Traveling from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know
Around 11 hours 10 minutes is how long you can expect to be traveling on a direct flight from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, making Istanbul one hour ahead of Cape Town.
Take your pick of ten weekly Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flights. The 16:35 departure with Turkish Airlines is the earliest flight you can take. Turkish Airlines operates the latest service of the day at 17:15.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This will give you enough time to catch your CPT to IST flight.
You can expect longer lines in popular months like June. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure will give you ample time for security and boarding.
Getting to Istanbul (and then discovering more of Türkiye (Turkey)!) is a cinch with Turkish Airlines. This popular carrier has direct flights from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.
Turkish Airlines is the airline with the highest passenger demand for this route.
We make it a piece of cake to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to visit your chosen city. Popular stopovers between CPT and IST include:
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport
Dubai Airport
Hamad International Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Cape Town International Airport (CPT) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Currently, $309 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is $588. Bear in mind that fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
To pick up cheap tickets from CPT to IST, book your journey six months ahead of your departure date.
May is the cheapest month for flights from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. If you need to travel at a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest airfares for every month.
Landing cheap flights from CPT to IST is easy with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a new deal comes up.
Lock in the ideal flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Handy information about Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Cape Town International Airport earns top marks for its on-time performance. 81.65% of flights that take off from CPT land on time.
To reach Cape Town International Airport from central Cape Town, it'll take around 20 minutes if you're planning to drive. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 19 kilometers from the airport to the city center.
Get your trip off to a leisurely start by staying near CPT. Whether you've booked an early flight from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport or just don't like being rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
The last thing you need is a lengthy trip to your hotel if you're getting in late on a Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. Stay at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Follow your own route with an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and see more of Istanbul and beyond.
Lock in the best deal by booking your ride from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks before your departure date.
Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
From Istanbul Ataturk Airport, Istanbul is approximately 48 kilometers away. It takes around 50 minutes to reach the center by car.
Getting to the center on public transport typically takes 1 hour 45 minutes.
When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
April is the busiest month for flights from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. For a quieter experience, go to Istanbul in February.
The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with the temperature ranging between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Book your flights from Cape Town International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport in this month if this is the type of weather you like.
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Search for cheap tickets from CPT to IST around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometers east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with popular sights like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.
If you're looking to explore another major destination in Türkiye (Turkey), consider Izmir, roughly 322 kilometers south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are the start of reasons to visit.