Flying from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll board your flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's main airports.
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) and Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah Airport (SZB) are Kuala Lumpur's major gateways.
Around 10 hours 20 minutes is how long you'll be in transit on a direct Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flight.
Kuala Lumpur is five hours ahead of Istanbul and is in the UTC+8 timezone.
With 19 weekly flights between the two airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) is the most popular route. Hop on the earliest flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur with Turkish Airlines at 01:40. If you prefer to make the most of your day before leaving, the last departure from IST to KUL is with Turkish Airlines at 18:00.
Give yourself plenty of time to make your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flight. It's generally best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months like August, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead for international flights when you travel during high season in general.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur
Book ten months before flying. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flights.
Organise your trip for March. That's the best month for scoring cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. If your travel dates are not set in stone, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
You don't need to search every day to see if prices have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll let you know when a better deal is available on cheap flights from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur.
Save on your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flight with the help of our filters. Choose your preferred times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Set off from Istanbul Airport (IST) on a nonstop flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. From IST, you can land directly at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
Secure your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur plane tickets with Turkish Airlines. This carrier is a top pick for direct flights from IST.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even visit a new city. When browsing Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flights leaving from Istanbul Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
Singapore Changi Airport (SIN)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Zayed International Airport (AUH)
IST is around 32 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're ride-sharing, driving or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take you 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to Istanbul Airport:
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
You can catch a direct flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur leaving from Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW). Kick off your travels at SAW and disembark at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL).
AirAsia X offers direct Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur plane tickets from SAW. Book your preferred aisle seat and arrive at your destination in a single journey.
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flight. Visit family or friends or tick a new city off your list. Whatever your plans, here's where you can stop between Istanbul Sabiha Airport and Kuala Lumpur:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Madinah Airport (MED)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in around 1 hour 40 minutes. The airport is roughly 31 kilometres away. Driving will take you about 1 hour 5 minutes.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before catching your flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur? Kick back in a hotel near Istanbul Sabiha Airport before your adventure officially starts. Consider one of these stays:
Istanbul Sabiha Airport has an on-time performance of 68%. This figure shows how often flights that leave from this airport land on schedule.
Arriving in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL)
The distance from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to central Kuala Lumpur is roughly 48 kilometres. It takes about 55 minutes to reach the centre driving.
It typically takes 40 minutes to get there on public transport.
Consider staying in a hotel close to KUL if you're coming in on a late flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur. Choose one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Go wherever you want, whenever you want with a Kuala Lumpur International Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from ASIA CAR, Paradise or GoSoCar and find adventure across Kuala Lumpur and beyond.
To get the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Kuala Lumpur International Airport around four weeks in advance of your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur flight.
Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah Airport (SZB)
After your flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur has landed, you can get to the city centre in about 30 minutes by car. Central Kuala Lumpur is roughly 18 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah Airport (SZB).
If you travel by public transport, you'll get to the city centre in 45 minutes or so.
After your flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur, tuck yourself in at a hotel close to SZB. These are some great accommodation options that'll help you sink into relaxation mode:
The fastest way to get to where you're going is with a Kuala Lumpur Sultan Abdul Azziz Shah Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Sixt, WAHDAH or Agtran and hit the road in a heartbeat.
Get the lowest price by booking your ride from SZB one week ahead of time. You'll also have access to a wider range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Kuala Lumpur
March is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur, while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a more bustling atmosphere.
The warmest month in Kuala Lumpur is March, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC (70ºF) and 33ºC (91ºF). Lock in your Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.
January has average temperatures of between 21ºC (70ºF) and 32ºC (90ºF). Look for cheap flights from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur around that time if you like cooler conditions.
More about Kuala Lumpur
Start your Kuala Lumpur trip off on the right foot by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Kuala Lumpur, browse our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be tricky to know where to begin. Petronas Twin Towers, Sky Terrace KL Tower and Warisan Merdeka Tower are leading attractions which should be on any well-planned Kuala Lumpur itinerary.