Turkey holidays

2 destinations in Turkey, with real fares from London Heathrow. Compare them in the trip search, or pick one below.

Highlights

Turkey's two headline trips barely overlap: Istanbul's transcontinental city break against Antalya's long Mediterranean resort coast.

Why go

Istanbul spans two continents across the Bosphorus and works as a city break through most of the year, not just summer.
Antalya anchors a long stretch of Mediterranean coastline built for a proper beach holiday.
Genuinely different trips under one flag, so the choice depends on whether you want a city or a coast, not a compromise between them.

Worth knowing

Istanbul and Antalya sit far enough apart that combining them means a domestic flight, not a day trip or a short transfer.
Antalya is built around its coastline rather than a single town centre, so a car or transfers matter more there than in Istanbul.

Antalya
City · Turkey
€113 from London Heathrow46h 40m, 3 stops
Istanbul
City · Turkey
€139 from London Heathrow4h, direct

Fares are one-way prices from London Heathrow, per traveller, checked regularly against Travelpayouts — indicative, not live quotes. See the packages page for real return windows with dates.

Choosing where to go

How Turkey’s own destinations differ, and who each tends to suit.

IstanbulA historic, transcontinental city split by the Bosphorus, built for sightseeing and city life rather than the beach. Works as a trip through most of the year.
AntalyaThe Turkish Riviera's main resort hub, anchoring a long coastline of beach towns rather than offering one central sight of its own.

When to go

Spring: Mild and comfortable in Istanbul for sightseeing; Antalya is warming up but not yet at beach-holiday heat.
Summer: Hot and busy on the Antalya coast, the height of its resort season; Istanbul turns warm and humid too.
Autumn: A favourite window for both: Istanbul stays comfortable for walking, and the Antalya coast holds its warmth well into October.
Winter: Cool and quiet in Istanbul, workable for a city break; Antalya's resort season winds down and many seasonal hotels close.

Weather across Turkey

Monthly highs and rainfall averaged across Turkey’s 2 published destinations — one place inside that set can run warmer or cooler than this. Gold months are the best weather fit by our formula.

Best overall: June · August · September · October
Hottest: July · 34°C
Wettest: December · 119mm

January, averaged across these destinations: daily high 13°C, 115mm rainfall.
February, averaged across these destinations: daily high 13°C, 105mm rainfall.
March, averaged across these destinations: daily high 15°C, 78mm rainfall.
April, averaged across these destinations: daily high 21°C, 56mm rainfall.
May, averaged across these destinations: daily high 24°C, 67mm rainfall.
June, averaged across these destinations: daily high 30°C, 31mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
July, averaged across these destinations: daily high 34°C, 22mm rainfall.
August, averaged across these destinations: daily high 32°C, 18mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
September, averaged across these destinations: daily high 29°C, 44mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
October, averaged across these destinations: daily high 25°C, 30mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
November, averaged across these destinations: daily high 19°C, 99mm rainfall.
December, averaged across these destinations: daily high 15°C, 119mm rainfall.

What it costs

An inexpensive restaurant meal runs around €7. A budget hotel room is typically around €41/night, €82 mid-range. These are Turkey-wide estimates, not live listing prices.

Getting around

Istanbul and Antalya are a domestic flight apart, not a quick hop by road or rail. Within Istanbul, ferries cross the Bosphorus alongside metro, tram and bus lines linking the city's European and Asian sides; Antalya's coastline leans more on transfers and a car to reach beach towns outside the centre.