Travelling from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) to Istanbul Airport (IST): what you need to know
Take a direct flight from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport and you'll be travelling for an average of 1 hour 30 minutes.
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which is one hour ahead of Thessaloniki.
Every week, there are 17 Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport flights.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your SKG to IST flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to avoid the stress of rushing.
You'll likely experience longer queues during popular months such as July. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for domestic departures is a wise move.
Getting to Istanbul (and then seeing more of Türkiye (Turkey)!) is a breeze with Turkish Airlines. This popular carrier offers direct flights from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport.
The majority of travellers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines on this route.
We make it a breeze to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport, deselect 'Direct flights only.' Then, pick a flight with a stop long enough to visit your chosen city. Some great stopovers between SKG and IST include:
Athens International Airport
Bucharest Otopeni Airport
Sarajevo International Airport
Handy information about Thessaloniki Airport (SKG)
83% of flights departing from Thessaloniki Airport arrive at their destination on time. With its reliable on-time performance, you're unlikely to experience delays when jetting out of SKG.
Central Thessaloniki to Thessaloniki Airport is around 16 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 25 minutes to get there if you're catching a taxi, ride-sharing or driving.
The trip when using public transport takes about 45 minutes.
Get your journey off to a hassle-free start by staying near SKG. Whether you're boarding an early flight from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are the answer:
Arriving at Istanbul Airport (IST)
Consider booking a hotel near IST if you're catching a late Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport flight. Select one of these options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Istanbul Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and explore beyond Istanbul's usual tourist stops.
To get the best deal, book your ride from Istanbul Airport around two weeks ahead.
When to fly to Istanbul Airport (IST)
It's time to choose your trip dates for your flight from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport. August is the busiest month to head to Istanbul. If you prefer a more low-key vibe, go in March.
When reserving your flight from Thessaloniki Airport to Istanbul Airport, consider the kind of weather you enjoy. July is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 21ºC (70ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Search for cheap tickets from SKG to IST sometime around then if you'd rather travel in cooler conditions.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has loads to offer, but there are so many other corners of Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered. Around 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a visit to Ankara will keep you on the move. Start with leading sights like The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Izmir is another sought-after destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No trip is complete without a visit to Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.
