Istanbul is one of the best-positioned cities in the world for affordable travel. Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it's served by two major airports (Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen) and two of the world's largest airline networks (Turkish Airlines and Pegasus).
Whether you're a local or passing through, here are the most affordable destinations you can reach from Istanbul — and how to book them.
The Two Airports: A Quick Guide
Istanbul Airport (IST): The main hub, home to Turkish Airlines. Handles long-haul and most full-service routes. Located on the European side, 35–45km from the city centre.
Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW): On the Asian side, 45–55km from the European centre. Base for Pegasus Airlines and several other budget carriers. Fares here are often noticeably cheaper — factor in the slightly longer transfer from the European side.
Cheapest European Destinations
Eastern Europe
With Pegasus and Turkish Airlines competing on Balkan routes, fares can be surprisingly low:
- Bucharest — frequent sales, often under ₺1,000 (around £25–30) one way on sale
- Sofia — short flight, cheap on Pegasus
- Belgrade — Pegasus and Air Serbia both serve this
- Chisinau (Moldova) — often overlooked but very cheap
Southern Europe
- Athens — one of the most competitive routes from Istanbul; multiple daily flights on both Turkish and Pegasus. Watch for flash sales.
- Thessaloniki — short hop to Northern Greece, often cheaper than Athens
- Rome, Milan, Barcelona — Turkish Airlines and Pegasus compete, especially on Fiumicino and El Prat routes
Western Europe
- London — multiple daily flights (Turkish Airlines via Heathrow and Gatwick; Pegasus to Stansted). One of the busiest Istanbul routes; competition keeps prices manageable.
- Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Vienna — heavily served hubs with good sale frequency
Cheapest Middle East Destinations
Istanbul's position means Middle East routes are genuinely short-haul:
- Dubai — Turkish Airlines and flydubai both serve this heavily. Regular promotions.
- Beirut — Turkish Airlines has good coverage; watch for sales during shoulder periods
- Amman (Jordan) — cheap when on promotion; great base for Petra and Wadi Rum
- Tel Aviv — El Al and Turkish Airlines compete, creating good price pressure
- Cairo — very short flight; multiple carriers
Cheapest Central Asian Destinations
Turkey's cultural and linguistic connections to Central Asia mean Turkish Airlines covers the region extensively:
- Almaty (Kazakhstan) — long flight but surprising value on sale
- Tashkent (Uzbekistan) — Uzbekistan Airways and Turkish Airlines compete
- Baku (Azerbaijan) — very short flight; often under ₺800 on sale
Cheapest African Destinations
Turkish Airlines has one of the most extensive African networks of any carrier:
- Addis Ababa — Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish compete
- Nairobi — both carriers offer sales periodically
- Lagos, Accra, Dakar — West Africa is surprisingly well-served from Istanbul
How to Book Cheaply From Istanbul
Use Pegasus for domestic Turkey + nearby international: Pegasus is consistently competitive on routes out of Sabiha Gökçen. Their app runs regular promotions and flash sales.
Watch Turkish Airlines' sales: Turkish Airlines runs several sales per year — often around public holidays or route anniversaries. Sign up for their newsletter or follow deal publications.
Search in Turkish Lira: When searching on Turkish airline sites, prices displayed in TRY (Turkish Lira) are sometimes the base fares without dynamic USD/EUR conversion markups. Compare.
Consider connecting through Istanbul: For readers not based in Istanbul — the city's airports are major hubs with excellent connections. Routing through Istanbul on Turkish Airlines can sometimes offer better value than direct flights from Western European hubs.
AirHuntr covers deals from Istanbul including Pegasus Airlines flash sales and Turkish Airlines promotions. Check our deals page for current offers.
