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Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul from $364

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a KAYAK user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul departing on 10/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel. Click the price to replicate the search for this deal.
1 adult
0 bags
Thu 5/23
Thu 5/30

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul

 
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Istanbul, as well as popular online travel agencies
These are the airlines KAYAK users have selected most often from within our search results in flight searches from San Francisco to Istanbul, as well as popular online travel agencies
In the last 7 days travelers have searched 44,632,927 times on KAYAK, and here is why:

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Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul (SFO-IST)

Here are some of the best deals found on KAYAK recently from the most popular airlines for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that are departing in the next months. While these flights were available on KAYAK in the last 72 hours, prices and availability are subject to change and deals may expire.
Discover the best prices and deals for you by selecting your travel dates.
Choose your dates
3:50 pm - 12:05 amSFO-IST
22h 15m2 stops
2:30 pm - 2:15 pmIST-SFO
34h 45m2 stops
Tue, Oct 8 - Thu, Nov 7
3:15 pm - 10:40 pmSFO-IST
21h 25m2 stops
7:15 am - 1:15 pmIST-SFO
40h 00m2 stops
Tue, May 7 - Mon, May 20
2:40 pm - 9:20 pmSFO-IST
20h 40m1 stop
7:00 pm - 12:35 pmIST-SFO
28h 35m1 stop
$880Lufthansa
Find Deal
Tue, Oct 8 - Wed, Nov 20
8:15 am - 1:05 pmSFO-IST
18h 50m2 stops
7:00 pm - 12:35 pmIST-SFO
28h 35m1 stop
$918Lufthansa
Find Deal
Tue, Oct 8 - Wed, Nov 20
3:00 pm - 4:30 pmSFO-IST
15h 30m1 stop
7:25 am - 1:05 pmIST-SFO
16h 40m1 stop
$921Delta
Find Deal
Mon, Aug 5 - Thu, Nov 7
6:33 am - 4:30 pmSFO-IST
23h 57m2 stops
7:25 am - 1:05 pmIST-SFO
16h 40m1 stop
$926Delta
Find Deal
Tue, Oct 8 - Thu, Nov 7
3:30 pm - 12:25 amSFO-IST
22h 55m1 stop
8:05 am - 6:35 pmIST-SFO
21h 30m1 stop
$938British Airways
Find Deal
Tue, Oct 8 - Thu, Nov 14
3:30 pm - 12:25 amSFO-IST
22h 55m1 stop
8:25 am - 5:25 pmIST-SFO
19h 00m1 stop
$942British Airways
Find Deal
Tue, Sep 17 - Tue, Oct 8
7:38 am - 4:45 pmSFO-IST
23h 07m2 stops
8:25 am - 5:25 pmIST-SFO
19h 00m1 stop
$956American Airlines
Find Deal
Mon, Oct 7 - Thu, Oct 17
7:38 am - 4:40 pmSFO-IST
23h 02m2 stops
8:05 am - 3:15 pmIST-SFO
17h 10m1 stop
$957American Airlines
Find Deal
Sun, Sep 29 - Thu, Oct 31

Flights from San Francisco to Istanbul - Travel Insights & Trends

Get data-powered insights and trends into flights from San Francisco to Istanbul to help you find the cheapest flights, the best time to fly and much more.

What is the cheapest San Francisco to Istanbul flight route?

The cheapest price for flight routes found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks for one-way flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.
Our data shows that the cheapest route for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul cost $476 and was between San Francisco and Istanbul Airport. On average, the best prices are found if you fly this route. The average price for a return flight for this route is $742.

What’s the cheapest day of the week to fly from San Francisco to Istanbul?

The average price of all flights from San Francisco to Istanbul clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.
If your flying dates are flexible, you should consider flying to Istanbul on a Tuesday, as we generally find the cheapest rates on that day for this route. On the other hand, Thursday is the most expensive day to fly from San Francisco to Istanbul. For your return ticket, we recommend flying on a Wednesday and avoiding Thursdays for the best deals.

What is the cheapest month to fly from San Francisco to Istanbul?

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the median of all values for each month.
The cheapest month for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul is January, where tickets cost $1,074 on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of tickets is $1,630 and $1,583 respectively.

How far in advance should I book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?

To calculate daily average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each day before departure over the last year for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each month.
To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul, you should book around 2 days before departure. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 53 days before departure.

