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Melbourne is the first Australian city to get direct flights to Istanbul

We can taste the gözleme already

Liv Condous
Written by
Liv Condous
Lifestyle Writer
The blue mosque in Istanbul at sunset.
Photograph: Pedro Szekely
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The New Year is well and truly here, and a burning question is beginning to pop up in our everyday small talk convos: have you got any trips planned?

If you’re due for a holiday in the Northern Hemisphere (as is customary for Melburnians looking to escape our brutal winters) you’re in luck, because Melbourne is the first Australian city to gain direct flights to an exciting destination, taking off very soon. 

Turkish Airlines, one of the biggest airlines in the world, has revealed it will be launching direct flights between Melbourne and Istanbul from March 2024. We can taste the gözleme already. 

Istanbul is a bustling metropolis, famous for its incredibly beautiful architecture. It’s the biggest city in Türkiye, so you can easily explore the rest of the country from there. Relax on a beach, hike picturesque mountain ranges or take an iconic hot air balloon ride – or easily jet off to somewhere else (Euro summer, yes please). Either way, sampling some delicious local cuisine is absolutely essential – don’t miss out on some tasty Turkish delight. 

The airline will start with three flights each week between Melbourne and Istanbul from March 15, with the possibility of daily flights in the future. It’s good news for Melburnians (whether you’re keen to visit Türkiye or not), as more flights will hopefully drive exorbitant airfare costs down – thank god. 

This news has got us scheming and dreaming of our next escape already. You can book flights right now with airfares currently on sale. Happy holidaying! 

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