Cheap flights to Turkey

The words “East meets West” and “where Orient meets Occident” are often used in relation to Turkey, but these do not do service to a country that is modernising rapidly and knocking on Europe’s door. Although prices are rising, Turkey is one of the Mediterranean’s best bargains; hotels and taxis are a steal compared to other cities. Due to this popularity, there is lots of competition on UK-Turkey routes. There are plenty of cheap flights to Turkey available.

While you’re there, take advantage of the exchange rate (one Turkish New Lira converts to about £0.40) and consider buying carpets, leather and jewellery. Don’t think drinking apple tea will help you blend in – no self-respecting Turk would touch it – but Turkish delight and Baklava (preferably the Gulluoglu brand) are universal favourites.

Places not to miss include Istanbul, a world capital for thousands of years and three empires; Bodrum, the package holiday favourite; Ephesus, an ancient holy city from the Roman era, close to Izmir; Cappadocia, a stunning moonscape of “fairy chimneys” that once were home to Hittites, Romans and Christians; and Nemrut in eastern Turkey, where colossal statues and two temples dominate an artificial mountaintop.

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Turkey climate

Turkey’s climate is diverse. The popular coastal areas (beside the Aegean and Mediterranean seas) enjoy a Mediterranean climate – hot, dry summers and mild winters. In the north (along the Black Sea coast) rain falls year round. Summers are warm and wet and winters are cool and wet. In Istanbul and that part of Turkey that borders the Sea of Marmara, the climate is a mixture of Mediterrean and Oceanic. Summers are dry and fairly hot and winters are cold and wet. The interior is colder and drier, with harsh winters.

When is the best time to fly to Turkey?

Peak season:

Spring and autumn are the best times to search for cheap flights to Turkey and visit. Istanbul is best seen between April and June and in September and October. The Marmara (Bodrum), Aegean (Ephesus) and Mediterranean coasts have a typical Mediterranean climate with hot summers and mild winters. Central Anatolia (Cappadocia) has hot, dry summers and cold winters, while Eastern Anatolia (Nemrut) has mild summers and long snowy cold winters.

Off season:

The winters in Turkey are harsh and the country doesn’t really have a winter tourist season. While cheap flights to Turkey and cheaper accommodation are likely during this time, the weather will play a significant part in your travel plans.

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Getting around Turkey

Turkish Airlines links all the major cities, and low-cost airlines Onur Air and Atlasjet are also options. Cyprus Turkish Airlines offer domestic Turkey flights from Istanbul to Ercan, Ankara, Adana, Antalya, Dalaman and Izmir.

Renting a car in Turkey is expensive, but buses offer a good, regular and cheap service. Dolmuses (shared taxis) are a good option for short trips. They are very cheap and are a great way to get to know fellow travellers. The destination is written on the front of the vehicle, and fares are posted usually above the driver’s head. Travelling this way can be be tricky if you’ve got a lot of luggage however and they tend to stop running in the early evening.

Trains too can be good value. Car ferries are popular and can save lots of driving time. Tourist destinations are well-served. The Fez Bus is a long-distance hop-on, hop-off service which travels to the major tourist spots of western Turkey.

How long is the flight to Turkey?

Flights to Turkey from Hong Kong (HKG) range in flying time depending on which airline you fly with, your final destination and any stopovers you have. The main airport and gateway to Turkey is Istanbul Airport (IST), in Turkey's biggest city. The flying time to Istanbul is between 10h 30min and 16h 50min. You can also choose Antalya (AYT) as the destination for your international flight, a popular destination in summer. The travel time to Antalya ranges from 13h 50min to 20h 30min and you will have a stopover in Istanbul (IST) on the way.

Where can you get direct flights to Turkey from?

You can get cheap flights to Turkey that fly direct from Hong Kong (HKG) to Istanbul (IST) with Turkish Airlines. You can also find Turkey flight deals with Qatar Airways that have one stop at Doha International Airport (DOH) and with Singapore Airlines including one stopover at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).

What is the best way to travel around Turkey?

Turkey is well connected by multiple forms of transport. Flying can be a great time saver, and there are many flights around Turkey with Turkish Airlines and low-cost carriers like Pegasus Airlines. Bus, however, is the most popular way to travel long-distances. For example, you could travel by bus from Istanbul to the capital Ankara in about 6-7h, while you could fly the distance in about 55min. There are two types of buses — coach and Dolmus (minibus). Coaches cover journeys longer than two hours and are luxurious and cheap. Dolmus minibuses are an easy form of short-distance transport (less than two hours). The destination is displayed in the windscreen and you pay the driver. Hire cars are reasonably, priced but petrol is expensive, so if you’re travelling long distances, it might be better to go by coach and hire a car locally.

What are some things to do in Turkey?

Istanbul, previously known as Constantinople, is Turkey’s ancient, bustling, colourful and most populated city and has so much to see. Visit the Hagia Sophia, a cathedral-turned-mosque-turned-museum and now a mosque again. It was built in 537 AD. In the area, you’ll also find the impressive Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace Museum, which housed sultans and their harems for 400 years. If you enjoy bargaining, head to the 500-year-old Grand Bazaar – one of the biggest covered bazaars in the world. Watch the Sufi whirling dervishes performing their spiritual dance at a dervish hall. Beyond Istanbul, visit Ephesus, one of the most intact ancient Roman cities, or take a hot air balloon ride over the world-famous Cappadocia rock valleys. Pamukkale is an amazing natural wonder consisting of white limestone terraces cascading down the hillside and filled with warm mineral water. On the Turkish Riviera, you can visit Antalya, Turkey’s largest sea resort and a city full of heritage and attractions. Of course, you also have to take the opportunity to try all the Turkish culinary delicacies, such as Turkish delight, Iskender kebab (doner meat covered in tomato sauce on pide bread), saksuka (a diced aubergine dish), hamsili pilav (an anchovy and rice dish), manti (Turkish ravioli) and gozleme (pastry pockets with salty cheese and spinach).

Do I need a passport or visa to fly to Turkey?

Hong Kong passport holders can apply online for an eVisa to visit Turkey for up to 30 days. You need a passport that is valid for six months after your intended date of entry into Turkey, a valid email and a debit or credit card to pay the fee, which is about HK$1,080. It is advised to apply for the eVisa at least 72h before travel. Once approved, it will be delivered to the email address that you used for the application and it is advised that you print it and save a digital copy to your device.

What is good to know if travelling to Turkey?

• Do the museum circuit in Sultanahmet: Hagia Sofia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque, Basilica Cistern and the Turkish Islamic Art Museum – the full, stunning spread of Ottoman and Byzantine history, art and religion, and all within walking distance.
• Bosphorus trip – take the ferry along the Bosphorus towards the Black Sea, for a seafood lunch in the restaurants of Rumeli Kavagi or Anadolu Kavagi – enjoy the parade of brightly coloured Ottoman villas along the banks on the way there and stop at Ortokoy on the way back to see Turkish families enjoying ice-cream.
• Hamam – The Turks no longer attend, but the few Turkish baths still open for business give a skin-stinging insight into an ancient tradition … get scrubbed down and then relax and gossip over a tea.
• If you visit one of the villages on the Bodrum peninsula, you may still see local women wearing the traditional pantaloons (salvar) and white headscarves.
• When visiting Ephesus, a wonderful, preserved classical city, try to get your sightseeing done in the early morning before the sun gets too hot, and bring some water with you. Drinks on the site can be expensive.
• If you’re looking for accommodation in Turkey, Trivago is a useful website for user reviews. The site includes recommendations on hotels in Bodrum and hotels in Istanbul.