International route HKT to IST

Cheap flights from Phuket to Istanbul

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Phuket to Istanbul. 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
HKT
Phuket
IST
Istanbul
Distance
7,710 km
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Looking for Phuket to Istanbul 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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Phuket to Istanbul flight guide

Flying from Phuket to Istanbul

  • Updated
  • 5 min read
In short

Turkish Airlines flies nonstop from Phuket International Airport (HKT) in southern Thailand to Istanbul Airport (IST), a 7,710 km journey of about 10 hours 10 minutes. It is the only direct link between the island and Europe's largest hub, so it suits holidaymakers heading home to Türkiye and travellers using Istanbul to connect to Europe, Africa or the Middle East.

Turkish Airlines on the Phuket route

Turkish Airlines is the only carrier on the nonstop. As a full-service airline it normally includes a checked bag and meals in economy, and the exact allowance appears on your booking. Muslim (halal) meals can be requested when you book or at least 24 hours before departure.

The airline opened the route on 17 July 2017 with four flights a week from Istanbul. Phuket was its 300th destination, and the first flight carried 210 passengers. Turkish Airlines had already been flying to Bangkok since 1989. Frequencies have changed several times since the launch, so check the search results for your dates.

Smart Bus or Airport Bus Express from the beaches

Phuket International Airport is at the northern end of the island, about an hour by road from Patong or Kata. If you are coming from the west-coast beaches, the Phuket Smart Bus runs between Rawai, the beaches as far north as Surin, and the airport. From Patong, the Airport Bus Express runs to the airport between 06:00 and 18:30, which suits a daytime departure. A late-night flight needs a taxi or a booked transfer.

Airports of Thailand asks passengers to arrive at least two hours before departure. For a long-haul flight with immigration checks, three hours is safer in the busy November to April season. International flights use the international terminal, which stands next to the domestic building.

M11 metro and Havaist buses into Istanbul

Istanbul Airport lies about 40 km north-west of the city centre. The M11 metro line runs from the airport station to Gayrettepe in the business district, with interchanges to the rest of the network, and continues west to Halkalı. Havaist runs 11 bus routes into the city, including lines to Taksim and Beşiktaş. Buses board on transport floor -2.

The metro is the cheaper choice for anyone staying near Gayrettepe or able to change lines there, and the M11 also calls at Kağıthane, Göktürk, Arnavutköy and Kayaşehir on its way across the north-west of the city. Havaist suits travellers with heavy bags heading to Taksim or the old city, since it avoids changes. The airport's own pages point to TCDD for metro times and to hava.ist for bus timetables; check both on the day, because evening services thin out.

The clock goes back four hours on arrival. Thailand stays on UTC+7 and Türkiye on UTC+3 all year, so the gap never changes.

Visa-free, e-Visa or embassy visa for Türkiye

Visa rules for Türkiye depend on your passport. Many nationalities enter visa-free, some use the official e-Visa system run by the Republic of Türkiye, and others need a visa from an embassy. Check the official e-Visa site or your nearest Turkish mission before booking, and do not pay copycat sites that add fees.

Passengers who only change planes in Istanbul without passing through passport control normally stay airside. If your connection involves a separate ticket or an overnight stop, you will need to clear immigration.

Reaching Phuket from South Asia via Bangkok

Phuket has no flights to Dhaka, so travellers starting in South Asia often fly to Bangkok first (see Dhaka to Bangkok flights) and take a domestic hop to Phuket. Dhaka also has its own service to Türkiye: see Dhaka to Istanbul flights. Visitors finishing a Thailand holiday on the island can return home through Istanbul without going back to Bangkok.

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

Checked against trusted sources:
TAT NewsroomPhuket International AirportIstanbul Airport

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

Phuket to Istanbul flights at a glance

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

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

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Airlines flying Phuket to Istanbul

One airline flies this route nonstop.

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Departure and arrival airports

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

Phuket airport guide

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

How to book Phuket to Istanbul for less

Practical points for booking this route.

1airline on the route

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Entry rules for Bangladeshi passports change from time to time, so confirm them with the Turkish embassy or the official visa site before you book.

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Getting there

Turkish Airlines is the only airline on the nonstop route. Check the search above for the days it flies on your dates.