LOT Adds Direct Flights Connecting Gdańsk to Istanbul’s Historic Core

Starting in mid-January 2026, LOT Polish Airlines will begin operating direct flights between Gdańsk and Istanbul. The route will run four times per week, with departures scheduled for the afternoon from Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport and evening returns from Istanbul. The flight duration is just under three hours, allowing for a nonstop journey between northern Poland and one of Turkey’s major urban centers.

The new connection expands Gdańsk’s list of international destinations and means travelers no longer have to change planes in Warsaw or elsewhere in Europe to reach Istanbul. Service will commence on January 14, with tickets currently available through LOT’s official booking channels. The flight times are set up so that people can use them for quick trips or to connect onward without much hassle, making things easier for travelers from the region.

For passengers arriving in Gdańsk, the direct flight allows easy access to central points of interest without requiring extra ground transport. Żuraw, the old wooden crane by the Motława River, and the narrow Mariacka Street with its stone steps and carved doorways, are just a short walk from the heart of the Old Town. These locations provide insight into the city’s past as a major Baltic trading port.

Travelers reaching Istanbul via the new route can plan visits around key historic areas close to the city center. The Hagia Sophia, a former cathedral and mosque, and Sultanahmet Square, which also includes the Blue Mosque and other landmarks, are located in the same district. You can walk to both without needing transport, which comes in handy if you’re in the city just for a few hours or between flights.

The launch of this route strengthens air access between Central Europe and the eastern Mediterranean. With quicker trips and fewer transfers to worry about, it becomes easier for people to move between the two regions in either direction. This new flight also shows how Gdańsk is becoming a more important airport in the region, as airlines keep adjusting their routes to match how and where people actually want to travel across Europe.