Turkish Airlines offers two direct flights every day from Helsinki to Istanbul. These flights from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) to Istanbul Airport (IST) take nearly three and a half hours. Ongoing all year round on a regular basis, number of flights remains the same throughout the year; no changes occur seasonally.
Take a look at the flights from Helsinki to see all the destinations you can reach from here via a connecting flight over Istanbul.
As the capital and largest city in Finland, Helsinki owns an extremely cosmopolitan presence where art and culture have become a part of everyday life. Helsinki is full of museums and art galleries and therefore remains as a favorite destination for art lovers as well. Being a city with an architectural profile filled with granite marbles, Helsinki offers an utterly attractive landscape by its chalk white scenery.
If you are interested in making the best of your time during your stay, it would be recommendable to visit both the tourist attractions, and the spots preferred by the locals. The giant verdant space Esplanade Park, which is the most central spot in the city and the favorite of the locals, together with Senate Square shining out by its historic characteristic, the most remarkable market place, Market Square and Fish Market rank among the top attention-grabbing spots in this lovely capital. Do not also forget to see Uspenski Cathedral, known as the largest Orthodox cathedral of the Western Europe and visit Suomenlinna Island and its fortress, which can be reached by boat.
Managing the busy air traffic in the city, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) is 18 kilometers from the center.
You may consider a couple of alternatives for reaching the airport from the city center. Those interested in taking public buses may use the buses operating in every 15 minutes from the city center. The lines numbered 615 and 615T setting off from Helsinki Central Railway Station reach the airport within nearly 40 minutes.
Another public transport service, the express buses named FinnAir operate in every 20 minutes from the center and get to the airport within 35 minutes in average. Passengers planning to get on trains from the center may reach the airport within thirty minutes via the trains P and I. Operating in every ten minutes during the working hours; these trains serve less frequently at night.
In addition to all these, it is also possible to get to the airport via the cabs serving all around the city.
Located in Marmara region of Türkiye, Istanbul is the most populous city countrywide by its population of nearly 20 million inhabitants. The magnificent metropolis is flooded by millions of tourists each year, thanks to its rich historical background, natural beauties and successful facilities serving to tourism sector. There is always more to do in this brilliant city; you may watch the historic mansions from the sea by taking a pleasant boat tour in the turquoise Bosporus, visit the glorious Topkapı and Dolmabahçe Palaces full of stunning works of Ottoman architecture, or see closely the peerless collections exhibited in remarkable museums like the Hagia Sophia Museum, The Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts and the Museum of Archeology.
As the major metropolis in Türkiye, Istanbul hosts two international airports to manage the busy air traffic: Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW). Turkish Airlines passengers with a flight ticket to Istanbul from Helsinki land at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Istanbul Airport (IST) is approximately 35 km from the city and there are plenty of ways for you to reach the city center after landing at the airport. It takes around 30 minutes to reach the city center by taxi and costs around 100-110 TL. You can travel with Havaist at almost any hour of the day, and these shuttles reach many places in the city. If you are looking for a cheaper option, then you can benefit from the IETT bus services. If you are looking for a more peaceful journey, you can rent a car from a car rental company.
For more information on IETT schedules check our transport information page.