Flying from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW): What you need to know
Planning your trip starts with working out where you'll fly out of in Melbourne. Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) is the city's main airport, so check out your options for booking a flight from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) jetting off from here.
Istanbul is eight hours behind Melbourne. Sabiha Gokcen International Airport is located in Istanbul, which is in the UTC+3 timezone.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably board your flight from Melbourne to SAW.
If you're travelling during a bank holiday or other peak period, give yourself more time. Arrive two hours before domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Lines at check-in and security will be longer.
Airports in Melbourne
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL)
Think about adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Melbourne to SAW. Just deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL). Make a stop (and maybe make your fare cheaper) by passing through one of these airports:
Dubai Airport (DXB)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)
Located around 24 kilometres from the centre of Melbourne, MEL can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport is roughly 40 minutes.
Want a hassle-free start to your trip? Stay near Melbourne Tullamarine Airport. Whether you have an early flight from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are just what you're after:
67.71% of flights that depart Melbourne Tullamarine Airport land at their destination on schedule.
Avalon Airport (AVV)
You can arrive at AVV from central Melbourne in approximately 50 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The ride on public transport takes roughly 2 hours 5 minutes to travel the 56 kilometres or so.
You're going on holiday, so why not book another night away at a hotel close to Avalon Airport? Before your Melbourne to SAW flight, treat yourself to a stay at Corio Bay Motel.
Avalon Airport has a reputation for reliability and timeliness. 80.09% of flights out of here keep to their planned arrival schedule.
About Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Have a late flight from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport? Don't let it rob you of real rest. Check in to one of these hotels near SAW and give yourself a well-earned lights-out:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Essence, Eren Rent a Car or 724 Rent and experience the lesser-explored corners of Istanbul and beyond.
Lock in the lowest price by reserving your vehicle around four weeks before your Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport flight.
Getting from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) to central Istanbul
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport to central Istanbul is around 31 kilometres. If you're renting a car or getting a cab, do a little research to make your trip as easy as possible. Journey times vary based on the time of day and traffic conditions.
It takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
At the moment, $550 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $1,089. Keep in mind fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Booking ahead of time is often the key to finding a cheap flight from Melbourne to SAW. Airlines adjust prices based on demand, so the closer you get to departure, the more you'll likely pay.
The 'Whole month' tool shows you the cheapest Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport tickets across each month. It's a great way to find a bargain if your travel dates are flexible.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you when a better deal comes up on flight tickets from Melbourne to SAW.
Find a cheap flight from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport by using the search filters. Choose your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Think about the kind of holiday you want when deciding when to fly. April is the quietest month to go to Istanbul. August is when most people book flights from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), which may be ideal if you're chasing more excitement.
Book a Melbourne to SAW flight ticket departing in August if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC (68ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF).
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from Melbourne to Sabiha Gokcen International Airport, find a hotel that offers a good mix of location and comfort. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
Hagia Sophia History Museum and Hagia Sophia Museum are just a couple of the top-rated attractions to put on your Istanbul to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Historic Areas of Istanbul.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Eskisehir is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've seen Istanbul. Around 161 kilometres away to the south-east, its best attractions include Eskişehir, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri.
Around 97 kilometres east of Istanbul, Adapazarı is another favourite stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Ozanlar Ulu Cami, Güllük Cami and Valide Cami.