Popular Airport | Turkmenbashi Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 1 hour 50 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 1555 Km |
If you travel by plane from Kabul, you need to reach Kabul International Airport (Hamid Karzai International Airport). From Kabul International Airport, you can travel to many destinations with many airlines. Turkish Airlines also organizes seven flights a week from Istanbul to Kabul. The journey from Kabul to Istanbul lasts 5 hours.
There is a time difference of 2 hours and 30 minutes between Kabul and Turkey. For example, when it is 10.30 am in Kabul, the clock may still show 08.00 am in Turkey. But Afghanistan does not apply day light saving time. Therefore, time difference with Kabul is 2 hours 30 minutes in winter and 1 hour 30 minutes in summer. When you travel from Kabul to Istanbul, it is useful to consider these differences.
There is still no advanced urban transportation network in Kabul. Due to the fact that the city is located in a mountainous area, the rail system does not exist in this area. Buses and taxis are the most commonly used means of transportation within the city. You can also choose to walk to the airport instead of driving. Obtaining a map of Kabul would help you not to encounter problem with urban transportation.
The bus is one of the most used vehicles in urban transportation in Kabul. Buses in the city are comfortable and modern. But the direction information and the numbers of the buses are in Pashtun. You can find out which buses go to Kabul International Airport if you would have a Pashtun dictionary with you a guide on this subject on your own.
Visitors often prefer to take taxis for transportation in Kabul. Many of the taxi drivers know a little English. But just in case, you would write that you want to go to Kabul International Airport in local language on a paper and give it to the taxi driver.
You can rent a car to go to Kabul International Airport and get rid of the stress of catching the plane. With the car you will rent, you will not need to carry your heavy luggage between long distances on public transport vehicles.
Kabul International Airport, which connects Afghanistan's capital city Kabul to many points of the world, offers a more comfortable and enjoyable flight experience to its passengers with the renovation works. Improvements at the airport have resulted in the addition of a new international terminal and the old terminal is now being used for domestic flights.
Airline companies such as Turkish Airlines (THY), Emirates, Flydubai, Air India, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Ariana Afghan, Safi Airways, Kam Air, Mahan Air, SpiceJet, East Horizon Airlines and Iranian Aseman Airlines provides flights to Kabul. The airport of the city has free Wi-Fi, a duty free, currency exchange and ATM.
At the same time, you can eat at the restaurants in the terminal, and make benefit of the post office and car parking. It is not advised to have an alcoholic drink with you on your way to Kabul. It is a crime to have an alcoholic drink with you when you land here.
Buses and minibuses are being used as a means of public transport in Turkmenbashi. While minibuses carry passengers at shorter distances, it is possible to get to the places that are relatively outside the city center with buses. Both transportation vehicles are generally quite crowded and drivers are not sensitive enough about traffic rules. It is not recommended to tourists to use public transport unless you are obliged.
The bus ticket prices are very reasonable. Prices for shared cars vary according to the distance traveled but in general it is cheaper than bus ticket prices. On average, there are between 5 and 7 passengers. You can rent these shared cars for a day or a couple of hours by yourself. It can be a good alternative especially if you are traveling in groups. But if this is not your intention, you should be careful not to be the only passenger, otherwise you may be asked for a higher price on the consideration that you rented it only for yourself.
In Turkmenbashi, you can easily find a taxi at any time. Everyone who is a car owner is in some way taxiing. Anyone may take you to wherever you want and ask for a fee that is reasonable for you. Since there is no standard price tag and taximeter device, it is absolutely necessary to negotiate and agree about the fare in advance. You should not make your payment in advance. Tourists can generally be charged as twice the normal rate. However, because taxis are easy to find, it is the most preferred means of transport in Turkmenbashi, as it is both comfortable and safe compared to public transport, as well as you can have a good bargain and convenient fare. Despite everything, if you will take a taxi, it is recommended that you act with the guidance of someone you know or ask your hotel to arrange a car for you.
Car rental is also an alternative transportation option that you can choose if you stay in Turkmenbashi for a while. There are many car rental companies in the city, most of them domestic. Land vehicles are generally preferred because the roads are neglected and the tourists want to see the desert as well. You must pay attention to the fact that the documents are complete during the leasing process. You should also ensure that all damage has been identified and recorded before the vehicle is delivered.
There is no public transport from Turkmenbashi International Airport to the city center. However, shuttle buses of a private company serving at the airport are closing this gap. You can easily reach Turkmenbashi city center by taking a taxi. Another alternative is to rent a car at the airport.
You can get to the city center by shuttle buses of a private company serving at the airport. You can request help from the information desk at the terminal for information on service times, routes and departure points. Shuttle services can vary in size.
Most people who own cars in Turkmenbashi are unregistered taxi drivers so you can easily find a vehicle at the airport exit to take you to the city center or to your hotel. None of these vehicles have a taximeter and the price tag is not fixed. For this reason, you must agree in advance with the driver about the place you will go to and the fare. You have to negotiate as usually tourists are asked for much higher fares.
You can see the car rental offices at Turkmenbashi International Airport. You can rent your car with a driver, but if you want to use it yourself, you should keep in mind traffic jams, strict police checks and bad roads. During the rental process, record any small or large damage and lashes in the car, and make sure that you receive the documents in full.