Cheap Flights from Lyon to Istanbul

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Compare Lyon to Istanbul flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Istanbul

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Flight deals from Lyon to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Lyon to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Lyon to Istanbul

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Lyon to Istanbul flights are currently cheapest in September.

Direct flights from Lyon to Istanbul

Lyon to Istanbul: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Lyon to Istanbul below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Istanbul.

Lyon to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 895
Cheapest month to flySeptember
Average flight time3 hrs, 20 mins
Most popular airlineIndiGo
Average flights per week69

Finding cheap flights from Lyon to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Lyon to Istanbul is R 1,749. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
3 hours and 20 minutes is the average flight time from Lyon to Istanbul.
IndiGo, Turkish Airlines and Malaysia Airlines fly direct from Lyon to Istanbul.
As of April 2025, there are 69 flights per week flying from Lyon to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from Lyon to Istanbul is usually April 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Lyon Airport to Istanbul Airport on Thursday, 28 August 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 3 hours and 20 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Istanbul but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Istanbul is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Transavia France offers the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Flying from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport (LYS) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know

  • 3 hours 22 minutes is the average time for a direct flight from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Istanbul is 2 hours ahead of Lyon and is in the UTC+3 timezone.

  • Flights from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport start from 06:00 — the earliest with Transavia France. The latest flight is the 19:10 option with Turkish Airlines. Overall, there are 20 weekly services between LYS and IST.

  • You can expect bigger queues in popular months such as September 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.

  • Turkish Airlines runs direct flights from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to take in the sights in Istanbul — and maybe even more of Türkiye (Turkey) if you have time.

  • If you'd like to break up your flight from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, add a stopover to your trip. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' and find a city that interests you. The top stopovers on the LYS - IST route include:

    • Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport

    • Strasbourg Airport

    • Cote D'Azur Airport

  • To find out if you need a visa to enter Türkiye (Turkey), check with your airline and the local consulate or embassy. They'll give you the latest information, including other paperwork you may need after booking your cheap ticket from LYS to IST.

How to find the cheapest flights from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport (LYS) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • R 895 is the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Return flights start from R 1,749. These prices may change based on demand.

  • Book 1 month before you want to travel. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you'll want to book ahead to find cheap tickets from LYS to IST.

  • The cheapest month for tickets from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is September. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have flexible travel dates.

  • Snapping up a cheap ticket from LYS to IST is straightforward with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know as soon as the price has fallen.

  • Tailor your trip with filters. Choose your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Handy information about Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport (LYS)

  • Located around 31 kilometres from the centre of Lyon, Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport can be reached in approximately 35 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The same journey by public transport will take roughly 47 minutes.

  • Got an early flight from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these hotels near LYS:

Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul

  • Istanbul Ataturk Airport is approximately 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 on public transport, expect a journey of about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • August is the busiest month for flights from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. To skip the crowds, travel to Istanbul in February.

  • Before locking in your flight from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, consider the type of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.

  • If you want to travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from LYS to IST in January. Average temperatures are between 2ºC and 11ºC then.

More about Istanbul

  • If you're looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Istanbul right here. Explore these hotels once you've booked your flight from LYS to IST:

  • Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are a couple of top-rated attractions to add to your Istanbul itinerary. Continue your sightseeing adventures at Galata Tower.

  • You'll find more than one way to get to Istanbul. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) is another popular choice. Browse the flight deals and timetables available from this international airport.

Complete your Istanbul trip with hotels and a car rental

  • After you've secured your cheap ticket to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, discover our low prices and exclusive rates for hotels. You can also compare a range of car rental companies in one place to get the best car rental price for your Istanbul trip.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.