Travelling from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG): What you need to know
Istanbul has a couple of airports where you can set off on your adventure. Explore your options for reserving a flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) flying out of Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Expect to be travelling for 1 hour 25 minutes. On average, that's the duration of a direct Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport flight.
Thessaloniki is one hour behind Istanbul. Thessaloniki International Airport is located in Thessaloniki, which operates on the UTC+2 timezone.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) is the most popular route. There are 12 direct flights a week to pick from. If you prefer a later start to the day, hop on the last flight with Turkish Airlines at 8:30pm. Choose the first IST to SKG departure with Turkish Airlines at 7:25am if you'd rather get a move on.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are tried-and-true travel tips. Make sure you're at the airport on time to catch your flight from Istanbul to SKG.
During peak travel periods, allow for longer queues and get there earlier. Aim for at least two hours ahead for domestic flights and up to four hours for international trips.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
You can book a direct flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) departing from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
When leaving from IST, you can catch a direct flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport with Turkish Airlines.
The airline with the highest booking numbers between IST and SKG is Turkish Airlines.
IST is around 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by choosing one of these stays near Istanbul Ataturk Airport:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Tick a new place off your list or just take a moment to reset with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport, here's where you can stop when heading out from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH)
Vienna International Airport (VIE)
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)
On public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in about 1 hour 30 minutes. The terminal is roughly 48 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 55 minutes.
Flying off with the first light? Think about checking in to one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to SKG flight:
76.93% of flights taking off from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport stick to their scheduled arrival time.
About Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
Have a late flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport? Don't let it end in exhaustion. Check in to one of these hotels near SKG and give yourself a well-earned lights-out:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Thessaloniki International Airport rental car. Grab a set of wheels from Green Motion, Centauro or Record Go and explore beyond Thessaloniki's usual tourist stops.
Lock in the lowest price by booking your vehicle around two weeks ahead of your Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport flight.
Getting from Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) to central Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki International Airport is about 13 kilometres from central Thessaloniki. How long it'll take to get to the centre in a cab or car hire will depend on the time of day. Do some research before your trip.
Travelling by public transport will take you roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
R 1,175 is currently the best price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport. A return flight starts at R 2,651. These fares may change based on availability and demand.
Book six months before travelling. Pricing trends show that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Istanbul to SKG.
Organise your trip for November. That's the best month for landing the biggest deals on Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Finding a cheap plane ticket from Istanbul to SKG couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch when a lower fare pops up.
Filters make it easier to snap up a deal on your flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport. Choose the airlines, flight times and stops that make sense for you. Then sort the results by 'Cheapest' to bring up the lowest fares right away.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG)
April is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG), while July is the most popular. Choose the ideal time to go to Thessaloniki based on whether you want a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Lock in an Istanbul to SKG plane ticket departing in August if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Thessaloniki to range from 20ºC (68ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -2ºC (28ºF) and 12ºC (54ºF).
More about Thessaloniki
After booking your flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki International Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Thessaloniki:
There are so many things to explore in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to begin. Church of Agia Sofia, Explore Thessaloniki and Monument of Alexander The Great are major attractions which should feature on any good Thessaloniki itinerary.
Explore more of Greece
Larisa is just one of the many cities in Greece waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Thessaloniki. Around 113 kilometres away to the south-west, well-known attractions include Ancient Theatre A, War Memorial and Larissa Ancient Ruins.
Any trip through Greece isn't complete without visiting Acharnes. Holy church of the Twelve Apostles and Amygdaleza Airsoft Field are highlights in this destination, which is around 274 kilometres south of Thessaloniki.