Istanbul to Pyongyang flights
Pyongyang lies 7,771 km (4,829 mi) north-east of Istanbul, +6 h on the clock. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 10 h 43 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
| Istanbul | Pyongyang | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Turkey | North Korea |
| Population | 15.7 million | 3.2 million |
| Elevation | 39 m (128 ft) | 43 m (141 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+3 (Europe/Istanbul) | UTC+9 (Asia/Pyongyang) |
| Nearest large airport | SAW, 33 km out | FNJ, 22 km out |
Clocks in Pyongyang are 6 h ahead of Istanbul right now, so a 10 h 43 min journey lands 16 h 43 min later by the destination clock.
What changes when you arrive in Pyongyang
Crossing from Turkey into North Korea: money changes from the Lira to the Won (KPW); sockets are Euro, NEMA 1-15, Schuko; the dialling code becomes +850.
Airports at each end
Leaving Istanbul
Istanbul is served by 4 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW), 33 km (21 mi) from the centre, whose 11,614-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are İstanbul Airport (IST, 34 km), Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport (TEQ, 87 km), Bursa Yenişehir Airport (YEI, 99 km).
Arriving in Pyongyang
Pyongyang is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ), 22 km (14 mi) from the centre, whose 12,475-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyongyang Sunan International Airport | FNJ | 22 km (14 mi) | 12,475 ft | 117 ft |
Book a flight to Pyongyang
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Staying in Pyongyang
Live rooms and prices for Pyongyang are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Pyongyang
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Common questions
How far is Pyongyang from Istanbul?
7,771 km (4,829 mi) in a straight line, north-east of Istanbul.
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Pyongyang by air?
About 10 h 43 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Istanbul and Pyongyang?
Pyongyang is 6 h ahead at the moment (Asia/Pyongyang against Europe/Istanbul).
Which airports are used for Istanbul to Pyongyang flights?
Typically Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Pyongyang Sunan International Airport (FNJ).
What currency do I need in Pyongyang?
The Won (KPW).
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.