How to get fromGeorge Town to Istanbulby plane, car ferry, tram, or train

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There are 5 ways to get from George Town to Istanbul by plane, car ferry, tram, or train

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

Fly Penang International Airport to Istanbul
best
1. Fly from Penang International Airport (PEN) to Istanbul (IST)plane PEN - IST
16h 23m
₺15,120–49,127
Car ferry, train, train to Kuala Lumpur International Airport, fly to Istanbul
cheapest
1. Take the car ferry from Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal to Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminalcarferry
2. Take the train from Butterworth to Kl Sentraltrain
3. Take the train from KL Sentral to Klia T1train
4. Fly from Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) to Istanbul (IST)plane KUL - IST
19h 41m
₺13,766–36,556
Fly Penang International Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
1. Fly from Penang International Airport (PEN) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane PEN - SAW
18h 40m
₺21,123–55,150
Car ferry, tram to Alor Setar, fly to Istanbul
1. Take the car ferry from Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal to Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminalcarferry
2. Take the tram from Butterworth to Alor Startram
3. Fly from Alor Setar (AOR) to Istanbul (IST)plane AOR - IST
19h 55m
₺23,149–70,384
Car ferry, tram to Alor Setar, fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
1. Take the car ferry from Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal to Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminalcarferry
2. Take the tram from Butterworth to Alor Startram
3. Fly from Alor Setar (AOR) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane AOR - SAW
23h 58m
₺20,152–55,407

Penang International Airport (PEN) to Istanbul (IST) flights

12Weekly Planes

16h 6mAverage Duration

₺15,908Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from George Town to Istanbul.

Launch map view

Distance: 8,148.2 km
Duration: 16h 23m

What companies run services between George Town, Malaysia and Istanbul, Turkey?

Thai Airways International, Turkish Airlines, and three other airlines fly from Penang International Airport (PEN) to Istanbul (IST) twice daily.

Airlines

Train operators

Ferry operators

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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)

8.1Very Good

Şar Pansiyon(Opens in a new window)

8.2Very Good

Yılsam Sultanahmet Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.8Fabulous

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

8.6Fabulous

Rome2Rio makes travelling from George Town 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 George Town 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.