Brussels to Istanbul links the EU capital with Turkey's crossroads hub — Turkish Airlines dominates the schedule.
Turkish Airlines runs multiple daily frequencies between Brussels and its IST mega-hub, making this one of the strongest connecting options for Belgian travelers heading to Asia, Africa, or the Middle East. Pegasus Airlines offers a budget alternative through Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side of Istanbul, which adds ground transport time but can save EUR 100+ per ticket versus the Turkish Airlines nonstop.
Fare competition on this route intensified after Turkey expanded its visa-free regime for Belgian passport holders. Summer tourism demand pushes prices up from June through September, while the January through March window tends to produce the lowest fares. The Belgian diaspora community also creates predictable demand spikes around Ramadan and Turkish public holidays — book at least 6 weeks ahead during these periods.
If you are using Istanbul as a connection hub, Turkish Airlines' transit experience at IST is hard to beat — dedicated transfer desks, free hotel programs for long layovers, and a lounge included with business tickets. Sabiha Gökçen is simpler and cheaper but sits on the Asian side, about 90 minutes from European Istanbul by taxi. Choose IST if your layover is short or you want to explore the city.
Direct flights take about 3 to 3.5 hours depending on wind conditions and whether you land at IST (European side) or SAW (Asian side). Both airports are served from Brussels.
January through March consistently offers the lowest fares. November is also good. Avoid June through September (peak tourism) and periods around Ramadan or Turkish holidays when diaspora travel demand spikes.
IST is newer, better connected to central Istanbul, and superior for onward connections via Turkish Airlines. SAW is used by Pegasus and other budget carriers — cheaper fares but harder to reach from the European side.
