Cheap Flights from Izmir (ADB) to Istanbul (IST)

Flying from Izmir to Istanbul means leaving a city of long, leisurely weekends and quite cafes for a bustling cosmopolitan city with a rich history and modern luxury. To plan your trip, it will be helpful to know about the flights, airports and attractions at both ends of the route.

Your Options and Flight Information

You will fly Sunexpress, Pegasus, Onur Air or Turkish Airlines out of Izmir. Many of the flights are non-stop, and some cost well under $100, though there are more expensive flights depending on when you fly. Use Skyscanner’s Cheapest Month tool to find the least expensive days, weeks and months to fly.

The Departure Airport You Will Use

You will fly out of Adnan Menderes Airport. This is an international airport about 11 miles southwest of the city if Izmir. You can get to the airport using Izban metropolitan rail service, or by shuttle from the Turkish Airlines office. Turkish State Railways trains also stop at the airport. You can also reach the airport by car.

The two terminals are divided between international and local flights. Mobile walkways connect the terminals. The international terminal is relatively new, having been built in 2006. The old international terminal was renovated, and became the local terminal in 2007. You will be flying out of the local terminal for your trip to Istanbul.

The airport offers several conference rooms, as well as a buffet that offers Turkish food. Shops offer clothing, jewelry, electronics, perfumes, alcohol, and cigarettes. Each terminal has its own information desk to help you find your way around the airport. You will also find a luggage storage area to park your bags while waiting for your flight.

Your Destination Airport

You will fly into either the Istanbul Ataturk Airport or the Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.

The Ataturk Airport is the largest and receives the most flights. This airport has two terminals. You will arrive at the domestic terminal. It has twelve gates and five baggage claim areas. All functions in this terminal are separate from those in the international terminal. Note that Istanbul straddles Europe and Asia. The Attaturk Airport is on the European side.

On the Asian side of Istanbul, you will find Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. You will arrive here if you fly Pegasus or Turkish Airlines. This airport features a four-story hotel that connects directly to the terminal. There are 112 check-in counters, plus a VIP building with business lounges, a conference center, food court and multiple restaurants. You will find a vast array of shops, including duty-free shopping.

Travel Advisory

There was a terrorist attack at Ataturk Airport in 2016. Travelers must remain aware of their surroundings at all times.

Security

You must have a visa to travel in Turkey. United States passengers can obtain a visa that is good for three months. You will need this in addition to your passport.

Climate in Istanbul

Istanbul has a varied climate. It experiences Mediterranean-influenced dry summers near the Bosphorus Strait and a mostly rainy climate near the Black Sea. On the Balkan side you will experience a great deal of snow. Temperatures rarely get into the 90s.

Costs in Istanbul

Hotels can cost under $40 and range as high as $800 per night. The city has a great many luxury homes, and therefore offers some pricey accommodations. Use Skyscanner’s free hotel tool to find the best deals on rooms. A taxi from the airport to the center of the city will cost a little under $20, and a tram ride is $1.13. Meals can cost from $1.69 to $7.00 each.