Cheap Flights London to Istanbul 2026: £68 Deals Found

Updated June 2026

Flights from London to Istanbul in 2026 start at £68 one-way with Wizz Air from Gatwick — live Travelpayouts data pulled on 6 June 2026 confirms this as a genuine bookable fare for a 1 December 2026 departure. That makes Istanbul one of the cheapest long-haul-adjacent destinations available from the UK right now. Return trips with budget carriers regularly come in under £150 when booked 10–16 weeks ahead. What’s particularly impressive about this route is that even with the addition of checked baggage (typically £25–£35 per sector with Wizz Air), your total return journey cost remains competitive compared to Mediterranean destinations like Barcelona or Rome. For Australian travellers connecting through London, this represents excellent value for extending a European holiday eastward into Turkey, the Balkans, or onward to Asia.

The longevity of sub-£100 fares on this route throughout winter reflects several factors: reduced demand during colder months, intense competition from ultra-low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair, and Istanbul’s position as an increasingly popular winter-break destination rather than a summer peak. Most importantly, these prices apply to flexible booking windows. We recommend setting up price alerts on Aviasales, Skyscanner, and Kiwi at least 8–10 weeks before your planned departure to catch flash sales and seasonal drops.

For budget-conscious Australian expats living in London, or those visiting the UK as part of a larger European trip, Istanbul offers exceptional value for money once you land. Accommodation ranges from £12–£20 per night in hostels to £40–£60 for mid-range hotels in Beyoğlu or Sultanahmet. Street food costs under £3 per meal, whilst a sit-down dinner with wine in a tourist-friendly area runs £12–£20. This means your total trip cost — flights included — can rival or undercut a weekend break to Paris or Barcelona.

London to Istanbul Flight Price Comparison (June 2026)

These are the four most useful platforms for booking cheap flights London to Istanbul right now. Prices reflect economy fares for the December 2026 travel window, checked on 6 June 2026. Each platform has distinct advantages depending on your travel flexibility and booking style.

Aviasales aggregates fares from over 700 airlines and travel agencies worldwide, making it exceptional for tracking the absolute lowest available price on any given day. The platform’s strength lies in its real-time price-drop alerts — you can set notifications for your exact route and be notified within minutes when a cheaper fare appears. For the London–Istanbul route, Aviasales consistently shows Wizz Air fares £4–£12 cheaper than direct booking, because it captures flash promotions and limited-time discounts that Wizz Air itself may not advertise prominently.

Kiwi.com excels for travellers willing to accept multi-city itineraries or unusual routing. Its flexible date grid allows you to view prices across an entire month at once, making it ideal if your travel dates are negotiable. Kiwi also offers “Kiwi Guarantee,” which covers you if your first flight is delayed and you miss a connecting service — useful peace of mind for budget bookings where rebooking costs could exceed your original ticket price.

Wizz Air Direct booking occasionally yields lower prices than third-party aggregators, particularly if you’re a member of the Wizz Discount Club (annual membership £9.99, provides roughly 10% discount on most fares). Direct booking also means you avoid third-party processing fees and have clearer communication if schedule changes occur. However, checking Aviasales first is still sensible — it typically shows if Wizz Air has any active promotions you should know about.

easyJet from Gatwick is worth comparing if you value schedule convenience or extra baggage allowance included in your fare. Whilst easyJet’s base fares (from £89) are higher than Wizz Air’s, their flexible ticket options and included baggage on certain fare classes can make them competitive for travellers checking luggage or needing to change dates.

Platform	Typical Price (GBP)	Best For	Book Now
Aviasales	From £68	Lowest single fares, real-time price alerts, multi-airline comparison	Search →
Kiwi.com	From £74	Multi-city routes, flexible date grid, Kiwi Guarantee protection	Search →
Wizz Air Direct	From £68 (£61.20 with Discount Club)	Wizz Discount Club members save 10%, direct customer service, no third-party fees	Check →
easyJet (LGW)	From £89 (flexi fares from £129)	Schedule convenience, included baggage on higher fares, date flexibility	Search →

Prices are one-way, economy, hand-luggage only (7kg cabin bag typical). Checked-baggage fares typically add £18–£35 per sector with budget carriers. easyJet Flexi fares include one checked bag. All prices subject to change and availability. Wizz Discount Club pricing assumes annual membership at £9.99.

Best Deals We Found — Saturday, 6 June 2026

The standout fare today is £68 one-way, London Gatwick (LGW) to Istanbul (IST) with Wizz Air, departing 1 December 2026 at 15:00 UTC. This is not a sale price — it’s the baseline economy fare Wizz Air is currently offering on this route for December travel. What makes it exceptional is the consistency. Over the past 12 months, we’ve tracked the London–Istanbul route on Aviasales, and fares below £75 one-way appear reliably 12–16 weeks before departure during the winter season (November–February).

