Istanbul to Cluj-Napoca (IST–CLJ) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

IST Airport Page →
457 mi airlines 0/wk
On-time Some delays Frequent delays
Flight Schedule 2 flights Verified 3w ago
Nonstop 1-Stop 2-Stop Hide separate tickets Hide overnight
  Flight Airline AC Dep Arr Dur OTP Sched  
✓
←
TK1048
TK Turkish
73J
9:50 AM
EET
12:40 PM
+03
1h 50m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices
✓
←
A2728
A2 Animawings
223
2:55 PM
EET
5:35 PM
+03
1h 40m
—
M T W T F S S
Prices

No flights match your filters.

No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.

✦ 1-STOP
✧ 2-STOP Loading...
Istanbul to Cluj-Napoca
Connecting service available through multiple hubs.
457 mi -1h behind 11 1-stop hubs

While no nonstop service exists between IST and CLJ, connecting options are available through 11 hubs.

Also explore IST Routes CLJ Routes IST Live Flights CLJ Live Flights
Connections

Connection Landscape

Beyond nonstop. 1-stop and 2-stop options for IST to CLJ.
1-STOP
One-Stop Connections
11
Hubs
~11h
Fastest
~31h
Longest
FCO ~11h 23m AGP ~12h 48m VLC ~14h 0m OTP ~15h 30m MAD ~15h 35m
Verified with published schedule alignment and minimum connection time.
2-STOP
Two-Stop Connections
1,077
Candidates
Two-stop connections loaded in the connections tab above.
Connections computed from published schedules with minimum connection time verification. Use the interactive explorer above the fold to filter by airline, tier, and layover time.
Know before you go

Travel Essentials

Practical planning for this route.
Time Difference
-1h
Cluj-Napoca is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
IST: +03 · CLJ: EET

When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 5:00 PM in Cluj-Napoca.
Distance & Flight Time
457 mi / 735 km
Visa & Entry

Turkish passport holders need a Schengen visa to enter Romania. Romania joined the Schengen area in January 2025. Apply at the Romanian embassy in Turkey or through the official eViza portal at eviza.mae.ro. The visa allows stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen area. Required documents include passport photos, bank statements, flight bookings, hotel reservations, and travel insurance covering at least EUR 30,000. The fee is EUR 80 for adults. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area.

Verify entry requirements with official sources before travel.
Getting to IST

Istanbul Metro M11 Gayrettepe–İstanbul Havalimanı line connects the airport to the broader metro network; from Gayrettepe (Mecidiyeköy/Levent area) the journey is about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart). The line runs roughly 5am to midnight.Havaist express buses serve Taksim, Kadıköy, and other major hubs (₺50–80, 45–90 minutes depending on traffic). Taxis use a meter; expect ₺400–600 from Taksim or Sultanahmet. The airport is 35km northwest of the city; traffic on the O-7 motorway can be severe during peak hours.

Facts

IST–CLJ Quick Facts

Key statistics for the Istanbul to Cluj-Napoca route.
Route details
Distance457 mi / 735 km
Time difference-1 hour
Airlines (nonstop)0
1-stop connections11 hubs
Origin: IST
Full nameİstanbul Airport
IATA / ICAOIST / LTFM
TimezoneEurope/Istanbul
Passengers/yr80.1M
Elevation325 ft / 99 m
Destination: CLJ
Full nameAvram Iancu Cluj International Airport
IATA / ICAOCLJ / LRCL
TimezoneEurope/Bucharest
Passengers/yr3.2M
Elevation1,039 ft / 317 m
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about IST to CLJ flights.
Yes, 1-stop connections are available through FCO, AGP, VLC, OTP, MAD, LIS, BCN, ZRH, LTN, DUB and RAK. These options provide additional schedule flexibility.
Cluj-Napoca is 1 hour behind Istanbul.
Yes, return flights from CLJ to IST are available. Use the direction toggle at the top to view the return schedule.
Click the 'Search Flights' button to check availability and prices on Google Flights. You can also compare airlines and schedules on this page to find the best option.
Route data is updated regularly from official airline schedules. On-time performance data comes from recent airport delay snapshots.
Flight time is about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. The distance is roughly 900 km northwest across the Black Sea coast and into Romania. Turkish Airlines uses narrowbody aircraft, typically a 737-800 or A321.
Turkish Airlines operates nonstop service, typically 4 to 7 flights per week. Pegasus Airlines has also served the route. Cluj is the second-largest city in Romania, and demand supports year-round service. Summer may see slightly higher frequency.
Cluj-Napoca International Airport (CLJ) is about 9 km east of the city center. The terminal was modernized in recent years and handles around 3 million passengers annually. A dedicated bus line connects the airport to the city center in about 30 minutes. Taxis and rideshare are available outside the terminal.
Cluj-Napoca is the unofficial capital of Transylvania and Romania's second-largest city with about 320,000 people. The city has a strong university presence, an active tech sector, and a well-preserved old town. It hosts the Untold festival, one of Europe's largest electronic music events. The Apuseni Mountains and salt mines at Turda are popular day trips from the city.
Istanbul is a top connecting hub for reaching Romania from the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Turkish Airlines feeds passengers from cities like Dubai, Tehran, Delhi, and Islamabad through IST to CLJ. Connection times at IST typically run 2 to 5 hours. This routing often beats alternatives that require a stop in Bucharest or Budapest.

Istanbul to Cluj-Napoca Flights

IST-CLJ covers about 900 km in under 2 hours. Turkish Airlines flies nonstop 4 to 7 times per week using narrowbody aircraft. Cluj-Napoca is the unofficial capital of Transylvania and Romania's main tech hub. The route connects Istanbul's global network with a city of 320,000 that punches above its weight in business travel, university exchange, and cultural tourism.

Cluj-Napoca International Airport is 9 km east of the city center, connected by bus in 30 minutes or taxi in 15. The city itself has a preserved old town, a lively cafe culture, and sits as the gateway to the Apuseni Mountains and the Turda salt mine. Istanbul connections give Cluj access to origins across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East that have no direct flights to Romania's second city. The route is year-round with steady demand.