Flying from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): What you need to know
Planning your trip begins with working out where you'll fly out of in Johannesburg. O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for reserving a flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) jetting off from here.
The average length of a direct Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight is 10 hours.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is one hour ahead of Johannesburg. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located in Istanbul.
Take your pick of 7 direct services each week between O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) and Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). This is the most popular route, with Turkish Airlines offering a 5:50pm departure from JNB to IST.
Leave enough time to catch your flight from Johannesburg to IST. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
High season means busier airports, so aim to get there even earlier. Give yourself at least two hours before a domestic flight and four hours for international journeys to keep to your schedule.
Airports in Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Enjoy an uninterrupted journey from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB). Nonstop flights from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) operate from here.
When jetting out of JNB, you can take a direct flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport with Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for flights from JNB to IST.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and maybe even tour another city. When browsing cheap flights from Johannesburg to IST departing from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to get ideas for where to visit along the way. Here's where you could connect through:
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO)
N'djili Airport (FIH)
Located around 29 kilometres from the centre of Johannesburg, JNB can be reached in about 30 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey by public transport will take roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get a little more snooze time) by staying at one of these stays close to O.R. Tambo International Airport:
77.1% of flights taking off from O.R. Tambo International Airport reach their destination on time.
Lanseria International Airport (HLA)
Break up your flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport with a stop at Cape Town International Airport (CPT). A major stopover between Lanseria International Airport and IST, it's the perfect opportunity to enjoy some downtime before continuing your journey.
The drive from central Johannesburg to HLA usually takes 50 minutes, depending on traffic. The distance from the city centre to the airport is around 48 kilometres.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before boarding your Johannesburg to IST flight? Unwind in a hotel near Lanseria International Airport before your break officially begins. These stays have your key waiting:
About Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Have a late flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Don't let your travel day stretch into tomorrow. Check in to one of these hotels near IST and turn out the lights sooner:
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 well-known companies to choose from here.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle around two weeks ahead of your Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight.
Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the centre of Istanbul is about 32 kilometres. If you're renting a car or taking a cab, plan in advance to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times will vary based on traffic and the time of day.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey of roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
R 5,112 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Return flights start at R 7,902. These prices can change depending on availability.
Book 11 months before you travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Johannesburg to IST.
Organise your trip for April. That's the best month for landing cheap Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport tickets. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Johannesburg to IST by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification on the app when prices go down.
Hunt for savings on a flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your preferred arrival and departure times, number of stops and airlines. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Fastest' or 'Cheapest.'
The best time to fly from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). August is the busiest month to travel to Istanbul. If crowds aren't your thing, head there in February.
Before locking in your Johannesburg to IST plane ticket, consider the kind of weather forecast you're hoping for. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC (68ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
January sees temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Search for cheap tickets from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport around that time if you like travelling in cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Istanbul right here. Explore these options after you've booked your flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul Ataturk Airport:
Your visit to Istanbul should come with a side of sightseeing. Big-name attractions you won't want to miss include Hagia Sophia History Museum, Hagia Sophia Museum and Historic Areas of Istanbul.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Eskisehir is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've experienced Istanbul. Around 225 kilometres away to the south-east, well-known attractions include Eskişehir, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri.
Adapazarı is another sought-after destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 153 kilometres east of Istanbul. No journey is complete without dropping by Ozanlar Ulu Cami, Güllük Cami and Valide Cami.