Airlines on the Istanbul–Riyadh route
| Airline | From which airport | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish AirlinesDaily flights | Istanbul Airport IST | Daily flights |
| SaudiaDaily flights | Istanbul Airport IST | Daily flights |
| flynas and PegasusLow-cost options on a seasonal schedule | Mostly Sabiha Gökçen SAW | Low-cost options on a seasonal schedule |
Schedules and frequencies change with the season — we send you the flights actually available on your date.
Flight time and airports
A direct flight takes between 3 hours 45 minutes and 4½ hours depending on the airline and airport, and there is no time difference between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. King Khalid International Airport is north of Riyadh, about 35 km from the centre, so factor in the drive to your home or hotel when you pick an arrival time.
If you are heading to the Eastern Province, a direct flight to Dammam may suit you better than Riyadh, and for Makkah or Madinah choose Jeddah or Madinah directly. Tell us your final city and we compare.
Which airport: Istanbul or Sabiha Gökçen?
Turkish Airlines and Saudia mostly fly from Istanbul Airport, and low-cost carriers such as flynas and Pegasus from Sabiha Gökçen. For families flying back to Riyadh after the summer, the key point of comparison is baggage on the way home, so we price each option including bags for every passenger. Flights from Sabiha Gökçen sometimes leave late at night, which suits anyone who wants a full last day in Istanbul.
Baggage on the Istanbul–Riyadh route
The cheapest low-cost fares include cabin baggage only, while Turkish Airlines and Saudia allowances depend on the fare class. Families going home after a summer in Türkiye usually carry a lot of shopping, so it's best to book enough weight with the ticket from the start.
- Ask us about the allowance per person, including children and infants — it differs between airlines.
- Strollers and car seats usually travel free, but under each airline's rules.
Travel documents: which Saudi visa suits you?
Turkish citizens and nationals of eligible countries get the tourist e-visa, and holders of a valid US, UK or Schengen visa may get it whatever their nationality. Most Arab residents of Türkiye, though, travel to Riyadh on a family visit visa requested by their relative living in Saudi Arabia, or on a personal visit visa with an invitation from a Saudi citizen.
Details are in our guides to Saudi visa types and the family visit visa, and we arrange Saudi and Gulf visas together with the ticket.
When to book: peak seasons on this route
The route is busy in both directions in the summer holidays, when many families from Saudi Arabia spend the summer in Türkiye, and in the mid-year holidays and around Eid. Traffic to Riyadh also rises in the winter events season. Book early in these periods, especially for a whole family that needs seats together. If your trip combines Riyadh and Umrah, you can land in Riyadh and fly home from Jeddah or Madinah, or the reverse, in one plan.
From Riyadh airport into the city
King Khalid Airport has several terminals, and Saudia and foreign airlines don't always use the same one, so check the terminal on your ticket and send it to whoever is meeting you. From the airport you reach the districts of Riyadh by car, taxi or ride-hailing app, and the Riyadh Metro also serves the airport; at rush hour the drive can take longer. Send your flight number to the person picking you up so they follow the actual landing time rather than the one on the ticket.
Summer holidays: from Riyadh to Istanbul and on around Türkiye
Many families from Riyadh don't stay only in Istanbul but move on to Trabzon, Antalya or Bursa. We can combine the international flight with a domestic flight in Türkiye in one plan, allowing time to change airports if the domestic flight leaves from a different one, and arrange the hotels, villas and airport pick-up.
How we book your Istanbul–Riyadh ticket
Send us the form at the top of the page or a WhatsApp message with: your direction of travel, dates, number of passengers and children's ages, and the type of visa you are travelling on. We send flights from both airports with baggage for each passenger and issue the tickets with names exactly as in the passports once you confirm.
- Work and recruitment: we book the ticket after the work visa is issued, on the date the employer asks for.
- Family visit: book after the visa is issued, or on a changeable ticket.
- Large families: book everyone on one reservation so it's easy to change later.
Residents of Saudi Arabia: the exit and re-entry visa
If you live in Saudi Arabia on a work or dependant iqama and are going to Türkiye on holiday, you need a valid exit and re-entry visa before you travel, and it must cover your return date to Riyadh. Book your return a few days before the exit and re-entry visa expires, and choose a changeable fare if your return date isn't certain. Don't confuse this visa with your entry visa for Türkiye, which depends on your nationality.
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Istanbul–Riyadh flights: frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Riyadh?
The direct flight takes about four hours, and there is no time difference between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Which visa do I need to visit my family in Riyadh?
Usually the family visit visa: your relative living in Saudi Arabia starts the request, then your part is completed in Türkiye. Turkish citizens can travel on the tourist e-visa.
Is there a direct flight from Sabiha Gökçen to Riyadh?
Yes. Low-cost carriers such as flynas and Pegasus fly from Sabiha Gökçen on a seasonal schedule, and Turkish Airlines and Saudia from Istanbul Airport.
Can you book a whole family with seats together?
Yes. We book everyone on one reservation and request seats together as far as the airline and fare allow.
Can you add a domestic flight in Türkiye to my Riyadh ticket?
Yes. We combine the international flight with a domestic flight to Trabzon, Antalya or elsewhere, allowing time to change airports.
Do you book tickets for recruited workers flying to Riyadh?
Yes. Once the work visa is issued we book the ticket for the required date, and we can book several people together.
I live in Saudi Arabia — when should I book my return?
For a date a few days before your exit and re-entry visa expires, on a changeable fare if your return date isn't certain.
Can I combine Riyadh and Umrah in one trip?
Yes. You can land in Riyadh and fly home from Jeddah or Madinah, or the reverse, and we arrange the domestic flights and the Umrah visa if you need it.
Guides for this route
Which Saudi visa fits you from Türkiye? A complete guide by nationality: the tourist e-visa for 66 countries, the new package visa for Egypt and Jordan, Umrah, family and personal visits, business and 96-hour transit, and the single-entry rule for 14 nationalities.
Read the guideThe Saudi family visit guide for residents of Türkiye: eligibility, how your relative files the request on the visa platform, visitor and family documents, stay and extension via Absher, the single-entry rule for 14 nationalities, and Umrah.
Read the guideA booking guide for flights from Istanbul for residents of Türkiye: Istanbul Airport vs Sabiha Gökçen, Turkish Airlines vs Pegasus vs AJet, the cheapest days and times to book, baggage, children, and the most requested routes (Cairo, Jeddah, Riyadh, Damascus, Dubai, Baghdad).
Read the guideReady to book your flight to Riyadh?
Fill in the request at the top of the page or message our flights desk directly, and we send you the options with baggage and change rules spelled out.