Travelling from Nairobi to Istanbul: what you need to know
Begin planning your holiday by considering where you'll board your flight from Nairobi to Istanbul. Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) and Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL) are Nairobi's main airports.
When it comes to working out where to arrive in Istanbul, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) are the major entry points.
The average duration of a direct Nairobi to Istanbul flight is 6 hours 45 minutes.
Nairobi and Istanbul are both in the UTC+3 timezone. That means you won't have to adjust your watch after you land.
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route between these two cities. There are seven weekly departures to choose from. If you prefer a later start to the day, the last flight from Nairobi to Istanbul is with Turkish Airlines at 05:00. Opt for the first NBO to IST departure with Turkish Airlines at 03:35 to make the most of your first day in Istanbul.
To ensure you make your Nairobi to Istanbul flight, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
You'll likely experience longer lines during popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a good idea.
How to find the cheapest flights from Nairobi to Istanbul
To secure cheap Nairobi to Istanbul flights, book your trip six months ahead of your departure.
Organise your trip for November. That's the best month for scoring an incredible deal on plane tickets from Nairobi to Istanbul. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
There's no need to check every day to see if prices have dropped when you create a Price Alert. We'll tell you as soon as there's a better deal on cheap flights from Nairobi to Istanbul.
Select your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops with the filters. Alternatively, sort your Nairobi to Istanbul flight results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
Flying from Nairobi
Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO)
Depart from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport (NBO) on a nonstop flight from Nairobi to Istanbul. From NBO, you can land directly at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that offers direct Nairobi to Istanbul plane tickets from NBO.
Consider adding a stopover to possibly find a cheaper Nairobi to Istanbul flight. Simply deselect 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular airports:
Jeddah Airport (JED)
Hamad International Airport (DOH)
Cairo Airport (CAI)
Located around 13 kilometres from the centre of Nairobi, NBO can be reached in about 30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey on public transport takes roughly 1 hour 5 minutes.
Booked an early flight from Nairobi to Istanbul? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels close to Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport:
62% of flights taking off from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta Airport arrive at their destination on time.
Nairobi Wilson Airport (WIL)
You can get to WIL from the centre of Nairobi in about 20 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The ride by public transport will take roughly 35 minutes to cover the 3 kilometres or so.
Get your holiday started early with an extra night away from home. Before your flight from Nairobi to Istanbul, stay in one of these hotels near Nairobi Wilson Airport:
Nairobi Wilson Airport has an on-time performance of 72%. This figure shows how frequently flights that depart from this airport reach their destination on schedule.
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
The distance from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul is roughly 32 kilometres. It takes about 45 minutes to reach the centre driving.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 1 hour 10 minutes.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're arriving on a late flight from Nairobi to Istanbul. Stay at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Go where the road takes you with a Istanbul Airport rental car. Book your wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and discover more of Istanbul and beyond.
To get the lowest price, book your vehicle from Istanbul Airport about two weeks in advance of your Nairobi to Istanbul flight.
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW)
Istanbul Sabiha Airport (SAW) is roughly 31 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. After your flight from Nairobi to Istanbul, it takes approximately 1 hour 5 minutes to reach the heart of the city in a taxi or ride-share.
If you're catching public transport, it'll take about 1 hour 40 minutes.
Hang up the 'Do not disturb' sign and relax at a hotel near SAW. Here are a few options where you can check in after your flight from Nairobi to Istanbul:
No need to worry about public transport schedules or long taxi lines. Grab a Istanbul Sabiha Airport rental car and go in any direction that inspires you. Check out the rates and availability from Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent.
Avoid paying more than you need to. Reserving your ride four weeks ahead of your arrival at SAW will help you save.
Best time to go to Istanbul
March is the quietest month for flights from Nairobi to Istanbul, while August is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Istanbul based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
The warmest month in Istanbul is July, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC (70ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Book your Nairobi to Istanbul ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
Look for cheap flights from Nairobi to Istanbul in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF) on average.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Nairobi to Istanbul, browse our selection of hotels including:
There are so many things to do and see in this city it can be hard to work out where to begin. Hagia Sophia, Historic Areas of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum are popular attractions which should be on any good Istanbul itinerary.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Ankara is just one of the many cities in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Istanbul. Around 354 kilometres to the east, check out popular attractions including The Roman Theatre, Kocatepe Mosque and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
If there's time to check out another great destination in Türkiye (Turkey), head for Izmir, roughly 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square are the start of reasons to visit.