Traveling from Istanbul to Melbourne: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can take off from in Istanbul. Check out your options leaving from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) when searching for a flight from Istanbul to Melbourne.
Come in for landing at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL), the chief entry point to Melbourne.
Melbourne's timezone is UTC+11, making Melbourne eight hours ahead of Istanbul.
Give yourself enough time to make your Istanbul to Melbourne flight. As a general rule, turn up at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months like April. Arriving up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Melbourne
Booking in advance is often the key to securing a cheap Istanbul to Melbourne flight. Prices tend to rise as demand increases, so the nearer you get to departure, the more you'll likely spend on your ticket.
Getting cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to Melbourne is easy if you're flexible with your dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest fares across each month and snap up a sweet deal.
There's no need to check back in every day to see if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you as soon as a better deal comes up on cheap flights from Istanbul to Melbourne.
Save on your Istanbul to Melbourne flight with the help of our filters. Choose your ideal duration, departure time and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Think about adding a stopover to potentially find a cheaper Istanbul to Melbourne flight. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Take a pause at one of these airports:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Changi International Airport (SIN)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Located around 32 kilometers from the center of Istanbul, IST can be reached in about 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Melbourne, these stays will put you moments from your check-in counter:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Split up your Istanbul to Melbourne flight with a stop so you can freshen up or cross a new place off your list. Some great stopovers between Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Melbourne include:
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
With public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in around 1 hour 30 minutes. The terminal is roughly 31 kilometers away. Driving will take you about 55 minutes.
Kick off your vacation early with an additional night away from home. Before your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne, stay in one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
76.93% of flights out of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport arrive according to schedule.
Arriving in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
The distance from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) to central Melbourne is approximately 19 kilometers. It'll take you around 30 minutes to get to the center driving.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of around 40 minutes.
If you're arriving on a late flight from Istanbul to Melbourne, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting soon after at one of these accommodation options near MEL:
Follow your own route with a Melbourne Tullamarine Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Bargain Car Rentals, East Coast or Sixt and chase adventure across Melbourne and beyond.
Get the best deal by booking your ride from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport about four weeks before your departure date.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
Avalon Airport (AVV) is about 48 kilometers from the center of Melbourne. Once you've disembarked your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne, it takes approximately 50 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a ride-share or cab.
If you're traveling on public transport, it'll take around 2 hours 5 minutes.
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with an Avalon Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Sixt, Kangaroo Rental or yesaway car rental and make a speedy getaway.
Don't pay more than you need to. Booking your ride three weeks before your arrival at AVV can help you lock in a better rate.
Essendon Airport (MEB)
Travel to the center after your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne has landed. Central Melbourne is around 11 kilometers from Essendon Airport (MEB) and takes roughly 25 minutes to reach by cab or ride-share.
The journey takes around 1 hour 15 minutes if you use public transport.
Stay in control of the next chapter of your journey by picking up an Essendon Airport rental car. East Coast, Ace Rental Cars and Goldcar are some companies you can book with.
Booking at least a few weeks in advance of your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne is always smart. As well as better deals, you'll have a wider selection of vehicle makes and models at MEB.
Best time to go to Melbourne
It's time to plan your dates for your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne. January is the most popular month for a trip to Melbourne. If you like a more low-key vibe, go in April.
When booking your Istanbul to Melbourne tickets, consider the kind of weather you prefer. January is the warmest month in Melbourne, with temperatures ranging from 12ºC (54ºF) to 29ºC (84ºF).
Search for cheap flights from Istanbul to Melbourne in July if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 4ºC (39ºF) and 13ºC (55ºF) on average.
More about Melbourne
Once you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Melbourne, decide where you'll be dropping your bags. Make one of these options your base for exploring Melbourne:
Federation Square and National Gallery of Victoria are just two of the top-rated attractions to put on your Melbourne itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Eureka Skydeck 88.
Explore more of Australia
Canberra is just one of the many places in Australia waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Melbourne. Around 467 kilometers to the north-east, popular attractions include Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia and Parliament House.
Around 64 kilometers south-west of Melbourne, Geelong is another favorite stop in Australia. No visit is complete without checking out Ford Motor Company, Roraima Nursery and RTC Resource Centre.