Travelling from Istanbul to Frankfurt: what you need to know
Start your travel planning by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's main airports.
Step off your plane in Frankfurt at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) or Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN).
The average time for a direct flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt is 3 hours 19 minutes. Frankfurt's timezone is UTC+1, making Frankfurt 2 hours behind Istanbul.
The busiest route for flights from Istanbul to Frankfurt is from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Frankfurt Airport (FRA). Choose from 133 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to head off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from IST to FRA is the 03:55 Turkish Airlines option. If you prefer travelling later, the final departure is at 20:55 with Turkish Airlines.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt.
You can expect longer lines in popular months like August and other peak periods. Arriving up to four hours in advance for international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
You'll need an embassy visa for Germany if you have a passport from Türkiye (Turkey) and are visiting for tourism purposes. Travel documentation and visa requirements can change. So before you lock in those cheap flights from Istanbul to Frankfurt, check with your airline as well as the destination country's local consulate or embassy for the latest information.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
If you're after a direct flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt, you can board one at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Get from IST to Frankfurt Airport (FRA) without any stops.
When departing from IST, you can catch a direct flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt with Turkish Airlines.
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these airports:
Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO)
Nis Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
Located around 48 kilometres from central Istanbul, IST can be reached in about 50 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The same journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Want a stress-free start to your trip? Stay near Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Whether you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
It's also possible to book a direct flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt out of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). Nonstop connections from SAW will get you to Frankfurt Airport (FRA).
Get on your direct flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt with Pegasus. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of SAW.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you'd like to do, check out these stops between Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Frankfurt:
Falcone-Borsellino Airport (PMO)
Nis Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
SAW is about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. It'll take 57 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt? Relax in a hotel near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport before your trip officially starts. These stays are calling your name:
Arriving in Frankfurt
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to central Frankfurt is approximately 14 kilometres. It takes about 21 minutes to get to the centre driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 37 minutes.
Book a hotel close to FRA if you're catching a late flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt. Settle into one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN)
As soon as your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt has arrived, you can make your way to the city centre in about 1 hour and 32 minutes by car. Central Frankfurt is roughly 121 kilometres from Frankfurt - Hahn Airport (HHN).
You can expect the trip to take roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes on public transport.
After your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt, settle in at a hotel close to HHN. These are some great options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Frankfurt
$57 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Frankfurt. Return flights start at $177. These fares may change depending on demand and availability.
Book 8 months before your departure date. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from Istanbul to Frankfurt.
The cheapest month for flight tickets from Istanbul to Frankfurt is April. You can easily compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool to find the dates with the lowest fares.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Frankfurt. You don't need to search every day to find out if prices have fallen. We'll let you know as soon as the price changes.
Tailor your flights using filters. Choose your preferred departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest' flights from Istanbul to Frankfurt.
Best time to go to Frankfurt
July is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul to Frankfurt. To skip the crowds, head to Frankfurt in February.
Lock in your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt for July if you want to head to the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Frankfurt to range from 12ºC to 28ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Frankfurt in January if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest around then, ranging between -4ºC and 7ºC on average.
More about Frankfurt
Start your Frankfurt trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. As soon as you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt, explore our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Palmengarten, Goethe House and Frankfurt Cathedral are major attractions which should be on any well-planned Frankfurt itinerary.
Complete your Frankfurt trip with a car rental
Finding you a cheap flight from Istanbul to Frankfurt isn't the only thing we're good at. Check out our car rentals in Frankfurt and explore at your own pace. We search for deals from trusted car rental providers and put them all in one place. You can instantly compare offers and then book with no fees.