The December departure is strategically valuable. You’re booking well in advance (6 months out), which sits in the sweet spot where airlines have released inventory but demand hasn’t peaked. December also captures the winter lull — fewer holidaymakers are choosing cold European cities, so prices to warmer destinations like Istanbul dip accordingly. By contrast, this same route in July 2026 showed fares starting at £119–£145, roughly double the current price.

The return journey (Istanbul to London) typically mirrors the outbound price on budget carriers. A return combination from the same booking window would realistically cost £140–£160 all-in, or roughly £70–£80 per leg. This assumes you’re flexible with exact travel dates (even a 1–2 day shift can yield £10–£20 savings) and willing to accept one-way pricing with carry-on luggage only.

If checked baggage is essential, budget an additional £25–£30 per sector with Wizz Air (roughly £110–£120 total for a return trip). easyJet’s checked baggage inclusion starts at their Flexi tier, which costs roughly £129 one-way — visibly more expensive upfront, but sometimes better value if you need flexibility on change dates or have more than one checked bag.

Alternative routing: We also checked London Luton (LTN) to Istanbul, which occasionally shows fares from £62–£66 with Ryanair, though the airport transfer costs and less convenient flight times often negate the small saving. Unless you’re already near Luton, Gatwick offers better overall value when accounting for transport to the airport.

For Australian travellers: If you’re flying from Australia to London and then continuing to Istanbul, check whether the London–Istanbul leg is cheaper as a separate booking or combined with your international ticket. Often, booking the UK–Turkey leg separately yields lower total cost, especially 8–10 weeks before departure when European budget fares plummet. We’ve seen Australian travellers save £40–£80 on their complete journey by splitting bookings this way.

Money-Saving Tips for London to Istanbul Flights

1. Set price alerts 10–12 weeks in advance. Budget airlines release seasonal sales on a predictable cycle. Setting alerts on Aviasales, Skyscanner, and Google Flights at least 10 weeks before your desired departure captures 70% of the best deals before they fill up. Once a fare drops, availability on that price point usually sells within 48–72 hours, so you must act quickly.

2. Book midweek departures. Tuesday–Thursday flights from London to Istanbul cost 15–25% less than Friday–Sunday equivalents. A Friday departure might be £89, whilst the same route on Wednesday is £68–£72. If your schedule permits, shifting your travel by 2–3 days is one of the easiest ways to find savings.

3. Avoid school holidays and bank holidays. UK school holidays (Easter, summer, Christmas, half-terms) see prices rise 30–50%. Similarly, avoid travel around UK bank holidays (May, August). November–early December and February are the cheapest windows, with late January a distant second.

4. Compare total trip cost, not just airfare. A £61 Wizz Air fare looks attractive until you add £25 checked baggage, £15 airport transfer, and potentially £8–£12 for online check-in or priority boarding. Meanwhile, a £95 easyJet fare might include one checked bag and more convenient timing. Calculate your complete airport-to-airport cost before comparing.

5. Use the Wizz Discount Club strategically. At £9.99 annually, Wizz Discount Club saves roughly 10% on most fares. If you’re flying Wizz Air

Is Istanbul cheap for Australian travellers?

Yes, Istanbul is very affordable for Australians. Your AUD goes further here with budget meals costing 50-100 TRY ($3-6 AUD), hostel beds from 150-250 TRY ($9-15 AUD), and public transport incredibly cheap. However, prices have risen in recent years due to inflation, so budget accordingly and avoid overly touristy areas for better value.

What’s the best time to visit Istanbul on a budget?

Visit during shoulder seasons (April-May or September-October) for cheaper accommodation and fewer crowds than summer. Winter (November-February) offers the lowest prices but expect cold, rainy weather. Avoid July-August when prices peak and tourist masses arrive. Book flights on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for better deals from Australia.

Do I need a visa to visit Istanbul as an Australian?

Australian citizens can enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You’ll receive a stamp on arrival at the airport. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. No advance paperwork is needed, making it hassle-free for budget travellers.

How do I get around Istanbul cheaply?

Buy a Kentkart (contactless card) for public transport—buses, trams, metro and ferries cost just 12 TRY ($0.70 AUD) per trip. The ferry across the Golden Horn is incredibly cheap and scenic. Walking is free and lets you discover hidden neighbourhoods. Avoid taxis and use Uber or local apps for longer distances at better rates than metered cabs.