Flying from Istanbul to Moscow: what you need to know
Get your holiday planning started by considering where you'll board your flight from Istanbul to Moscow. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's main airports.
Moscow has a number of airports you can jet into. Touch down at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), Vnukovo Airport (VKO) or Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME).
The average duration of a direct Istanbul to Moscow flight is 4 hours 25 minutes.
Istanbul and Moscow share the UTC+3 timezone. That means you won't have to change your watch on arrival.
The most popular route for flights from Istanbul to Moscow is from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Vnukovo Airport (VKO). You can choose from 62 services every week between these two airports. If you want to get going as soon as possible, the earliest flight from IST to VKO is the 01:10 Turkish Airlines option. If you prefer to leave later in the day, the last available departure is at 22:10 with Turkish Airlines.
To ensure you make your Istanbul to Moscow flight, leave plenty of time to check in and drop off your luggage. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.
You'll likely experience longer queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Moscow
Book five months before travelling. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap Istanbul to Moscow flights.
August is the best month for scoring an amazing deal on a plane ticket from Istanbul to Moscow. If you'd like to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from Istanbul to Moscow by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a new discounted fare appears.
Find a cheap Istanbul to Moscow flight with the help of our filters. Select your ideal departure time, duration and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Set out from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and fly straight through to Vnukovo Airport (VKO) or Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME). If you're searching for a direct flight from Istanbul to Moscow out of IST, those are your arrival choices.
You can choose from various airlines offering direct Istanbul to Moscow plane tickets with departures from IST, including:
We make it a breeze to find an Istanbul to Moscow flight with a stopover. To see all your options departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, select a flight that has a stop long enough to see the sights of your chosen city. Major stopovers include:
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Pulkovo Airport (LED)
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Located around 32 kilometres from central Istanbul, IST can be reached in about 50 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The journey on public transport will take roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.
After a relaxed start to your journey? Stay near Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Istanbul to Moscow or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are perfect:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Prefer to jet off from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)? This hub offers nonstop flights from Istanbul to Moscow, seamlessly connecting you to Vnukovo Airport (VKO).
Book a direct Istanbul to Moscow plane ticket with AJet. This is one of the main airlines operating this route out of SAW.
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your Istanbul to Moscow flight. Visit family or friends or tick another city off your list. Whatever you choose to do, check out these options between Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Moscow:
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Cairo International Airport (CAI)
Antalya Airport (AYT)
SAW is around 31 kilometres from central Istanbul. It'll take 55 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes.
You're off on holiday, so why not spend an additional night away? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your flight from Istanbul to Moscow:
77% of flights leaving Sabiha Gokcen International Airport arrive according to schedule.
Arriving in Moscow
Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO)
Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) is approximately 27 kilometres from the centre of Moscow. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive will take around 35 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Istanbul to Moscow, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your suitcases from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these accommodation options near SVO:
Best time to go to Moscow
It's time to plan your trip dates for your flight from Istanbul to Moscow. July is the busiest month to visit Moscow. If you like a more relaxed atmosphere, go in February.
The warmest month in Moscow is July, with temperatures ranging between 12ºC (54ºF) and 31ºC (88ºF). Lock in your Istanbul to Moscow ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
If you like travelling in cooler conditions, search for a cheap flight from Istanbul to Moscow in January when temperatures average between -18ºC (0ºF) and 0ºC (32ºF).
Explore more of Russia
Nizhniy Novgorod is just one of the many places in Russia waiting to be explored after you've seen Moscow. Around 386 kilometres to the east, its top attractions include Monument to cosmonaut Komarov, A.M.Gorkiy Childhood Museum and Dlinnaya Staraya Lestnitsa.
Around 467 kilometres south of Moscow, Voronezh is another essential stop in Russia. Experience this destination's highlights firsthand at Dom Gardenina, Skver Dzerzhinskogo and Alleya Slavy Voronezhskikh Olimpiytsev-Dinamovtsev.
