SJO - IST

$725 Find Cheap Flights from San José to Istanbul - Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest round-trip
$1,174
Typical prices: $920-$1,343
Lufthansa
Mon 11/12Mon 11/19
SJO - IST • 1 stop
Cheapest one-way
$725
Typical prices: $486-$771
Multiple Airlines
Fri 11/23
SJO - IST • 2 stops
Nonstop flights
Not available
There are currently no direct flights between San José and Istanbul Airport. You'll need to take a connecting flight to reach the destination.
Insights
Insights
When to book
24 weeks
in advance
Our data shows that travelers who book at least 24 weeks in advance save around 36% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
January
Cheapest • 31% price drop
April
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
Top layover airports
Miami (MIA)
Cheapest • Avg $1,091 (round-trip)
Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY)
Shortest trip • 19h 18m (one-way)
Insights
Insights
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We hope you love your trip to Istanbul Airport!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights from San José to Istanbul (SJO-IST)

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent round-trip flight deals from San José to Istanbul

Thu, Nov 12 - Thu, Nov 19
Lufthansa Logo
9:00 pm - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
16h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 7:15 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
21h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
$1,174Lufthansa
Tue, Dec 1 - Fri, Dec 11
Lufthansa Logo
9:00 pm - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
16h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 7:15 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
21h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
$1,174Lufthansa
Tue, Mar 9 - Thu, Apr 1
United Airlines Logo
8:45 am - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
29h 00m2 stops Houston George Bush Intcntl Frankfurt am Main
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 10:11 amIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
37h 11m2 stops Frankfurt am Main Houston George Bush Intcntl
$1,175United Airlines
Tue, Mar 9 - Thu, Mar 18
United Airlines Logo
2:25 pm - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
47h 20m2 stops Houston George Bush Intcntl Frankfurt am Main
United Airlines Logo
6:30 am - 7:39 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
46h 09m2 stops Frankfurt am Main Houston George Bush Intcntl
$1,175United Airlines
Thu, Mar 11 - Mon, Mar 29
United Airlines Logo
9:40 am - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
28h 05m2 stops San Francisco Frankfurt am Main
United Airlines Logo
6:00 am - 7:37 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
46h 37m2 stops Frankfurt am Main Houston George Bush Intcntl
$1,175United Airlines
Thu, Nov 12 - Thu, Nov 19
Lufthansa Logo
9:00 pm - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
16h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 7:15 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
21h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
$1,179Lufthansa
Thu, Nov 19 - Fri, Dec 11
Lufthansa Logo
9:00 pm - 10:45 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
16h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
Lufthansa Logo
6:30 am - 7:15 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
21h 45m1 stop Frankfurt am Main
$1,182Lufthansa
Thu, Apr 1 - Sat, Apr 17
KLM Logo
2:20 pm - 1:20 amSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
26h 00m2 stops Panama City Tocumen Intl Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
6:00 am - 9:52 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
24h 52m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Panama City Tocumen Intl
$1,313KLM
Sun, Apr 11 - Fri, Apr 30
KLM Logo
2:42 pm - 1:20 amSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
25h 38m2 stops Panama City Tocumen Intl Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
6:00 am - 6:34 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
21h 34m2 stops Amsterdam Schiphol Panama City Tocumen Intl
$1,333KLM
Wed, Nov 18 - Sun, Nov 29
KLM Logo
7:30 pm - 4:55 pmSJO  San José Juan Santamaria Intl-IST Istanbul
36h 25m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
6:00 pm - 5:30 pmIST  Istanbul-SJO San José Juan Santamaria Intl
32h 30m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
$1,432KLM
Booking Insights

Price, demand and travel trends for San José to Istanbul Airport flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights with more confidence.

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

Round-trip flights from San José to Istanbul Airport typically range from $920 to $1,343. The lowest price found in the past 5 days was $1,174, on Lufthansa.

What's the cheapest day of the week to fly from San José to Istanbul Airport?

Based on deals KAYAK users found in the last 12 months, Wednesday is the cheapest day of the week to fly from San José to Istanbul Airport. It’s 8% cheaper than the average day, while Friday is the most expensive, with prices 8% higher.

What’s the cheapest month to fly from San José to Istanbul Airport?

•January is the cheapest month to fly from San José to Istanbul Airport at $816 round-trip.
•July ($1,478) and August ($1,435) are the most expensive months.
•The price difference between flying in the cheapest and most expensive months is 81% on average.
This is based on KAYAK aggregated and averaged internal data over the past 12 months.

When are flights from San José to Istanbul Airport the cheapest?

Flights from San José to Istanbul Airport are cheapest 24 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 36% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

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Key details for San José to Istanbul Airport flights

Low season

July

Cheapest flight

$725
Beat the crowds with an average 60% drop in travelers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 27% increase in travelers.
One-way flight from San José to Istanbul Airport

When to book flights from San José to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel from San José to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated round-trip price

Your San José to Istanbul Airport flight questions, answered

Find helpful answers about this route, including flight times, airports, airlines and booking tips.

  • What cabin classes can I book on flights from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    Two cabin classes are available on flights from San José to Istanbul Airport:

    • Economy Class
    • Business Class

  • How long is a flight from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    A nonstop flight from San José to Istanbul Airport takes 00m, covering 6,906 miles.

  • Do I need a passport to fly from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    Yes, a valid passport is required for this international route. Many destinations require at least six months of validity beyond your travel dates. Check your passport expiry well before booking.

  • How much should I expect to pay for a San José to Istanbul Airport flight?

    Round-trip flights from San José to Istanbul Airport range from $920 to $1,343, with an average of $1,174 over the past 12 months. Anything below $920 counts as a good deal.

  • How expensive are last-minute San José to Istanbul Airport flights?

    Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 16% above the $1,174 route average. Book 24 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

  • How are flight prices from San José to Istanbul Airport looking right now?

    One-way fares from San José to Istanbul Airport are currently higher than usual. Average one-way flight prices are about $871, which is 39% above the typical average for this route.

  • What car rental options are available at Istanbul Airport (IST)?

    Istanbul Airport (IST) hosts 5 major car rental companies, with daily rates starting from around $10 for economy cars. Top options include:

    • CIRCULAR
    • Avec Car Rental
    • Ok Mobility
    • Alamo
    • Autounion Car Rental

  • Which airports can I use when flying from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    Flights from San José to Istanbul Airport usually depart from San José Juan Santamaria Intl (SJO) and arrive at Istanbul (IST).

  • Which airports do connecting flights from San José to Istanbul Airport pass through?

    One-stop flights from San José to Istanbul Airport most commonly connect through:

    • Frankfurt am Main (FRA) - 40% of one-stop connections
    • Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) - 32% of one-stop connections
    • Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) - 13% of one-stop connections
    • Madrid Barajas (MAD) - 9% of one-stop connections

  • Can I save money by using flexible dates for flights from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 15% on flights from San José to Istanbul Airport. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at $1,088 round-trip on average, while Friday is the most expensive at $1,277, a difference of $189.

    KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to 3 days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

  • How much time can I save by choosing a different layover airport from San José to Istanbul Airport?

    Flying via Panama City Tocumen Intl (PTY) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time at 19h 18m, compared with 19h 24m via Madrid Barajas (MAD) and 19h 30m via Frankfurt am Main (FRA).

  • What is the time difference between San José and Istanbul Airport?

    Istanbul Airport is 9 hours ahead of San José (Turkey Time vs Central Time). Plan for the time shift when scheduling connections or first-day activities.

  • What popular places can I visit in Istanbul Airport?

    Some of the most popular sights in Istanbul Airport are Taksim Square, Sultan Ahmet Camii and Beyazit Meydani. These are among the most viewed places in Istanbul Airport on KAYAK.

Your guide to booking San José to Istanbul Airport flights

Get tips on when to book, when to fly and what to know before your trip.
  • If your dates are flexible, aim for a Wednesday departure and avoid flying on Friday. On this route, Wednesday flights average $1,088, about $189 less than Friday fares (15% savings) based on the last 12 months.
  • For the best chance at a low fare, aim to book around 24 weeks before you fly. On this route, that window historically saves about 36% versus last-minute pricing (KAYAK booking data, last 12 months).
  • If you can choose when to travel, plan your San José to Istanbul Airport trip for January. Fares historically average $816 round-trip in that month - typically $662 less than the most expensive month, which is July (based on the last 12 months).

More options for your flight from San José to Istanbul

Complete your trip to Istanbul with a hotel stay or car rental

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