Flying from Hamburg to Istanbul: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll catch your flight from Hamburg to Istanbul. Hamburg Airport (HAM) and Luebeck-Blankensee Airport (LBC) are Hamburg's main airports.
Hop off your plane in Istanbul at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
The average time for a direct Hamburg to Istanbul flight is 3 hours 15 minutes.
Istanbul is two hours ahead of Hamburg and observes the UTC+3 timezone.
The busiest route for flights from Hamburg to Istanbul is from Hamburg Airport (HAM) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). There are 30 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to maximise your time on arrival, the earliest flight from HAM to IST is the 06:25 Turkish Airlines option. If you have other commitments or plans on your day of travel, the latest available service is at 22:05 with Turkish Airlines.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your Hamburg to Istanbul flight.
Flying over a peak time such as June? Major public holidays and other high seasons can lead to longer lines at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours before an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
How to find the cheapest flights from Hamburg to Istanbul
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Hamburg to Istanbul is ₹ 4,249. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ₹ 8,099. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares may change.
To score cheap Hamburg to Istanbul flights, book your trip one month before your planned departure.
Organise your trip for April. That's the best month for landing an awesome deal on plane tickets from Hamburg to Istanbul. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest price across every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as a better deal is available on cheap flights from Hamburg to Istanbul.
Find a cheap Hamburg to Istanbul flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Hamburg
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
Begin your journey at Hamburg Airport (HAM), which offers a range of direct flights from Hamburg to Istanbul. From HAM, you can fly seamlessly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
You'll have your pick of airlines that offer direct Hamburg to Istanbul plane tickets out of HAM. Let one of these carriers take you there:
Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling — and possibly even explore a different city. When browsing Hamburg to Istanbul flights leaving from Hamburg Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Popular options include:
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
HAM is around 10 kilometres from central Hamburg. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 25 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Hamburg to Istanbul? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these stays near Hamburg Airport:
When it comes to the on-time performance of Hamburg Airport, 75.01% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes around 50 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.
Travelling to the centre on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Hamburg to Istanbul. Check in to one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and experience more of Istanbul and beyond.
For the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks ahead of your Hamburg to Istanbul flight.
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is about 31 kilometres from central Istanbul. Once you've disembarked your flight from Hamburg to Istanbul, it'll take you approximately 55 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
The trip will take about 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.
You'll find some comfortable places to call home for the night near SAW. Unwind after your Hamburg to Istanbul flight at one of these well-located options:
Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you on the road before long.
Lock in the best price by reserving your ride from SAW four weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
April is the busiest month for flights from Hamburg to Istanbul. To avoid the crowds, visit Istanbul in February.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Book your Hamburg to Istanbul ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
Look for cheap flights from Hamburg to Istanbul in January if you'd rather travel when it's cooler. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from Hamburg to Istanbul, take your pick from prime hotels that put you close to the action. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are a couple of major attractions to put on your Istanbul to-do list. Keep the sightseeing going at Galata Tower.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored after you've experienced Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, top sights here include Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
Izmir is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No trip is complete without experiencing Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.
