Travelling from Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Expect to be travelling for 3 hours. That's the average duration of a direct flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul.
Istanbul is 2 hours ahead of Leipzig, where Leipzig/Halle Airport is located. Istanbul operates on the UTC+3 timezone.
The busiest route is from Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). You can choose from 7 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get on your way as soon as possible, the earliest flight from LEJ to IST is the 10:35 Turkish Airlines service. If you're planning to fly out later on, the final departure is at 19:10 with Turkish Airlines.
Leave enough time to make your flight from LEJ to Istanbul. A good rule of thumb is to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for an international flight when you fly during a peak period in general.
You can catch a nonstop flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul that lands at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Turkish Airlines is a leading airline that operates direct flights from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul.
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper flight from LEJ to Istanbul. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing the departures. Take a break from travelling at one of these airports:
Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)
Dusseldorf International Airport (DUS)
Antalya Airport (AYT)
You can travel to Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes without a visa if you hold a passport from Germany. But before booking your cheap tickets from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul, make sure you're up to date with the latest guidelines. Visa rules can change, and you may need some travel documentation if your trip is for business or another reason.
LEJ is about 21 kilometres from central Leipzig. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a cab from the centre, it'll take 25 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 29 minutes.
Planning to catch an early flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul? Avoid the last-minute rush to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by picking one of these hotels near LEJ:
How to find the cheapest flights from Leipzig/Halle Airport (LEJ) to Istanbul
73 € is the best price for a one-way ticket from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul. A return flight starts at 171 €. These prices can change depending on demand and availability.
Book 5 months before you want to travel. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from LEJ to Istanbul.
January is the cheapest month for tickets from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul. If you'd like to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for each month.
Snapping up a cheap ticket from LEJ to Istanbul is a piece of cake with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when there's a better deal.
Take advantage of the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter by arrival and departure times, airline, and number of stops.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is around 48 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. With your own car rental or if you take a cab, the drive is about 50 minutes.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey of about 1 hour and 45 minutes.
If you have a late flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these hotels near IST:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is roughly 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. Once you've disembarked your flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul, it'll take you around 57 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
The journey will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes on public transport.
There are some great places to call home for the night near SAW. Kick back and get cosy after your flight from LEJ to Istanbul at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month to board a flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul while February is the quietest. To work out the ideal time to visit Istanbul, consider whether you like a lively atmosphere or a quieter vibe.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with the temperature ranging between 20ºC and 30ºC. Lock in your flights from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul in this month if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for cheap flights from LEJ to Istanbul around that time if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to see and do in this city it can be hard to work out where to start. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are leading attractions which should feature on any well-planned Istanbul itinerary.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Leipzig/Halle Airport to Istanbul to track down incredible deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare your options in one place. Plus you'll find all the info on car rentals in Istanbul, from the most popular car type to the best time to book.