SFO - IST

$555 Find Cheap Flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport - Compare and Save

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 8/21. 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
1 adult, Economy, 0 bags

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$1,056
Typical prices: $803-$1,097
British Airways
Sun 9/6Mon 2/15
SFO - IST • 1 stop
Cheapest non-stop
$1,061
Typical prices: $901-$1,141
Turkish Airlines
Wed 9/9Fri 9/18
SFO - IST • Non-stop
Nonstop flights
You can fly direct with Turkish Airlines. Average duration is 12h 52m
Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
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Direct flights
Direct flights
+1
Avoid delays
Most punctual • 91% on-time
Best time • Fewest delays
Insights
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Top layover airports
Cheapest • Avg $879 (round-trip)
Shortest trip • 16h 47m (one-way)
Insights
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When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 3 weeks in advance save around 16% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
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Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 25% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
Good to know
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Flight Deals

Cheap Flights 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 for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul

Sun, Sep 6 - Mon, Feb 15
British Airways Logo
4:35 pm - 7:15 pm
SFO
-
IST
16h 40m
1 stop
British Airways Logo
6:40 pm - 2:55 pm
IST
-
SFO
31h 15m
1 stop
$1,056British Airways
Wed, Sep 16 - Sun, Sep 20
Multiple Airlines Logo
9:00 am - 4:20 pm
SFO
-
IST
21h 20m
2 stops
Multiple Airlines Logo
4:25 am - 12:50 pm
IST
-
SFO
18h 25m
1 stop
$1,057Multiple Airlines
Sat, Aug 22 - Mon, Jan 18
Qatar Airways Logo
3:55 pm - 12:15 pm
SFO
-
IST
34h 20m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
8:10 pm - 12:40 pm
IST
-
SFO
27h 30m
1 stop
$1,058Qatar Airways
Sun, Sep 13 - Thu, Feb 18
United Airlines Logo
7:00 am - 1:00 pm
SFO
-
IST
20h 00m
2 stops
United Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 4:05 pm
IST
-
SFO
20h 35m
1 stop
$1,059United Airlines
Tue, Sep 8 - Thu, Sep 24
KLM Logo
8:10 pm - 3:30 am
SFO
-
IST
21h 20m
1 stop
KLM Logo
6:00 am - 4:24 pm
IST
-
SFO
20h 24m
2 stops
$1,060KLM
Mon, Sep 7 - Tue, Feb 16
Air Canada Logo
8:10 am - 1:00 pm
SFO
-
IST
42h 50m
2 stops
Air Canada Logo
6:30 am - 10:32 am
IST
-
SFO
39h 02m
2 stops
$1,061Air Canada
Thu, Sep 10 - Tue, Sep 22
KLM Logo
8:10 pm - 3:30 am
SFO
-
IST
21h 20m
1 stop
KLM Logo
6:00 am - 4:24 pm
IST
-
SFO
20h 24m
2 stops
$1,062KLM
Mon, Sep 7 - Tue, Sep 15
Etihad Airways Logo
11:44 pm - 12:35 pm
SFO
-
IST
50h 51m
2 stops
Etihad Airways Logo
1:45 pm - 11:31 pm
IST
-
SFO
43h 46m
2 stops
$1,063Etihad Airways
Mon, Sep 14 - Tue, Sep 22
Qatar Airways Logo
3:55 pm - 6:35 pm
SFO
-
IST
40h 40m
1 stop
Qatar Airways Logo
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm
IST
-
SFO
58h 30m
2 stops
$1,064Qatar Airways
Mon, Sep 14 - Tue, Sep 22
KLM Logo
10:30 am - 4:20 pm
SFO
-
IST
19h 50m
2 stops
KLM Logo
4:25 am - 3:54 pm
IST
-
SFO
21h 29m
2 stops
$1,065KLM
Booking Insights

KAYAK's insights & trends for San Francisco to Istanbul flights

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.

How much is a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

This analysis is based on the cheapest round-trip price found on KAYAK in the last 12 months by searching for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport departing in September.

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

The average price of all round-trip flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport clicked on KAYAK for each day over the last 12 months.

Your flight ticket price will generally be cheaper if you fly to Istanbul Airport on a Monday and more expensive on a Friday. On your return trip to San Francisco, you should consider flying back on a Thursday, and avoid Saturdays for better deals.

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

To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport, 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 Airport is February, where tickets cost $799 (return) on average. On the other hand, the most expensive months are June and July, where the average cost of round-trip tickets is $1,429 and $1,333 respectively.

Can I save money by flying with a layover from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

The average round-trip price for all non-stop flights, flights with one layover, and flights with two layovers for the route found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 2 weeks.

Yes, flying with a layover may cost you more time, but you can also save money on the route, with a 1 stop layover the cheapest option at $1,299 on average.

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

To calculate weekly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each week before departure over the last year for round-trip flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, and then takes the average of all the values for each week.

To get a below average price on the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport, you should book around 3 weeks before departure, which saves you about 16% compared to booking last minute. For the absolute cheapest price, our data suggests you should book 17 weeks before departure.

Good to know

Low seasonFebruary
Cheapest flight$555
Best time to beat the crowds with an average 25% drop in price.
Most popular time to fly with an average 34% increase in price.
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.

