Travelling from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA): What you need to know
Istanbul has a couple of airports where you can start your adventure. Check out your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA) heading out from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Expect to be in the air for 2 hours 40 minutes. That's the average journey time for a direct Istanbul to Malta International Airport flight.
The timezone in Valletta is UTC+1, which is two hours behind Istanbul. Malta International Airport is located in Valletta.
The busiest route is from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Malta International Airport (MLA), with 17 direct services every week. If you want to be on your way right away, the earliest flight from IST to MLA is the 7:50am Turkish Airlines option. If a later start suits your schedule, the final departure is at 10:10pm with KM Malta Airlines.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are travel rules to live by. Get to the airport on time to catch your flight from Istanbul to MLA.
With more travellers during high season, it's wise to get to your terminal even earlier. Two hours for domestic flights and up to four for international journeys will help you deal with longer queues.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Take the express route from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Nonstop flights from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA) are available from here.
When taking off from IST, you can take a direct flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport with Turkish Airlines.
Most travellers prefer to book seats with Turkish Airlines from IST to MLA.
IST is about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Searching for a comfortable hotel close to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from your departure lounge:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Break up your flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport with a stop so you can stretch your legs or perhaps go somewhere you've never been before. Some popular stopovers between Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and MLA include:
Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH)
Bucharest Henri Coanda International Airport (OTP)
Guglielmo Marconi Airport (BLQ)
You can reach SAW from the centre of Istanbul in approximately 55 minutes by car, depending on traffic conditions. The journey by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to cover the 48 kilometres or so.
Taking off bright and early? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to MLA flight:
When it comes to flights staying on schedule, Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival performance of 76.93%.
About Malta International Airport (MLA)
If you have a late flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your luggage at baggage claim and then be showered and snoozing not long after at one of these options near MLA:
Pick up a Malta International Airport rental car and explore Valletta and beyond with your own set of wheels. MOVIS, BEE Malta and Sun Car Rentals are top outlets you can book with here.
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle around three weeks ahead of your Istanbul to Malta International Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA)
Currently, C$105 is the best price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Malta International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is C$209. Remember fares can change due to availability at the time of booking.
To snap up cheap flights from Istanbul to MLA, book your flight ticket ten months ahead of your departure date.
Plan your trip for March. That's the best month for scoring the biggest deals on Istanbul to Malta International Airport tickets. If you're open to different travel dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across every month.
Locking in a cheap flight ticket from Istanbul to MLA couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll let you know when a lower fare pops up.
Filters make it easier to scoop up a deal on your flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport. Choose the departure times, carriers and stops that look good to you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to find the best price quickly.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA)
August is when most people book flights from Istanbul to Malta International Airport (MLA). Plan your visit to Valletta in April if you'd rather be there when it's quieter.
When booking your Istanbul to MLA flight ticket, consider the kind of weather you prefer. August is the warmest month in Valletta, with temperatures ranging from 25ºC (77ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Istanbul to Malta International Airport in February when temperatures are between 11ºC (52ºF) and 16ºC (61ºF).
More about Valletta
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in Valletta right here. Browse these hotels after locking in your flight from Istanbul to Malta International Airport:
There are so many things to see and do in this city, it can be tricky to work out where to begin. St. John's Co-Cathedral, Great Siege of Malta and the Knights of St. John and Harbour cruise 3 cities trip are leading attractions which should be on every Valletta itinerary.