Travelling from King Khaled International Airport (RUH) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Expect to be travelling for 4 hours 4 minutes. On average, that's the time it takes for a direct flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul.
Istanbul and Riyadh (where King Khaled International Airport is located) share the UTC+3 timezone. That means you won't need to change your watch when you arrive.
King Khaled International Airport (RUH) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most traveled route, with 103 departures a week to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, the last flight from RUH to IST is with Saudia at 22:55. Choose the first departure with Turkish Airlines at 01:10 if you want to get going early.
To ensure you catch your flight from RUH to Istanbul, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You can expect bigger queues during popular months like July and other peak periods. Arriving up to four hours in advance for an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
Direct flights from King Khaled International Airport (RUH) to Istanbul are available for booking. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) will be where your journey ends.
A good selection of airlines offer direct flights from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul. They include:
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for flights from RUH to Istanbul, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can visit along the way. Some popular options include:
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Queen Alia International Airport (AMM)
If you have a passport from Saudi Arabia and plan to travel to Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes, you won't need a visa. However, visa and entry requirements may vary based on your length of stay and are subject to change. For the latest information, contact your destination's nearest embassy or consulate before reserving a cheap ticket from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul.
To get to RUH from central Riyadh, it takes about 33 minutes if you're planning to drive. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 40 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
Have an early flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these hotels near RUH:
How to find the cheapest flights from King Khaled International Airport (RUH) to Istanbul
₹ 5,095 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul. Return flights start from ₹ 10,393. These fares can change depending on demand and availability.
Lock in cheap tickets from RUH to Istanbul by booking 8 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
The cheapest month for tickets from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul is April. Compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool to find the dates with the lowest fares.
Set up a Price Alert for flight tickets from RUH to Istanbul. You don't need to search every day to see if prices have dropped. We'll update you as soon as the price changes.
Take advantage of the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul, use the 'Sort by' function. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and number of stops.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to the centre of Istanbul takes about 50 minutes by car. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.
Getting to the centre on public transport typically takes 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Reserve a hotel close to IST if you're catching a late flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul. Settle into one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is roughly 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. Once you've disembarked your flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul, it'll take you around 57 minutes to get to the heart of the city in a cab or ride-share.
Public transport will get you there in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Hang the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and rest at a hotel close to SAW. Here are a few options where you can tuck yourself in after your flight from RUH to Istanbul:
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month for flights from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul. To steer clear of the crowds, travel to Istanbul in February when it's quieter.
Book your flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul for August to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from RUH to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC and 11ºC.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul, check out our range of accommodation options including:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to work out where to start. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are top sights which should feature on any good Istanbul itinerary.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
Choose one of our car rentals in Istanbul and explore the city on your own schedule. Easily compare options in one place to find the perfect ride once you've locked in your hotel and cheap flights from King Khaled International Airport to Istanbul.
