Travelling from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS): What you need to know
Start your holiday planning by considering where you'll board your flight from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). Istanbul Airport (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the main airports in Istanbul.
Take off on a direct Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport flight and you'll be travelling for around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport is located in Tbilisi. The city operates on the UTC+4 timezone and is one hour ahead of Istanbul.
Istanbul Airport (IST) to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) is the most popular route. There are 32 direct departures a week to choose from. If you have plans before you fly, hop on the last flight with Turkish Airlines at 9:55pm. Opt for the first IST to TBS departure with Turkish Airlines at 12:55am if you want to get going earlier.
For a smooth journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This way, you can comfortably board your flight from Istanbul to TBS.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months such as August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) is a convenient option for travelling directly to your destination. Nonstop flights from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) take off from this terminal.
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that operates direct flights from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport leaving from IST.
Turkish Airlines is the airline most travellers choose for flights from IST to TBS.
IST is around 40 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're driving, ride-sharing or catching a taxi from the centre, it'll take 45 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the trip time to be around 1 hour 10 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your break? Stay near Istanbul Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport or aren't a fan of being rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Consider beginning your travels from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). You can book a direct Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) plane ticket from this hub.
Pegasus operates direct flights from Istanbul to TBS departing from SAW. Book your favourite window (or aisle) seat and get to your destination in a single stretch.
Pegasus Airlines attracts the most bookings on the SAW to TBS route.
With 65.0% of its services landing as planned, Pegasus Airlines is the top on-time carrier flying between Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport and Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport.
SAW is about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. It'll take you 1 hour 5 minutes or so to get to the airport in a car from the city centre. Public transport takes roughly 1 hour 40 minutes.
Got a crack-of-dawn departure? Think about checking in to one of these accommodation options near Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport the day before your Istanbul to TBS flight:
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport has an on-time performance of 68%. This figure highlights how often flights that depart from this airport land at their destination on time.
About Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
If you're coming in on a late flight from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport, few things top the convenience of staying near the terminal. Collect your bags from the carousel and then be showered and snoozing soon after at one of these options near TBS:
To get the lowest price, reserve your vehicle around two weeks in advance of your Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport flight.
Getting from Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) to central Tbilisi
From Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport, central Tbilisi is around 18 kilometres away. It takes about 25 minutes to get to the city centre by car.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of about 40 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
Currently, $58 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport. The cheapest price for a return flight is $124. Remember fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
Book five months before you travel. Research into pricing trends suggests this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Istanbul to TBS.
Organise your trip for October. That's the best month for scoring an incredible deal on Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport tickets. If you have flexibility with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Be the first to know about deals for plane tickets from Istanbul to TBS by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when fares go down.
Nail down a great price on a flight from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport with the help of the filters. Choose your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best.'
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS)
August is the most popular month for flights from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). Plan your visit to Tbilisi in December for a more low-key escape.
Lock in a Istanbul to TBS plane ticket departing in July if you want to experience the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Tbilisi to range from 17ºC (63ºF) to 34ºC (93ºF).
If you'd rather travel in cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport in January when temperatures are between -3ºC (27ºF) and 8ºC (46ºF).
More about Tbilisi
Once you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Shota Rustaveli Tbilisi International Airport, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these options your base for exploring Tbilisi:
There are so many things to explore in this city, it can be difficult to know where to start. Peace Bridge, Georgian National Museum and Vorontsov's Palace are top attractions which should be on any well-planned Tbilisi itinerary.
Explore more of Georgia
Kutaisi is just one of the many places in Georgia waiting to be explored once you've taken in the sights of Tbilisi. Around 193 kilometres away to the west, its best attractions include Bagrati Cathedral, St. Peter and Paul Apostles Church and Park of Glory.
Batumi is another standout destination in Georgia and is around 274 kilometres west of Tbilisi. No trip is complete without dropping by Batumi Boulevard Fountains, Miracle Park and Dancing Fountains, Batumi.
