Travelling from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Hop on a direct flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul and you'll be in the air for around 3 hours 21 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3. The city is 2 hours ahead of Cologne, where Cologne Bonn Airport is located.
The most popular route is from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). You can select from 109 services every week between these two airports. If you want to head off as soon as possible, the earliest flight from CGN to SAW is the 00:55 Pegasus Airlines service. If you'd rather travel later, the final departure is at 17:20 with Pegasus Airlines.
To ensure you catch your flight from CGN to Istanbul, allow plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Travelling over a peak time such as July? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues at check-in and security. Play things extra safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.
You can book a nonstop flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul. Start your journey at CGN and land at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Popular carriers that have direct flights from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul include:
Consider adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper flight from CGN to Istanbul. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing the departures. Break up your trip (and maybe save some cash) by stopping at one of these popular options:
Franjo Tudman Airport (ZAG)
Nis Constantine the Great Airport (INI)
Hamburg Airport (HAM)
You can travel to Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes without a visa if you hold a passport from Germany. But before reserving your cheap tickets from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul, double-check for the newest rules and regulations. Visa rules are subject to change, and you may need some travel documents if your trip is for business or another reason.
Located around 9 miles from the centre of Cologne, CGN can be reached in about 18 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The same journey on public transport takes roughly 30 minutes.
After a leisurely start to your break? Stay near CGN. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
How to find the cheapest flights from Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Istanbul
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul is £45. The cheapest price for a return flight is £76. Bear in mind fares may change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book 1 month before your departure date. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to secure cheap tickets from CGN to Istanbul.
Schedule your trip for September. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Locking in a cheap ticket from CGN to Istanbul is easy with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has fallen.
Take advantage of the filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by arrival and departure times, airline, and journey duration.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes around 50 minutes by car. It's approximately 30 miles away.
It takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes to get there by public transport.
The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul. Check in to one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is roughly 30 miles from the centre of Istanbul. After your flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul, it'll take you around 57 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
You can also travel by public transport, which will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
After your flight from CGN to Istanbul, kick back at a hotel close to SAW. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you get into relaxation mode:
Best time to go to Istanbul
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul. August is the busiest month to travel to Istanbul. If you like a more low-key vibe, go in February.
Before you book a flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul, think about the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with the temperature ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from CGN to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
After locking in your flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul, think about where you'd like to stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to figure out where to start. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are highlights which should be on every Istanbul itinerary.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Cologne Bonn Airport to Istanbul to track down awesome deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus we give you all the info you need to know about car rentals in Istanbul, from the most popular rental company to the best time to book.