Which airlines provide the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

The cheapest price for the route for each airline clicked by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours.
The cheapest return flight ticket from San Francisco to Istanbul found by KAYAK users in the last 72 hours was for $880 on Lufthansa, followed by Delta ($921). One-way flight deals have also been found from as low as $555 on Qatar Airways and from $637 on Etihad Airways.

Which airlines fly non-stop between San Francisco and Istanbul?

Airline and price data is aggregated from results in KAYAK’s search results from the last 2 weeks for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.
There is just one airline that flies from San Francisco to Istanbul direct and that is Turkish Airlines. The best one-way deal found from Turkish Airlines for the route is $988.

How many flights are there between San Francisco and Istanbul per day?

Each day, there are between 2 and 3 nonstop flights that take off from San Francisco and land in Istanbul, with an average flight time of 13h 00m. The most common departure time is 6:00 pm and most flights take off in the evening, while the most flights land at Istanbul Airport. Each week, there are 17 flights. The most frequent day of departure is Friday, when 18% of all weekly flights depart. The fewest flights depart on a Sunday.

Which cabin class options are there for flights between San Francisco and Istanbul?

The average price of flights for each cabin class for the route found by users searching on KAYAK over the last 2 weeks.
There are 3 cabin class options for the route. These are Business, Economy and Prem Economy. Perform a search on KAYAK to find the latest prices and availability for all cabin fares, which differ across airlines.

How long does a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul take?

There are no direct flights for this route listed on KAYAK. The shortest multi-flight duration is 13h 00m.

Good to know

Cheapest flight

$364
Flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport

When to book flights from San Francisco to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San Francisco to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price
KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or round-trips with a duration up to 40 days. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

FAQs for booking flights from San Francisco to Istanbul

  • What are some of the best transportation options to get from the Istanbul Airport (IST) to the center of Istanbul?

    For those passengers that would like to use public transportation to get from the airport to the city center, the best option is to travel on the IETT buses operated by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Travelers that would prefer to make the trip by taxi should expect a trip time of about 32 minutes.

  • Will I need to obtain a visa before traveling on a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    Travelers making a trip to Istanbul will need to obtain a visa before the trip. If you are traveling on a vacation, you can stay for up to 90 days in the country when you obtain an e-Visa through the website of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey.

  • Does the Istanbul Airport offer any shower facilities for passengers?

    Passengers will find shower facilities available at the IGA Lounge, that sits on the Airside of the International Terminal right past passport control. There are also shower facilities available at The Ambassador Spa & Beauty Salon, which has a location on the Airside of Terminal One right next to the IGA Lounge.

  • Are there any hotels that are close to the Istanbul Airport?

    There is a hotel that has a location right at the airport property, and it's called the YOTEL Istanbul Hotel Landside. Another option that is close to the airport is the Park Inn by Radisson, Istanbul Airport, Odayeri but be aware that this hotel does not offer a shuttle to and from the airport.

  • What is the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    In the last 3 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul was $364 for a one-way ticket and $861 for a round-trip.

  • Do I need a passport to fly between San Francisco and Istanbul?

    A passport is required to fly from San Francisco to Istanbul.

  • Which airports will I be using when flying from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    When flying out of San Francisco you will be using San Francisco. You will be landing at one of these airports: Istanbul or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen.

  • Which aircraft models fly most regularly from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    We unfortunately don’t have that data for this specific route.

  • Which airline alliances offer flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam are the airline alliances operating flights between San Francisco and Istanbul, with oneworld being the most commonly used for this route.

  • What is the most popular layover when flying to Istanbul from San Francisco?

    Amsterdam is the most popular layover city among KAYAK users traveling from San Francisco to Istanbul.

  • How does KAYAK find such low prices on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.

  • How does KAYAK's flight Price Forecast tool help me choose the right time to buy my flight ticket from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Istanbul from San Francisco is likely to change within 7 days, so travelers know whether to wait or book now.

  • What is the Hacker Fare option on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Istanbul with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline.

