International route IST to HKT

Cheap flights from Istanbul to Phuket

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Istanbul to Phuket. The 7,710 km flight takes about 10 hours 10 minutes.

Fares Fares are pulled from the airlines and our partners when you search. Search your dates
Nonstop, one airlineEconomy
IST
Istanbul
HKT
Phuket
Distance
7,710 km
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Looking for Istanbul to Phuket air tickets and not sure what to pay? Turkish Airlines flies this route, and fares change with demand, so the same seat can cost noticeably more close to a holiday weekend. Put your dates in the search above to compare today's fares and book with bookingMentor.

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Istanbul to Phuket flight guide

Flying from Istanbul to Phuket

  • Updated
  • 5 min read
In short

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Phuket International Airport (HKT), Thailand's largest island, in about 10 hours 10 minutes over 7,710 km. The flight suits travellers from Türkiye and from Europe connecting in Istanbul who want to land straight on the Andaman coast without changing planes in Bangkok.

Turkish Airlines fares with bag and meals included

Turkish Airlines is the only airline on the route. It is a full-service carrier, so economy normally includes a checked bag and meals, with the allowance printed on your booking. You can request a Muslim (halal) or other special meal when you book, or at least 24 hours before departure.

Turkish Airlines launched Istanbul to Phuket on 17 July 2017 with four weekly flights, and the island became its 300th destination. The airline had served Bangkok since 1989, and when the Phuket flights opened, the Tourism Authority of Thailand pointed to 74,568 visitors from Türkiye in 2016, almost 18% more than the year before. The inaugural flight carried 210 passengers, 20 of them from the Turkish media. Frequency has changed several times since, so compare dates in the search above.

M11 metro or a Havaist bus from Taksim

Istanbul Airport is about 40 km north-west of central Istanbul. The M11 metro links Gayrettepe with the airport station in a line of 15 stops that continues to Halkalı. Havaist airport buses run on 11 routes, including an express line from Taksim Square and a line through Beşiktaş. Leave plenty of time: road traffic towards the airport can be heavy in the evening rush.

Havaist buses drop passengers at departure entrance gates 1 to 4, close to the check-in halls. The metro arrives below the terminal, so you only need a short walk and a lift. Whichever you use, plan to reach check-in about three hours before a long-haul departure; security screening at the terminal entrance adds a queue before you reach the counters. For metro times, the airport refers passengers to TCDD, and Havaist publishes its own timetable at hava.ist.

Immigration queues and the drive to the west coast

Phuket International Airport is at the northern end of the island, and international flights arrive at the international terminal beside the domestic one. Expect a queue at immigration when several long-haul flights land together.

Most visitors stay on the west coast. A taxi or minivan takes around an hour to Patong or Kata. Airports of Thailand lists cheaper choices too: the Airport Bus Express runs to Patong Beach between 08:00 and 20:00; the Phuket Smart Bus leaves from near the domestic terminal's arrival exit and serves the beaches from Surin to Rawai; an hourly airport bus heads to Phuket Town from 08:15 to 20:15; and shared vans serve Patong, Kata and Karon.

Visa-free entry and the arrival card

Turkish citizens can stay in Thailand for up to 30 days without a visa. Under rules in force from 15 September 2026, Thailand gives a 30-day exemption to 60 countries, including Türkiye and most European states, replacing the earlier 60-day scheme. If you hold another passport, check our Thailand visa page.

All foreign visitors must also file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card. It costs nothing, opens three days before your travel date and is completed on tdac.immigration.go.th.

Four hours ahead in Phuket, and flying on via Bangkok

Phuket is four hours ahead of Istanbul all year, because neither country changes its clocks. An overnight departure lands in Phuket in the afternoon local time.

Travellers continuing to South Asia can fly from Phuket to Bangkok and connect at Suvarnabhumi (see Bangkok to Dhaka flights). Istanbul also has its own flights to Dhaka: see Istanbul to Dhaka flights.

Fact-checked by the bookingMentor Travel Desk Reviewed · Updated when rules or prices change

Checked against trusted sources:
TAT NewsroomIstanbul AirportPhuket International Airport

See all 5 sources
  1. TAT Newsroom: Turkish Airlines Phuket launch
  2. Istanbul Airport: public transport
  3. Phuket International Airport (Airports of Thailand)
  4. TAT Newsroom: visa exemption rules from 15 September 2026
  5. Royal Thai Embassy: Thailand Digital Arrival Card

Istanbul to Phuket flights at a glance

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Istanbul (IST) to Phuket (HKT). The 7,710 km flight takes about 10 hours 10 minutes.

Key facts for Istanbul to Phuket flights
Flight time10h 10m nonstop
Distance7,710 km

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Airlines flying Istanbul to Phuket

One airline flies this route nonstop.

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Departure and arrival airports

IST Istanbul Airport

Codes
IATA IST
City
Istanbul, Turkey
Getting into town
Istanbul Airport is about 40 km north-west of the centre. The M11 metro runs to Gayrettepe, and Havaist buses serve Taksim, Sultanahmet and other districts.
Time zone
UTC+3

HKT Phuket International Airport

Codes
IATA HKT
City
Phuket, Thailand
Terminal
Separate international and domestic terminals, side by side.
Time zone
UTC+7, no daylight saving
Getting into town
Phuket International Airport is at the northern end of the island, so the west-coast beaches are a fair drive away: allow around an hour to Patong or Kata by taxi or minivan, more in traffic. The Phuket Smart Bus runs from the airport down the west coast beaches.

Phuket airport guide

How to book Istanbul to Phuket for less

Practical points for booking this route.

1airline on the route

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e-Visafor Bangladeshi passports

Apply for the Thai e-Visa early

Apply for the Thai e-Visa online well before you fly and fill in the Thailand Digital Arrival Card in the 72 hours before landing; airlines check both at check-in.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Getting there

Turkish Airlines is the only airline flying the route nonstop.

General