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)
If you're on a late flight from Lyon Saint-Exupery International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, nothing beats the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these hotels near 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.