Flights from San Francisco to Istanbul: the best tips from KAYAK users' own experiences

Insights shared by verified travelers who flew the route from San Francisco to Istanbul 
Verified travelerFlew with Turkish Airlines
SFO
-
IST
May 2026
Be sure your layover time in Istanbul is long enough to get on the next flight.
benedictFlew with Turkish Airlines
SFO
-
IST
Mar 2024
Polaris lounge is located in the G gate and Turkish flies from A gate. Go to G gate first if you want to hang out at the lounge

FAQs for booking San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flights

  • Does IST have a storage facility where I can store some of my luggage?

    If you’d like to leave some of your luggage at IST, you’ll be able to do just that, as the airport boasts Öztürk Luggage Storage, a reliable storage company. This storage company has its lockers in the arrivals area of the airport’s International Terminal. As it offers its services at affordable rates, you need not worry about incurring a massive bill if you use some of its lockers.

  • Can I enjoy spa services at IST?

    At IST, you can enjoy spa services at The Ambassador Spa & Beauty Salon, situated in Terminal 1, adjacent to the IGA lounge. Some of the spa services you can enjoy at this spa include full spa treatments, steaming services, and shower packages. Given that it also has comfortable beds, you can have a short nap at this spa before proceeding with your journey.

  • Where can I comfortably work at SFO?

    If you’d like to do some work while waiting for your flight to Istanbul at SFO, you should visit the airport’s business center. Situated in the Main Hall of the International Terminal, this establishment features personal workspaces, a strong internet connection, as well as photocopying, faxing, and printing machines.

  • Does SFO have baby care facilities?

    If you’re searching for a room where you can privately breastfeed your baby at SFO, you’re in luck, as the airport is home to at least four nursing rooms. Terminals 1 and 3 both feature one nursing room, while Terminal 2 features two.

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

    In the last 5 days, the lowest price for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport was $555 for a one-way ticket and $1,056 for a round-trip.

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

    Yes, you'll most likely have to show a valid passport before boarding the plane in San Francisco and on arrival in Istanbul Airport.

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

    When flying out of San Francisco you will be using San Francisco. You will be landing at Istanbul Airport, also known as Istanbul.

  • Which airlines offer Wi-Fi service onboard planes from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    All the following airlines offer inflight Wi-Fi service on the San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flight route: SWISS, United Airlines, Lufthansa, Iberia, British Airways, Finnair, and Austrian Airlines.

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

    The Airbus A350-900 is the aircraft model that flies most regularly on the San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flight route.

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

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

  • On which days can I fly direct from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    There are nonstop flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport on a daily basis.

  • Which is the best airline for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul, KLM or Delta?

    The two airlines most popular with KAYAK users for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul are KLM and Delta. With an average price for the route of $1,015 and an overall rating of 7.8, KLM is the most popular choice. Delta is also a great choice for the route, with an average price of $1,181 and an overall rating of 7.8.

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

    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 Airport.

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

    KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Istanbul Airport 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 Airport?

    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 Airport with an airline and back to San Francisco with another airline. Booking your flights between San Francisco and IST can sometimes prove cheaper using this method.

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

    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 Airport from San Francisco up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.

KAYAK’s top tips for finding a cheap flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport

  • Looking for a cheap flight? 25% of our users found flights on this route for $696 or less one-way and $1,110 or less round-trip.
  • If you intend to travel aboard an early morning flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Istanbul, you should consider spending the night before at Grand Hyatt at SFO. From this hotel, you’ll be able to easily get to your departure terminal, given that it is within the grounds of the airport.
  • To get to SFO from San Francisco’s city center, you can do so by bus, train, or taxi. Among the three, it’s in your best interest to travel by train, as the trains that serve this route are just as cheap as the buses and as quick as the taxis.
  • SFO boasts onsite and off-site parking facilities. If you’d like to park your car at this airport for the duration of your trip, consider parking it at one of the airport’s off-site parking garages, as these garages are cheaper than those present within the airport’s grounds. Given that off-site garages at this airport usually feature airport shuttle services, if you park at any, you need not worry about struggling to get to the airport once you leave your car.
  • Istanbul has two airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). Of the two, only IST serves flights from SFO. Thus, in this city, you’ll disembark from your flight at IST.
  • At IST, prayer rooms can be found in each concourse. In total, there are 22 prayer rooms available for men and 22 others available for women. Given that these prayer rooms are always open if you’d like to pray once you alight at this airport, you’ll have multiple prayer rooms to choose from.

Prefer to fly direct from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

 
Direct data is based off flight results for the next 60 days. Find direct flights from all airlines flying direct from San Francisco to Istanbul.
Find which airlines fly direct from San Francisco Airport to Istanbul Airport, which days they fly and book direct flights.

Direct departures

San Francisco to Istanbul

Monday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Tuesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Wednesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Thursday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Friday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Saturday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Sunday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

See more direct flights

Direct returns

Istanbul to San Francisco

Monday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Tuesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Wednesday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Thursday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Friday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Saturday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

Sunday

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines

See more direct flights

Everything you need to know for your flight from San Francisco to Istanbul

Information on your arrival and departure airports