trams, which operate almost constantly, except between 1am to 4am.

      You also have the option of buying an Istanbulkart, which is used for all public transport and is easy to recharge with more money. One night in a hostel or guesthouse will be about 30 Turkish lira and there is a wide choice of accommodation available in the districts of Eminönü (Blue Mosque and Grand Bazaar) and Beyoğlu (Taksim Square and İstiklâl Caddesi).

      Important flight information

      Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

      How long is the flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      A direct flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul typically takes around 4 hours 55 minutes. If you choose a connecting flight, you should allow more time. Typical one-stop journeys take around 19 hours 30 minutes. For the quickest journey, a direct flight is usually the most comfortable choice.
      Are there direct flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      Yes, there are direct flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul, with an average of around 3 to 4 flights per day, operated by, among others, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air UK and Air Transat. If you want to travel without a stopover, it is worth filtering specifically for direct flights when searching.
      Which airlines fly from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      Direct flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul are operated by, among others, Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air UK and Air Transat. There are also connecting flights with one stop, for example with Air Europa (via Madrid), KM Malta Airlines (via Malta) and Vueling (via Barcelona). If a short travel time matters to you, a direct flight is usually the most convenient option. Connecting flights often give you more choice of departure times and airlines.
      On which days are there direct flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      Direct flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul operate daily. The schedule may vary by season, so it is worth comparing several travel dates. If your preferred day has no direct service, nearby departure days or short connecting flights may be a good alternative.
      How many flights are there per day from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      On the route from London Gatwick to Istanbul there are on average around 3 to 4 flights per day. The number of services can vary by day of the week and season. If you are flexible with your dates, it is worth comparing several departure days.
      How many flights per week are there from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      From London Gatwick to Istanbul there are around 26 to 27 flights per week. This means you usually have suitable connections to choose from on several days and at various times. As well as price, it is worth comparing flight duration, airline and any potential additional charges.
      When does the first flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul depart?
      The earliest direct flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul usually departs at 06:30. The exact departure time may vary by day of the week and airline. Early flights are particularly useful if you want to make the most of your arrival day in Istanbul.
      When does the last flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul depart?
      The last direct flight from London Gatwick to Istanbul usually departs at 17:35. Late flights can be convenient if you want to travel after work or in the evening. Do check whether it is a direct flight, as a connecting service could push the arrival time significantly later.
      Which airline is most commonly chosen for flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      For flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul, offers from Wizz Air UK, Turkish Airlines and Air France are chosen most frequently. This reflects which airlines have been particularly popular with users on this route over the past year. Whether an airline suits you also depends on price, flight times, baggage and possible stopovers.
      In which months do idealo users most frequently search for flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      Flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul are most frequently searched for travel in October, April and September. If you are planning to fly in one of these months, it may be worth comparing offers early. Outside the most popular months, you may find more choice or cheaper connections.
      Which departure days are most popular for flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      For flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul, departures on Monday, Wednesday and Tuesday are particularly in demand. Demand can be higher on popular travel days, so it is worth checking alternative departure days. You may find more suitable flight times or cheaper offers.
      How long is the typical stay on trips from London Gatwick to Istanbul?
      For trips from London Gatwick to Istanbul, stays of 2, 4 and 7 days are most commonly searched. These trip lengths are particularly popular with idealo users on this route.
      In which months are flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul cheapest?
      Based on analysed offers, April, February and October tend to be among the cheaper travel months for flights from London Gatwick to Istanbul. This does not mean every flight in these months is automatically cheap. It is best to compare different departure days to find suitable offers.
      From which airports are there cheap flights to Istanbul?
      Cheap flights to Istanbul are often available from London Gatwick, London Heathrow and Manchester. Prices vary depending on the departure airport, travel date and available connection. If you are flexible about getting to the airport, comparing several departure airports can be worthwhile.
      Which airports near London Gatwick are frequently used for flights to Istanbul?
      As well as London Gatwick airport, users also frequently search for flights from London Heathrow, Birmingham and London Luton to Istanbul. Alternative departure airports can offer more choice of flight times, airlines or prices. Do also check how accessible each airport is for you.

      Discover more flights around London Gatwick and Istanbul

      Departure airport Airport London Gatwick (LGW)
      Arrival airport Airport Istanbul (IST)
      Destination country Flights to Turkey
      City-Code - Arrival airport London - Istanbul
      Departure airport - Destination country London Gatwick - Turkey
      Alternative routes to Turkey
      Alternative flights to Istanbul
      Popular destinations for onward travel
      Flight destinations with a similar price