Travelling from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Skopje Airport (SKP): what you need to know
Around 1 hour 30 minutes is how long you can expect to be in the air on a direct flight from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport.
Skopje's timezone is UTC+1, which makes Skopje two hours behind Istanbul.
Every week, there are 14 Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport flights. If you prefer to jet off as early as possible, select the 07:25 Turkish Airlines flight. If you're eager to make the most of your day before flying, the last flight is at 20:15 with Turkish Airlines.
Your IST to SKP flight won't wait if you're late, so show up at the airport on time. Arrive up to one hour in advance for domestic flights and two hours ahead when you're travelling internationally.
Travelling during a peak month like August? Public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and arrive up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Turkish Airlines has direct flights from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport. Book with this popular carrier, then get ready to discover the sights in Skopje — and maybe even more of North Macedonia if you have time.
Turkish Airlines is the airline most travellers choose to fly with on this route.
We make it a piece of cake to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to tour your chosen city. Top stopovers between IST and SKP include:
Vienna Airport
Antalya Airport
Izmir Airport
Handy information about Istanbul Airport (IST)
Central Istanbul to Istanbul Airport is around 40 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 45 minutes to get there if you're ride-sharing, catching a taxi or driving.
Expect a trip time of about 1 hour 10 minutes on public transport.
Booked an early flight from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by choosing one of these hotels close to IST:
Arriving at Skopje Airport (SKP)
Consider staying in a hotel near SKP if you're taking a late Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport flight. Settle into one of these accommodation options and make your arrival easier:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Skopje Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from 387rentacar, Avant Car or Carwiz to explore Skopje and beyond.
For the best deal, book your ride from Skopje Airport about three weeks ahead.
Getting from Skopje Airport (SKP) to central Skopje
Skopje Airport to central Skopje has a drive time of around 25 minutes. It's approximately 18 kilometres away.
Travelling to the centre on public transport takes roughly 35 minutes.
When to fly to Skopje Airport (SKP)
July is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport. For smaller crowds, travel to Skopje in March.
The warmest month in Skopje is August, with temperatures ranging between 16ºC and 33ºC. Book your flights from Istanbul Airport to Skopje Airport in this month if you enjoy this type of weather.
January sees average temperatures of between -8ºC and 8ºC. Look for cheap tickets from IST to SKP around that time if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of North Macedonia
Bitola is just one of the many cities in North Macedonia waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Skopje. Around 105 kilometres away to the south, check out popular attractions including Heraclea, Ancient Macedonian City Heraclea Lyncestis and Heraclea waterfall.
If you're interested in discovering another great destination in North Macedonia, consider Kumanovo, roughly 29 kilometres north-east of Skopje. Church of Holy Trinity, Bislim Gorge and Seat of the Metropolitan of Dicese of Kumanovo and Osogovo are among the biggest draws.