Istanbul to Edinburgh (IST–EDI) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
IST–EDI is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines leads the route. The flight covers 1,758 miles in approximately 3h 30m. Beyond nonstop, 80 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines Also: 6E, PK, TG | 14 | 32Q | 4h25-4h30 | – | Star Alliance | 6E, PK, TG |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Edinburgh from Istanbul
| Metric | IST→EDI | SAW→EDI |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from IST | – | 40 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 49 | 6 |
| Flight time | 3h 30m | 4h 30m |
Travel Essentials
IST: +03 · EDI: BST
When it's 6:00 PM in Istanbul, it's 4:00 PM in Edinburgh.
Turkish passport holders need a Standard Visitor visa to enter the United Kingdom. Apply online at gov.uk/standard-visitor-visa, pay the GBP 115 fee (about TRY 5,290), and book a biometric appointment at a VFS Global center in Istanbul, Ankara, or Izmir. Required documents include a completed online form, passport, proof of funds (bank statements for at least 6 months), accommodation details, a return ticket, and an employment or business letter. Passport must be valid for the duration of the stay. Processing takes about 3 weeks, with priority service (5 to 7 working days) available for an extra fee.
The Standard Visitor visa allows stays of up to 6 months for tourism, business meetings, and family visits. It is not valid for employment. Multi-entry visit visas valid for 2, 5, or 10 years are available (GBP 400, GBP 771, or GBP 963), allowing repeated visits of up to 6 months each. Turkey's large diaspora in the UK (over 500,000 people) means family visit applications are common. Turkish nationals with a valid UK visa can also use the Irish Short Stay Visa Waiver Programme to visit Ireland without a separate Irish visa.
Direct flights from Istanbul (IST) to London Heathrow (LHR) run about 4 hours on Turkish Airlines and British Airways. Istanbul to Gatwick (LGW) and Stansted (STN) also have direct service on Pegasus and other carriers. The UK uses the British pound (GBP), trading at roughly 46 TRY per GBP 1. Card payments work everywhere, including contactless on London buses and the Tube. An Oyster card or contactless bank card gives the best fares on Transport for London: GBP 1.75 per bus ride, GBP 2.80 to GBP 3.40 per Tube ride, with daily caps.
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.
IST–EDI Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from IST to EDI
İstanbul Airport (IST) and Edinburgh Airport (EDI) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines. With 49 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
IST to EDI Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from IST to EDI ranges from 3 hours 30 minutes to 4 hours 30 minutes. The route covers a distance of 1,758 miles (2,829 km). There are approximately 49 weekly flights outbound and 49 return, totaling 98 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
80 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 6 hours via BRS. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Pendik, Istanbul (SAW).