Istanbul to Damascus Flights: Book Return and One-Way Tickets

Flight time and airports

A direct flight from Istanbul to Damascus takes about two hours, and there is no time difference between the two countries, so you land roughly two hours after the take-off time on your ticket. You arrive at Damascus International Airport, 25 to 30 km south-east of the city centre; the drive into town usually takes between half an hour and an hour depending on the time of day.

If your final destination is Aleppo, there are also direct flights from Istanbul to Aleppo, and flying there may save you a long road trip from Damascus. Tell us your final city and we compare both options for you.

Which airport: Istanbul or Sabiha Gökçen?

Turkish Airlines flies to Damascus from Istanbul Airport on the European side, and AJet from Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. The time it takes you to reach the airport can matter more than the flight itself: from Fatih, Esenyurt or Başakşehir, Istanbul Airport is closer; from Üsküdar, Kadıköy or Pendik, Sabiha Gökçen is much closer.

Don't compare the ticket price alone. The cheapest low-cost fare may not include checked baggage, and once you add a suitcase it can come close to a Turkish Airlines ticket. We send both options with the baggage spelled out so you compare the full total. See also our full comparison of the two airports.

Baggage on the Istanbul–Damascus route

Most passengers on this route are families carrying gifts and plenty of luggage, so baggage is the most important part of the booking. As a rule, low-cost carriers such as AJet sell their cheapest fares with cabin baggage only and charge separately for a checked bag, while Turkish Airlines' allowance depends on the fare class. Buying extra weight in advance is always cheaper than paying for it at the check-in desk.

• Ask us for the checked and cabin baggage allowance of each option before we issue the ticket.
• If you are carrying a lot, add the extra weight with the booking, not at the airport.
• Keep medicines, documents and passports out of your checked bag.

Travel documents: read this before you book

If you are Syrian and hold temporary protection (the kimlik card): travel to Syria happens through the voluntary return procedure, your temporary protection ends and the card is collected, and coming back to Türkiye afterwards requires a visa. Do not book a return ticket until you have confirmed your situation with the Presidency of Migration Management.

If you are Syrian with a valid residence permit or Turkish citizenship: you travel on your passport through the airport as normal — just make sure your residence permit is valid until your return date. If you hold another nationality, ask us about the entry rules for your passport before booking, as they have changed more than once since 2025.

Full details for air and land travel and each situation are in our guide to travelling from Türkiye to Syria.

When to book: peak seasons on this route

The busiest periods are before Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and during the summer holidays, when flights fill up weeks in advance — even more so since demand for travel to Syria came back. If you are travelling around Eid, book as early as you can; if your dates are flexible, tell us and we look for seats on nearby days.

How we book your Istanbul–Damascus ticket

Send us the form at the top of the page or a WhatsApp message with: your arrival city (Damascus or Aleppo), your date, the number of passengers and children's ages, and your status in Türkiye (residence permit, Turkish citizenship or other). We send flights from both airports with baggage and change rules, flag anything in your legal situation that needs sorting out before you travel, and issue the ticket in your name exactly as in your passport once you confirm.

• Write your name in Latin letters exactly as in your passport — one wrong letter can stop you from boarding.
• Check that your passport is valid for long enough after your return date.
• If you are booking for relatives flying in from Syria, send us a photo of the passport page so we spell the name correctly.
• If your dates are fixed, book outbound and return together — it is usually cheaper than two one-way tickets.

One-way or return?

On this route in particular the answer differs from one traveller to the next. If you are moving back to Syria for good, a one-way ticket is enough — there is no point paying for a return you may never use. If you are visiting and will come back to Türkiye, first make sure your legal status allows you to return, then book both directions together, which is usually cheaper, and choose a fare that lets you change the return date if you are not sure how long you will stay.

Istanbul–Damascus flights: frequently asked questions

Guides for this route