How to get fromColombo to Istanbulby plane or bus

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There are 2 ways to get from Colombo to Istanbul by plane or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Fly to Istanbul, bus
best
1. Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul (IST)CMB - IST
2. Take the bus from Istanbul Airport Bus to Istanbul Otogari
11h 13m
₺10,590–16,945
Fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
cheapest
1. Fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)CMB - SAW
12h 51m
₺9,973–13,746

Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul (IST) flights

52Weekly Planes

11h 5mAverage Duration

₺9,359Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from Colombo to Istanbul.

Launch map view

Distance: 6,373.3 km
Duration: 11h 13m

What companies run services between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Istanbul, Turkey?

Qatar Airways, Air Arabia, and six other airlines fly from Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) 4 times a day.

Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more

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Istanbul(opens in a new window), Türkiye(opens in a new window)

The Turkish city is a traveller’s dream. A visit to the world-famous Blue Mosque is a must, along with Topkapi Palace and church-turned-mosque-turned-museum Hagia Sophia. Transport yourself to ancient times in the Grand Bazaar, walk through the fascinating Basilica Cistern, wander down Istiklal Avenue in the heart of the city, and take a river cruise down the Bosphorus. Rejuvenate your body at a local hammam or Turkish bath, sip on some divine Turkish coffee and feast on delicious food and baklava, before checking out the city’s thriving nightlife scene.

Things to do in Istanbul

Topkapı Palace(Opens in a new window)

The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى, Ṭopḳapu Sarāyı), or the Seraglio, is a large museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In the 15th century, it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.

Hagia Sophia(Opens in a new window)

Hagia Sophia was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and is now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey. The Roman Empire's first Christian Cathedral, from the date of its construction in 537 AD, and until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted by the Fourth Crusaders to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was later converted into an Ottoman mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931. It was then secularized and opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture". It remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.

Golden Horn(Opens in a new window)

The Golden Horn (Turkish: Altın Boynuz; Ancient Greek: Χρυσόκερας, Chrysókeras; Latin: Sinus Ceratinus), also known by its modern Turkish name as Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.

New Mosque(Opens in a new window)

The Yeni Cami (pronounced Yeni jami), meaning New Mosque; originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Valide Sultan Camii) and later New Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Yeni Valide Sultan Camii) after its partial reconstruction and completion between 1660 and 1665; is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is situated on the Golden Horn, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge, and is one of the famous architectural landmarks of Istanbul.

Places to stay in Istanbul

Merdan Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.2Very Good

Şar Apartment Suites(Opens in a new window)

8.2Very Good

Yılsam Sultanahmet Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.7Fabulous

Eurostar Old City Hotel & Spa(Opens in a new window)

8.3Very Good

Rome2Rio makes travelling from Colombo to Istanbul easy.

Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from Colombo to Istanbul right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2Rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.