Airlines on the Istanbul–Jeddah route
| Airline | From which airport | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Turkish AirlinesDaily flights | Istanbul Airport IST | Daily flights |
| SaudiaDaily flights | Istanbul Airport IST | Daily flights |
| Pegasus, AJet and flynasLow-cost options; the schedule changes by season | Mostly Sabiha Gökçen SAW | Low-cost options; the schedule changes by season |
Schedules and frequencies change with the season — we send you the flights actually available on your date.
Flight time and airports
A direct flight takes between 3 hours 35 minutes and four hours depending on the airport and airline, and there is no time difference between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia. You land at King Abdulaziz International Airport in the north of Jeddah; Makkah is about 100 km away by road, and the Haramain high-speed railway links Jeddah, Makkah and Madinah.
Pilgrims have two comfortable options: land in Jeddah, perform Umrah first, then visit Madinah and fly home from there — or the reverse, landing in Madinah. A ticket with two different airports (arriving in one city and leaving from another) is usually not much more expensive and saves you the drive back. Tell us your plan and we arrange it.
Which airport: Istanbul or Sabiha Gökçen?
Turkish Airlines and Saudia mostly fly from Istanbul Airport, and low-cost carriers such as Pegasus, AJet and flynas from Sabiha Gökçen. For groups and large families we compare the two airports on the total rather than the price per person, because baggage on this route is usually heavy on the way home.
Baggage and Zamzam water on the way home
On the way back most pilgrims carry gifts, dates and Zamzam water, so book enough weight from the start. The cheapest low-cost fares include cabin baggage only, while Turkish Airlines and Saudia allowances depend on the fare class.
- Zamzam water: many airlines allow one officially sealed Zamzam container on return flights under their own rules, never in cabin baggage. We confirm your airline's rule before you travel.
- Don't pack dates or large bottles of perfume in your cabin bag.
- Add extra weight with the booking, not at the airport.
Travel documents: which visa suits you?
Anyone living in Türkiye on a valid residence permit can usually travel on the Umrah e-visa, issued within days with a passport valid for six months, a photo, a copy of the residence permit and a meningitis vaccination certificate. Turkish citizens and nationals of eligible countries get the tourist e-visa, which also allows Umrah outside the Hajj season. Umrah visas stop for a period before Hajj, so keep an eye on your travel dates.
We arrange the Umrah visa, the ticket and a hotel near the Haram as one team; the document list is in our guide to the Umrah visa from Türkiye.
When to book: peak seasons on this route
The busiest season is Ramadan, especially the last ten nights, followed by the mid-year and summer holidays. Ramadan flights fill up months ahead, so if you are planning a Ramadan Umrah start booking very early. In quiet months seats are easy to find and hotels closer to the Haram are available. Family traffic also rises in the Turkish school holidays.
Ihram on the plane: what pilgrims flying from Istanbul should do
Flying from Türkiye, you pass over the miqat before reaching Jeddah, so you cannot wait until you land to enter ihram. Prepare before take-off: put on your ihram at home or at the airport, and make the intention for Umrah when the aircraft is level with the miqat — on many airlines the crew announces it. Keep your ihram clothes in your cabin bag if you want to change at the airport.
How we book your Umrah ticket from Istanbul
Send us the form at the top of the page or a WhatsApp message with: your expected travel date, the number of pilgrims and their ages, whether you want to land in Jeddah or Madinah, and how many nights in Makkah and in Madinah. We send suitable flights with baggage, arrange the Umrah visa, the hotel and transport between the two cities, then issue the tickets with names exactly as in the passports.
- In Ramadan, book the hotel and the ticket together and early — hotels near the Haram fill up before the flights.
- Check that your passport is valid for at least six months and that you have a meningitis vaccination certificate.
- Book your Umrah time slot in Nusuk to match your arrival.
Flying home from Madinah, and elderly travellers
If Madinah is the last part of your trip, flying home from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport in Madinah saves you the road back to Jeddah; the airport is close to the Prophet's Mosque and has direct flights to Istanbul. We book Jeddah outbound and Madinah return on a single ticket.
For elderly travellers and anyone who finds walking difficult, we request wheelchair assistance at Istanbul, Jeddah and Madinah airports with the booking — distances in the terminals are long and queues in the Umrah season are big. Tell us how many people need the service when you send your request.
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Istanbul–Jeddah flights: frequently asked questions
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Jeddah?
The direct flight takes about 3 hours 45 minutes, and there is no time difference between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia.
Can I fly into Jeddah and home from Madinah?
Yes, and it is the most comfortable option for most pilgrims. We book a ticket with two different airports and arrange the hotel and transport between the two cities.
Can I take Zamzam water on the plane?
Many airlines allow one officially sealed Zamzam container on return flights under their own rules, but not in cabin baggage. We confirm your airline's rule before you travel.
Do you book the Umrah ticket with the visa and hotel?
Yes, we arrange the ticket, the Umrah visa and a hotel near the Haram in one request.
When should I enter ihram flying from Istanbul to Jeddah?
Before the aircraft is level with the miqat, which is before landing in Jeddah. Put on your ihram before take-off or on board; the crew usually announces the miqat.
How long before Ramadan should I book Umrah?
The earlier the better: Ramadan flights and Haram hotels fill up months ahead, especially for the last ten nights.
Are there direct flights from Madinah to Istanbul?
Yes, there are direct flights from Madinah airport to Istanbul, and we can book Jeddah outbound and Madinah return on one ticket.
Can I perform Umrah on a tourist visa?
Yes, holders of the Saudi tourist e-visa can perform Umrah outside the Hajj season after booking a time slot in Nusuk.
What are the passport requirements for Umrah?
It must be valid for at least six months; you also need a photo, a copy of a valid Turkish residence permit for non-Turks, and a meningitis vaccination certificate.
Guides for this route
Your complete guide to this year's Umrah visa — required documents, the vaccination requirement, the new mahram rule, and the official Nusuk platform step by step.
Read the guideUmrah in Ramadan equals Hajj in reward, and Ramadan 2027 begins on 8 February. The guide for Syrians and residents of Türkiye: when to book flights and hotels, the Umrah visa and vaccination, Nusuk permits for Umrah and the Rawdah, the last ten nights and Laylat al-Qadr, and how to split Makkah and Madinah.
Read the guideWhich Saudi visa fits you from Türkiye? A complete guide by nationality: the tourist e-visa for 66 countries, the new package visa for Egypt and Jordan, Umrah, family and personal visits, business and 96-hour transit, and the single-entry rule for 14 nationalities.
Read the guideReady to book your flight to Jeddah?
Fill in the request at the top of the page or message our flights desk directly, and we send you the options with baggage and change rules spelled out.