Travelling from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Samarkand Airport (SKD): what you need to know
Book a direct flight from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 4 hours 25 minutes.
Samarkand is two hours ahead of Istanbul and is in the UTC+5 timezone.
Every week, there are 17 Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport flights. To get going as early as possible, pick the 01:10 Turkish Airlines flight. If you're eager to make the most of your day before flying, the last departure is at 22:10 with Turkish Airlines.
Give yourself plenty of time to catch your IST to SKD flight. As a general rule, arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as April. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
With direct flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport available from numerous airlines, getting to Samarkand (and then other corners of Uzbekistan) is a cinch. Here's who you can fly nonstop with:
Most passengers choose to fly with Qanot Sharq on this route.
Opt for a stopover if you prefer to break up your flight. Simply uncheck 'Direct flights only' to look at all your options for tickets from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport. Dubai Airport is a top stopover on the IST to SKD route.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Samarkand Airport (SKD)
At the moment, Rs32,562 is the cheapest price we've found for a one-way Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport flight. The best price for a return plane ticket is Rs60,987. Remember that fares can change due to demand when booking.
To score cheap tickets from IST to SKD, reserve your trip six months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to see the cheapest airfare across each month.
Never miss a deal on cheap flights from IST to SKD by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification on the app when fares go down.
Tailor your trip with filters. Pick your departure and arrival times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport.
Handy information about Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
To get to Istanbul Ataturk Airport from central Istanbul, it'll take around 50 minutes if you're going by car. This depends on traffic, however. It's approximately 48 kilometres from the airport to the city centre.
The trip when using public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
Searching for a convenient hotel close to IST? If you've booked an early flight from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Samarkand Airport (SKD)
Consider booking a hotel near SKD if you're taking a late Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport flight. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer after landing:
Go where the road takes you with a Samarkand Airport rental car. Pick up your wheels from Europcar, Sixt or Keddy By Europcar and chase adventure across Samarkand and beyond.
For the lowest price, reserve your vehicle from Samarkand Airport about one week before you set off.
Getting from Samarkand Airport (SKD) to central Samarkand
Samarkand Airport is roughly 6 kilometres from the centre of Samarkand. Driving there takes about 15 minutes.
When to fly to Samarkand Airport (SKD)
July is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport. For smaller crowds, head to Samarkand in February.
Book your flight from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Samarkand Airport for July if you want to visit Samarkand during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 14ºC and 34ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from IST to SKD in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -11ºC and 8ºC on average.
Explore more of Uzbekistan
You've visited Samarkand, now it's time to explore more of Uzbekistan. Travel around 274 kilometres north-east to Tashkent to check off its popular sights. From Chorsu Bazaar to Amir Timur Museum and Tashkent TV tower, you'll have a packed itinerary ahead.
Namangan is another sought-after destination in Uzbekistan and is around 418 kilometres east of Samarkand. No trip is complete without seeing Hamza kalsavoy, Afsonalar vodiysi and Ola Buka.