Flying from Skopje Airport (SKP) to Istanbul Airport (IST): what you need to know
Jump on a direct flight from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 35 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is two hours ahead of Skopje.
Flights from SKP to IST start at 08:35 — the earliest with Turkish Airlines. The last service of the day is at 20:35 with Turkish Airlines. In total, you can choose from 14 weekly Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport flights.
For a stress-free journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your SKP to IST flight.
During popular months such as July, it's a good idea to get to the airport earlier. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead for an international flight whenever you're flying during peak periods in general.
Turkish Airlines is your gateway to exploring Istanbul (and maybe even some other great parts of Türkiye (Turkey)!). Browse the direct flights from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport offered by this carrier.
The majority of passengers choose to travel with Turkish Airlines on this route.
We make it a piece of cake to book a flight with a stopover. To see all your options for tickets from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight offering a stop long enough to explore the city of your choice. Top stopovers between SKP and IST include:
Athens International Airport
Antalya Airport
Izmir Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from Skopje Airport (SKP) to Istanbul Airport (IST)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport flight is Rs18,003. A round-trip ticket is currently Rs41,696. Depending on the availability when you book, these fares may change.
Don't wait until the last moment. You're more likely to find cheap tickets from SKP to IST if you book in advance. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird rates.
Organise your trip for May. That's the cheapest month for flights from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport. If your travel dates are flexible, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across each month.
Save time looking for cheap flights from SKP to IST by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.
Tailor your trip using filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, total journey duration and airlines. You can also sort the results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport.
Handy information about Skopje Airport (SKP)
85% of flights departing from Skopje Airport reach their destination on time. With its impressive on-time stats, delays are unlikely when flying out of SKP.
Central Skopje to Skopje Airport is around 18 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take you about 25 minutes to get there if you're driving, catching a taxi or ride-sharing.
Taking public transport? Expect a trip time of around 35 minutes.
Looking for a handy hotel near SKP? If you've booked an early flight from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)
Reserve a hotel close to IST if you're catching a late Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport flight. Pick one of these accommodation options and skip the long transfer:
Pick up a Istanbul Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own set of wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are popular outlets to choose from here.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Istanbul Airport around two weeks ahead of your trip.
Getting from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Istanbul Airport is approximately 40 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. The drive time takes around 45 minutes.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes about 1 hour 10 minutes.
When to fly to Istanbul Airport (IST)
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport. August is the most popular month to head to Istanbul. If you like a quieter vibe, go in March.
When reserving your flight from Skopje Airport to Istanbul Airport, consider the kind of weather you like. July is the warmest month in Istanbul, with the temperature ranging from 21ºC to 30ºC.
January has average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Search for cheap tickets from SKP to IST sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've done Istanbul, now it's time to discover other parts of Türkiye (Turkey). Travel around 354 kilometres east to Ankara to check off its leading sights. From The Roman Theatre to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, there's plenty to keep you on the go.
If you're eager to discover another side of Türkiye (Turkey), consider Izmir, about 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square are among the biggest draws.