Flying from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport (NQZ) to Shymkent Airport (CIT): what you need to know
Jump on a direct flight from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport and you'll be traveling for an average of 1 hour 50 minutes.
Shimkent's timezone is UTC+6, which makes Shimkent one hour ahead of Astana.
You can choose from 50 weekly Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport flights. The 06:20 departure with Qazaq Air is the earliest available. SCAT Airlines operates the last service of the day at 21:45.
Give yourself plenty of time to catch your NQZ to CIT flight. Generally, it's best to arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, you'll want to get to the airport earlier. Plan to arrive two hours before domestic departures and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're traveling during peak periods in general.
You'll find a range of airlines operating direct flights from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport. When you're ready to start your Shimkent adventure, let one of these carriers transport you to this unmissable part of Kazakhstan:
The airline that passengers book most often on this route is SCAT Airlines.
How to find the cheapest flights from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport (NQZ) to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport flight is $28. A round-trip plane ticket is currently $39. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Get cheap tickets from NQZ to CIT by booking eight months ahead. Based on our research, that's the sweet spot for landing a bargain.
Schedule your trip for July. That's the cheapest month for flights from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport. If you have flexibility with your dates, try out the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest airfare across each month.
Finding cheap flights from NQZ to CIT is a cinch with Price Alerts. All you need to do is set up one of these automatic alerts and we'll get in touch as soon as a new deal comes up.
Select your ideal departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Alternatively, sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport.
Handy information about Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport (NQZ)
To reach Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport from central Astana, it'll take around 40 minutes by car. This depends on traffic though. It's approximately 11 miles from the airport to the city center.
Looking for a handy hotel close to NQZ? If you've booked an early flight from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport, these stays will put you moments from your departure gate:
Arriving at Shymkent Airport (CIT)
The last thing you need is a long trip to your hotel if you're getting in late on an Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport flight. Book one of these accommodation options near CIT instead:
Getting from Shymkent Airport (CIT) to central Shimkent
From Shymkent Airport, Shimkent is approximately 0.1 miles away. It takes around 0 hours to reach the center by car.
When to fly to Shymkent Airport (CIT)
It's time to work out your travel dates for your flight from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport. June is the most popular month to head to Shimkent. If you want a more laid-back vibe, go in February.
Book your flight from Astana Nursultan Nazarbayev Airport to Shymkent Airport for July if you want to go to Shimkent during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 64ºF and 100ºF.
January has average temperatures of between 14ºF and 45ºF. Look for cheap tickets from NQZ to CIT around that time if you like traveling in cooler conditions.
Explore more of Kazakhstan
Turkestan is just one of the many cities in Kazakhstan waiting to be explored after you've seen Shimkent. Around 95 miles away to the north-west, popular attractions include The Mausoleum of Khoja Ahmed Yasawi, Underground Mosque and Etnopark.
Have time for another stop? Head onward to Zhangatas. It's located about 85 miles north of Shimkent and features highlights like Tsentral'nyy Park.
