The short answer

Flying is the only practical way to get to Turkey from the UK or Ireland. Direct flights take roughly 3½ to 4½ hours, and in summer there are dozens of departures a day from airports across the UK and from Dublin.

Choose the right Turkish airport

Pick your airport by where you’re staying — transfer times in Turkey can be long.

Airport (code) Best for Typical transfer
Istanbul Airport (IST) Istanbul (European side), connections across Turkey 45–90 min to the old city
Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) Istanbul (Asian side), budget airlines 60–90 min to the old city
Antalya (AYT) Antalya, Belek, Side, Kemer, Alanya 20 min to Antalya; up to 2 hrs to Alanya
Dalaman (DLM) Fethiye, Ölüdeniz, Dalyan, Marmaris, Göcek 1–1½ hrs to Fethiye or Marmaris
Bodrum–Milas (BJV) Bodrum Peninsula 30–60 min
İzmir Adnan Menderes (ADB) İzmir, Çeşme, Kuşadası, Ephesus 1 hr to Kuşadası
Kayseri (ASR) / Nevşehir (NAV) Cappadocia (via Istanbul) 1 hr / 45 min to Göreme

Transfer times are approximate and depend on traffic and season.

Who flies from the UK

  • Year-round: Turkish Airlines and its low-cost brand AJet, Pegasus Airlines and British Airways (Heathrow to Istanbul).
  • Mainly summer (around April to October): Jet2, easyJet, TUI and SunExpress fly to the coast from airports across the UK, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Who flies from Ireland

  • Dublin to Istanbul: Turkish Airlines, year-round.
  • Dublin to the coast (summer): SunExpress flies to Antalya and Dalaman, and Ryanair flies to Dalaman. Charter flights to Bodrum and Antalya run with tour operators.
  • Cork and Shannon: direct flights are limited and seasonal — check before you plan around them, or connect via Dublin, London or Istanbul.

Routes and schedules change every season. Check the airline’s own site for the latest timetable.

Flight times (direct, approximate)

From To Istanbul To Antalya / Dalaman
London 3 hrs 50 min 4 hrs
Manchester 4 hrs 4 hrs 15 min
Glasgow / Edinburgh 4 hrs 20 min 4 hrs 35 min
Dublin 4 hrs 4 hrs 30 min

Package or DIY?

A package holiday from an ATOL-protected UK operator bundles flights, transfers and hotel, and protects your money if the company fails. Booking flights and a hotel separately gives you more choice and is often cheaper for city breaks. In Ireland, look for operators licensed by the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Time difference

Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. It is 3 hours ahead of the UK and Ireland in winter and 2 hours ahead in summer.

Last checked: 8 November 2026.

Which airport should you fly into? See our guide to every airport in Turkey, with airlines, nearby sights and cities.