Flying from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR): What you need to know
There are a couple of airports where your trip can begin in Istanbul. Check out your options leaving from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) when planning your flight from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR).
Expect to be in the air for 4 hours 35 minutes. That's the average time for a direct Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport flight.
Mazar-I-Sharif is one hour 30 minutes ahead of Istanbul. Mazar-I-Sharif Airport is located in Mazar-I-Sharif, which is in the UTC+4:30 timezone.
You can pick from 2 direct flights every week between Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR). This is the most popular route, with Kam Air offering a 11:55pm departure from IST to MZR.
Leave plenty of time to make your flight from Istanbul to MZR. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Heading off during a peak time like a bank holiday? Expect longer queues at check-in and security. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Get there in one go from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Direct flights from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR) can be booked from here.
You can get away on a direct flight from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport with Kam Air. This top carrier offers services from IST.
The majority of passengers prefer to fly with Kam Air from IST to MZR.
The journey from central Istanbul to IST takes about 1 hour 45 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or grab a cab, you'll cover the 48 kilometres in 50 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Looking for a convenient hotel near Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport, these stays will have you sleeping moments from check-in:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in about 1 hour 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometres away, and getting there by car will take approximately 55 minutes.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? You might like to check in to one of these accommodation options near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to MZR flight:
76.93% of flights out of Sabiha Gokcen International Airport stick to their scheduled arrival time.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR)
Right now, 321 € is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is 654 €. Remember fares may change due to availability at the time of booking.
Lock in cheap flights from Istanbul to MZR by booking 11 months ahead. Based on our research, that's the ideal time frame for finding the biggest deals.
April is when you're most likely to find a good deal on an Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport ticket. If you're looking to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will give you the lowest prices for every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have dropped when you set up a Price Alert. We'll notify you when a better deal is available on plane tickets from Istanbul to MZR.
Find a cheap flight from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport by using filters. Select your ideal times, number of stops and airlines, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR)
June is the busiest month for flights from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport (MZR). Visit Mazar-I-Sharif in February for a quieter experience.
Book an Istanbul to MZR plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Mazar-I-Sharif to range from 22ºC (72ºF) to 40ºC (104ºF).
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Istanbul to Mazar-I-Sharif Airport in January when temperatures are between -2ºC (28ºF) and 14ºC (57ºF).
Explore more of Afghanistan
Get more out of your Afghanistan getaway by venturing beyond Mazar-I-Sharif. About 145 kilometres away to the east, Kunduz is another exciting city to add to your itinerary. Check off some of its popular attractions like بالاحصار كندز (كهندژ) Kunduz Fort while you're there.
Another favourite stop in Afghanistan, Darqad is around 209 kilometres east of Mazar-I-Sharif. Be sure to visit highlights including Shortugai Archeological Site.