Cheap Flights from Colombo Bandaranayake (CMB) to Istanbul (IST)

Compare Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul flight deals

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Flight deals from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Istanbul.£338 per passenger.Departing Thu, 16 Apr, returning Mon, 20 Apr.Return flight with Air Arabia and flyadeal.Outbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Thu, 16 Apr, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with flyadeal, departs from Istanbul on Mon, 20 Apr, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £338, select.

Istanbul.£353 per passenger.Departing Fri, 1 May, returning Sun, 10 May.Return flight with Air Arabia and flyadeal.Outbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Fri, 1 May, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with flyadeal, departs from Istanbul on Sun, 10 May, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £353, select.

Istanbul.£356 per passenger.Departing Tue, 31 Mar, returning Fri, 17 Apr.Return flight with Etihad Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Etihad Airways, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Tue, 31 Mar, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Etihad Airways, departs from Istanbul on Fri, 17 Apr, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £356, select.

Istanbul.£358 per passenger.Departing Mon, 20 Apr, returning Wed, 6 May.Return flight with Gulf Air.Outbound indirect flight with Gulf Air, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Mon, 20 Apr, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Gulf Air, departs from Istanbul on Wed, 6 May, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £358, select.

Istanbul.£362 per passenger.Departing Mon, 15 Jun, returning Mon, 22 Jun.Return flight with Gulf Air.Outbound indirect flight with Gulf Air, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Mon, 15 Jun, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Gulf Air, departs from Istanbul on Mon, 22 Jun, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £362, select.

Istanbul.£362 per passenger.Departing Mon, 14 Sep, returning Wed, 23 Sep.Return flight with Etihad Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Etihad Airways, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Mon, 14 Sep, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Etihad Airways, departs from Istanbul on Wed, 23 Sep, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £362, select.

Istanbul.£362 per passenger.Departing Mon, 12 Oct, returning Mon, 19 Oct.Return flight with Air Arabia.Outbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Mon, 12 Oct, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Istanbul on Mon, 19 Oct, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £362, select.

Istanbul.£363 per passenger.Departing Thu, 5 Nov, returning Wed, 11 Nov.Return flight with Air Arabia.Outbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Colombo Bandaranayake on Thu, 5 Nov, arriving in Istanbul.Inbound indirect flight with Air Arabia, departs from Istanbul on Wed, 11 Nov, arriving in Colombo Bandaranayake.Price includes taxes and charges.From £363, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul flights are currently cheapest in April.

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Direct flights from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul

Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Istanbul.

Istanbul Sabiha

19 miles from central Istanbul

ClosestCheapest

from £274

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Istanbul

21 miles from central Istanbul

from £338

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Colombo to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.

Cheapest flight found	£338
Cheapest month to fly	April
Average flight time	8 hrs, 49 mins
Most popular airline	Turkish Airlines
Average flights per week	10

Finding cheap flights from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

How much are return flights from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul?

The best price we found for a return flight from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul is £338. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.

How long does it take to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul?

8 hours and 49 minutes is the average flight time from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul.

Which airlines fly direct from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul?

Turkish Airlines flies direct from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul.

How many flights are there a week from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul?

As of March 2026, there are 10 flights per week flying from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul?

The cheapest month to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake to Istanbul is usually April.

Which upcoming date is cheapest to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake Airport to Istanbul Airport on?

After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake Airport to Istanbul Airport on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

Can I get a direct flight from Colombo Bandaranayake Airport to Istanbul Airport?

Yes – the average flight time is 8 hours and 49 minutes.

How can I find the best flight deal to Istanbul?

We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Istanbul but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.

When is the best time to book flights to Istanbul?

We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Istanbul is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.

Which is the cheapest airline to fly from Colombo Bandaranayake Airport to Istanbul with?

Currently, Air Arabia and Turkish Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Travelling from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know

Jump on a direct flight from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 8 hours 45 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is two hours 30 minutes behind Colombo.
Take your pick of ten weekly Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flights. The 06:50 departure with Turkish Airlines is the earliest flight available. Turkish Airlines operates the latest service of the day at 22:45.
To ensure you catch your CMB to IST flight, leave plenty of time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the standard rule.
Be prepared for longer lines in popular months like February. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a wise move.
Turkish Airlines is your gateway to exploring Istanbul (and maybe even some other great parts of Türkiye (Turkey)!). Check out the direct flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport offered by this airline.
Turkish Airlines is the top choice for travellers on this route.
If you want to add a stop to your trip, simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for your ticket from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. These are the most popular stopovers between CMB and IST:
- Dubai Airport
- Hamad International Airport
- Sharjah International Airport

How to find the cheapest flights from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

The lowest price we've seen for a one-way Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight is £195. A return fare is currently £338. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares could change.
To pick up cheap tickets from CMB to IST, reserve your trip one month before your departure.
December is the cheapest month for flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. If you'd like to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices across every month.
There's no need to check back in every day to see if fares have gone down when you set up a Price Alert. We'll update you the moment a special offer becomes available on cheap flights from CMB to IST.
Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to get the best deals on flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport.

Handy information about Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

Of the flights that depart from Bandaranaike International Airport, 75.71% land on time at their destination.
Bandaranaike International Airport is about 20 miles from central Colombo. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 40 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic.
Planning to catch public transport? Expect a trip time of around 1 hour 30 minutes.
Need a handy hotel near CMB? If you've booked an early flight from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, these stays will have you moments from your departure lounge:

Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

If you have a late Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight, few things top the convenience of being near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be resting shortly after at one of these accommodation options near IST:
Pick up an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are popular outlets you can book with here.
For the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport around two weeks before you set off.

Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul

Istanbul Ataturk Airport to the centre of Istanbul has a drive time of about 50 minutes. It's approximately 30 miles away.
It typically takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there by public transport.

When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

April is the busiest month for flights from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. To avoid the crowds, go to Istanbul in February.
Book your flight from Bandaranaike International Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for August if you'd like to explore Istanbul during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).
January has average temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Search for cheap tickets from CMB to IST sometime then if you want to travel in cooler conditions.

Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)

You've done Istanbul, now it's time to explore more of Türkiye (Turkey). Travel around 220 miles east to Ankara to check off its popular sights. From Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park, your itinerary will be busy.
Around 200 miles south-west of Istanbul, Izmir is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.