Flying from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT): What you need to know
Istanbul is home to a couple of airports where you can kick off your trip. Explore your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT) flying out of Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
The average duration of a direct Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport flight is 4 hours 10 minutes.
Shimkent is two hours ahead of Istanbul. Shymkent International Airport is located in Shimkent, which operates on the UTC+5 timezone.
Arriving two hours before an international flight and one hour ahead of a domestic departure are travel rules worth sticking to. Be at the airport with enough time to catch your flight from Istanbul to CIT.
Head to the airport even earlier during popular months like August. Aim for two hours before domestic departures and as much as four hours for international journeys. Once you've checked in, you can use any extra time to grab something to eat or simply relax.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Fly without interruptions from Istanbul Airport (IST). Nonstop flights from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT) can be booked from here.
SCAT Airlines is a popular airline that operates direct flights from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport taking off from IST.
The top choice among passengers flying between IST and CIT is Scat Airlines.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to break up your journey and maybe even tour another city. When browsing cheap flights from Istanbul to CIT leaving from Istanbul Airport (IST), deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to find all potential stops. Top options include:
Antalya Airport (AYT)
Almaty International Airport (ALA)
Atyrau Airport (GUW)
IST is around 40 kilometers from central Istanbul. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the center, it'll take you 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're planning to take public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
In search of a convenient hotel close to Istanbul Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport, these accommodation options will put you a quick hop from check-in:
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Thinking of flying out of Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)? Direct Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT) plane tickets can be booked from this popular hub.
Pegasus offers direct flights from Istanbul to CIT departing from SAW. Book your favorite window seat and arrive at your destination in a single journey.
Pegasus Airlines is the top choice for bookings on the SAW to CIT route.
With 72.0% of services landing on schedule, Pegasus Airlines is the top on-time carrier flying between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Shymkent International Airport.
Work a stopover into your journey at Antalya Airport (AYT). It's a popular transfer point for flights from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT) leaving Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport.
You can arrive at SAW from central Istanbul in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car (depending on traffic conditions). The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to cover the 48 kilometers or so.
Get your vacation started early with an additional night away from home. Before catching your Istanbul to CIT flight, stay in one of these hotels close to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Looking at how often flights stay on schedule, Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time arrival rate of 68%.
About Shymkent International Airport (CIT)
Reserve a hotel close to CIT if you have a late flight from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport. Choose one of these accommodation options and call it a night faster:
Getting from Shymkent International Airport (CIT) to central Shimkent
Shymkent International Airport is around 11 kilometers from central Shimkent. It takes around 20 minutes or so to drive to the city.
It typically takes 40 minutes if you're traveling by public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT)
$157 is currently the lowest price for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport. Return flights start from $317. These fares can change depending on availability.
To find cheap flights from Istanbul to CIT, book early. Airlines generally offer lower fares when tickets are first released.
The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport tickets throughout the entire month. It's an easy way to find a bargain if your trip dates aren't set in stone.
Spend less time searching for cheap plane tickets from Istanbul to CIT by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when prices go down.
Save on your flight from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport by using filters. Select your preferred duration, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT)
January is when most people book flights from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport (CIT). Plan your visit to Shimkent in December if you prefer a quieter experience.
Book a Istanbul to CIT plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Shimkent to range from 18ºC (64ºF) to 38ºC (100ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -10ºC (14ºF) and 7ºC (45ºF).
More about Shimkent
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in Shimkent right here. Browse these options after you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Shymkent International Airport:
There are so many things to discover in this city, it can be hard to figure out where to start. Victory Park, Syrdar'ya-Turkestanskiy Gosudarstvennyy Regional'nyy Prirodnyy Park and Ethnic Park Ken Baba are top sights which should feature on any well-planned Shimkent itinerary.
Explore more of Kazakhstan
Turkestan is just one of the many cities in Kazakhstan waiting to be explored after you've seen Shimkent. Around 153 kilometers away to the northwest, its best attractions include The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Juma Mosque and Dendropark.
