Travelling from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Approximately 7 hours 26 minutes is how long you'll be travelling on a direct flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul.
Zanzibar (the location of Zanzibar International Airport) and Istanbul share the same timezone — UTC+3.
With 13 weekly flights between the two airports, Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the busiest route. Turkish Airlines operates the earliest flight at 03:05. If you'd like to make the most of your day before jetting off, the last departure from ZNZ to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 05:35.
Leave enough time to get on your flight from ZNZ to Istanbul. A good rule of thumb is to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Travelling over a peak time such as July? Major public holidays and other popular periods can lead to longer queues and delays at security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before domestic departures.
You can catch a nonstop flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul that arrives at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Turkish Airlines is a leading airline that offers direct flights from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul.
If you have a passport from Tanzania, you'll need an embassy visa to visit Türkiye (Turkey). This applies if you're booking a cheap ticket from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul for tourism purposes. The rules may be different if you're travelling for business or other reasons. Always check the visa rules before you book and certainly before flying.
ZNZ is about 6 kilometres from central Zanzibar. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 11 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.
Planning to catch an early flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul? Avoid the hassle of rushing to the terminal (and get some extra shut-eye) by picking one of these stays near ZNZ:
How to find the cheapest flights from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ) to Istanbul
C$506 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul. Return flights start from C$922. These prices may change depending on demand.
Book 9 months before travelling. After looking at the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from ZNZ to Istanbul.
The cheapest month for tickets from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul is May. Compare prices using the 'Whole month' tool and choose the date that offers the lowest fare.
Set up a Price Alert for cheap tickets from ZNZ to Istanbul. You don't need to check every day to see if prices have fallen. We'll let you know the moment there's a change in price.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort results by 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is around 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. With a car rental or if you're catching a cab, the drive is around 50 minutes.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Book a hotel close to IST if you're catching a late flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul. Settle into one of these options and skip the long transfer:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
The centre of Istanbul is around 48 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). As soon as your flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've navigated your way to arrivals, expect a drive of about 57 minutes.
You can also travel by public transport, which will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
You'll find some great places ready to welcome you near SAW. Kick back and get cozy after your flight from ZNZ to Istanbul at any of these perfectly located options:
Best time to go to Istanbul
It's time to plan your travel dates for your flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul. August is the busiest month to visit Istanbul. If you prefer a quieter vibe, go in February.
Book your flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul for August to experience the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
Look for cheap flights from ZNZ to Istanbul in January if you like travelling in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the ideal place to stay. Once you've booked your flight from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul, explore our selection of accommodation options including:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just two of the top attractions to add to your Istanbul to-do list. Keep the adventure rolling by checking out Galata Tower.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
Pick one of our car rentals in Istanbul and see the sights in your own time. Easily compare options in one place to find the ideal ride once you've locked in your hotel and cheap flights from Zanzibar International Airport to Istanbul.