  • What is KAYAK's "flexible dates" feature and why should I care when looking for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Istanbul from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

See more FAQs

Top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Istanbul

  • A terrific way to get from the Downtown San Francisco area to the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) before a flight to Istanbul is to take the Bay Area Rapid Transit Yellow or Red line trains that make the trip from the Civic Center station in San Francisco to the airport in around 30 minutes.
  • If you plan on having someone drop you off at the San Francisco International Airport before your flight to Istanbul, one great option is to utilize the Kiss and Fly Lot that passengers will find right adjacent to the rental car center to the southwest of the terminal buildings. Once passengers have had the chance to say their goodbyes, they can easily board the Blue Line AirTrain to take them to a terminal building at the airport.
  • If you plan on driving your own car to the San Francisco International Airport, this airport allows you to book your parking online up to two hours before your flight. Once you book online, you will receive a QR code that will allow you to enter and exit the airport parking lot without ever interacting with anyone at the airport.
  • Passengers that plan on taking a pet or a service animal with them through the San Francisco International Airport should know that this airport offers seven different pet relief areas. For passengers on an international flight to Istanbul, there is a pet relief area past the security checkpoints near the A Gates of the International Terminal.
  • If you are looking for an easier way to travel through the San Francisco International Airport, this airport offers its Airport Butler service that creates a customized experience for passengers looking for help with any part of their travel through this airport.
See more tips

Prefer to fly non-stop from San Francisco to Istanbul?

Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco to Istanbul, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Nonstop departures

San Francisco to Istanbul

Monday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Tuesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Wednesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Friday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Saturday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Sunday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

See more direct flights

Nonstop returns

Istanbul to San Francisco

Monday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Tuesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Wednesday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Thursday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Friday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Saturday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

Sunday

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, Turkish Airlines

IndiGo, Pakistan International Airlines, +1 more

See more direct flights
See more direct flights

Book cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul

Recent one-way flight deals

 
Only flying one-way? Below are some of the best one-way flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours.
10/8Tue
2 stops
22h 15mSFO-IST
$364
8/12Mon
2 stops
25h 15mSFO-IST
$375
8/10Sat
2 stops
30h 35mSFO-IST
$403
8/31Sat
2 stops
51h 24mSFO-IST
$407
4/28Sun
1 stopQatar Airways
28h 00mSFO-IST
$555
4/28Sun
1 stopQatar Airways
40h 25mSFO-SAW
$558
9/17Tue
1 stopUndisclosed Carrier
17h 59mSFO-IST
$623
5/5Sun
2 stopsEtihad Airways
53h 11mSFO-IST
$637
9/3Tue
1 stopBritish Airways
19h 05mSFO-IST
$667
5/21Tue
1 stopBritish Airways
22h 55mSFO-IST
$719

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Last minute flights from San Francisco to Istanbul

Last minute flight, train and bus deals

 
These last-minute flight deals are the cheapest flights found on KAYAK in the last 72 hours for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that are departing in the next 10 days.
4/25Thu
multi-stop
27h 25mSFO-IST
5/2Thu
multi-stop
32h 40mIST-SFO
$907
4/25Thu
multi-stop
22h 25mSFO-IST
5/9Thu
multi-stop
26h 10mIST-SFO
$909
4/27Sat
multi-stopQatar Airways
34h 00mSFO-SAW
5/11Sat
multi-stopQatar Airways
34h 10mSAW-SFO
$1,072
4/27Sat
multi-stopQatar Airways
40h 25mSFO-IST
5/11Sat
multi-stopQatar Airways
34h 05mIST-SFO
$1,077
4/28Sun
multi-stopDelta
29h 45mSFO-IST
5/8Wed
multi-stopDelta
21h 15mIST-SFO
$1,226
4/28Sun
multi-stopDelta
29h 45mSFO-IST
5/13Mon
multi-stopDelta
28h 45mIST-SFO
$1,228
4/26Fri
nonstopTurkish Airlines
13h 00mSFO-IST
5/6Mon
nonstopTurkish Airlines
13h 25mIST-SFO
$1,286
4/27Sat
nonstopTurkish Airlines
13h 00mSFO-IST
5/11Sat
nonstopTurkish Airlines
13h 30mIST-SFO
$1,288
4/28Sun
multi-stopEmirates
42h 10mSFO-SAW
5/5Sun
multi-stopEmirates
25h 35mSAW-SFO
$1,397
4/27Sat
multi-stopEmirates
34h 00mSFO-SAW
5/5Sun
multi-stopEmirates
25h 35mSAW-SFO
$1,407

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San Francisco - Istanbul Flights

Departure:

San Francisco (SFO)United States

Return flight deals:

Istanbul - San Francisco

Cabin classes: