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$463+ Cheap flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST)

This is the cheapest one-way flight price found by a Cheapflights user in the last 72 hours by searching for a flight departing on 10/1. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Oct 16 — Oct 231
Thu 10/16
Thu 10/23
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Istanbul are usually found in March or November, booked 44 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Monday and return on a Monday

Cheap flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul

Discover tips and strategies to find the most affordable flight options for your journey from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST). Learn about various techniques such as flexible date searches, comparing prices across and setting up price alerts. Use these methods to find the cheapest flights available for your travel needs. Data last updated September 16, 2025.

Round-trip from

$809
(KLM)

One-way from

$463
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,054

Good round-trip deal

$788 or less

Good one-way deal

$444 or less
From San Francisco to Istanbul
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One-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
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Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($189 potential increase over avg. RT price).
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Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($35 potential savings vs. average RT price).
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Average for round-trip flights in September 2025
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Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Istanbul.
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Price to beat on a one-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul.
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Find flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul

Cheapest flights from San Francisco to Istanbul
Explore the most affordable flight options available from San Francisco to Istanbul. Find the lowest fares from popular airlines and budget airlines, with prices last updated on September 16, 2025.

This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/23:05 pmSFO - IST
1 stop26h 20mKLM
Thu 10/305:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 9/15$809
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/68:40 amSFO - IST
2 stops22h 50mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/136:20 pmIST - SFO
2 stops31h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/16$814
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/138:40 amSFO - IST
2 stops22h 45mMultiple Airlines
Mon 10/202:20 pmIST - SFO
3 stops35h 50mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$815
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/42:40 pmSFO - IST
2 stops22h 40mMultiple Airlines
Tue 11/188:30 amIST - SFO
2 stops22h 05mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$816
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/143:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mKLM
Wed 12/245:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 9/15$818
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/13. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/291:25 pmSFO - IST
2 stops17h 30mKLM
Tue 11/44:50 amIST - SFO
1 stop19h 35mKLM
Deal found 9/13$819
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 9/218:30 amSFO - IST
2 stops23h 00mMultiple Airlines
Wed 10/13:40 pmIST - SFO
3 stops34h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/14$821
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Air France is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/119:00 amSFO - IST
2 stops20h 55mKLM
Mon 12/154:50 amIST - SFO
2 stops22h 20mKLM
Deal found 9/14$823
This LOT deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure LOT is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/228:00 amSFO - IST
2 stops29h 50mMultiple Airlines
Wed 2/42:55 pmIST - SFO
2 stops28h 34mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/14$824
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/14. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/183:05 pmSFO - IST
1 stop26h 20mKLM
Mon 11/34:50 amIST - SFO
1 stop19h 35mKLM
Deal found 9/14$825
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/16. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 10/2611:20 amSFO - IST
3 stops26h 20mMultiple Airlines
Tue 11/45:20 amIST - SFO
3 stops27h 02mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/16$826
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 9/15. Clicking the “Pick Dates” button in this card will allow you to select your dates and further customize your flight criteria. From there, click “Find deals”, make sure Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 10/308:25 amSFO - IST
2 stops29h 15mMultiple Airlines
Thu 11/68:45 amIST - SFO
2 stops23h 37mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 9/15$827

Cheapflights Fare Finder

 
Customize your flight search to find flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that fit within your specific budget. Explore options based on user searches and filter the results based on your desired price range. Find flights that match your budget for a cost-effective journey. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated September 16, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Istanbul

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 1/6

11:55 am-4:55 pm

2 stops18h 00m

Istanbul

Mon 2/16

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$819

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Thu 10/2

3:05 pm-3:25 am

1 stop26h 20m

Istanbul

Wed 10/8

4:20 am-6:15 pm

1 stop23h 55m

$843

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 10/7

3:05 pm-3:25 am

1 stop26h 20m

Istanbul

Fri 10/31

5:55 pm-12:50 pm

1 stop28h 55m

$851

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 10/1

8:25 pm-3:25 am

1 stop21h 00m

Istanbul

Thu 10/9

4:20 am-4:05 pm

2 stops21h 45m

$853

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 1/4

1:55 pm-4:55 pm

1 stop16h 00m

Istanbul

Wed 1/14

5:55 pm-11:50 am

1 stop28h 55m

$865

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Thu 10/16

1:45 pm-4:05 pm

1 stop16h 20m

Istanbul

Thu 10/30

5:55 pm-12:50 pm

1 stop28h 55m

$900

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 11/3

10:40 am-4:55 pm

2 stops19h 15m

Istanbul

Sun 11/16

4:50 am-4:05 pm

2 stops22h 15m

$903

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 3/2

3:40 pm-3:50 am

1 stop25h 10m

Istanbul

Thu 3/19

4:50 am-2:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$913

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 11/3

1:35 pm-10:45 pm

1 stop22h 10m

Istanbul

Mon 11/17

9:25 pm-8:34 pm

2 stops34h 09m

$915

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 12/10

8:25 am-10:45 pm

2 stops27h 20m

Istanbul

Thu 12/18

6:30 am-8:34 pm

2 stops25h 04m

$915

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 9/14

Showing 1-10 of 21 results
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2
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Best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul

Have a flexible travel schedule? Discover the best time to fly to Istanbul from San Francisco with our price prediction graph.
Estimated round-trip price
Rates are based on past data. Find the cheapest month and day to book your flight based on your travel requirements, then search for cheap deals.

Cheapflights Insights

Everything you need to know about your flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport

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

Use this chart to determine the optimal time to book a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Istanbul. Price data was last updated on September 12, 2025.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport, you should look to book at least 44 days in advance of your intended travel date. The price of your flight may increase if you delay and leave booking until a week or so before departure.

What is the cheapest month to book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $916). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,359). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly from SFO to IST?

Find hourly flight availability from San Francisco to Istanbul. Discover flight options and departure times throughout the day, allowing you to choose a departure time that suits your schedule. Data last updated September 16, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 25% on the flight price compared to flying in the morning, which is usually more expensive.

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

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Istanbul. Price data was last updated on September 14, 2025.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flight should consider departing on Tuesday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Thursday mornings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

Reviews of airlines servicing Istanbul

Get insights into the airlines that provide service to Istanbul. Read reviews, discover amenities, and learn about the overall travel experience offered by airlines. Use this information to make informed decisions when choosing an airline for your flight to Istanbul. Reviews last updated September 16, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Delta, United Airlines, and Turkish Airlines from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport by reading reviews from past customers. Users have also rated airlines in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
United Airlines
7.4
Good
8,929 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Turkish Airlines
7.3
Good
3,968 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
Lufthansa
6.8
Okay
7,407 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.
British Airways
6.7
Okay
7,361 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,954 reviews

Crew

8.5

Boarding

8.2

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

8.0

Entertainment

7.9

Reviews

1 / 20
10.0
Excellent

Aaron,Oct 2024

LAX - LHR

This was a flight operated by Virgin Atlantic in their Upper Class cabin. Overall, an outstanding experience.

Related info for your journey

Find useful and relevant information for your journey from San Francisco to Istanbul. Access travel guides, tips, and recommendations to enhance your travel experience. Get information about local attractions, weather, transportation options, and more.

  • What airport do you fly from for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    San Francisco (SFO) is the airport you will fly out of if you book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul. You should not have trouble finding flights to Istanbul from San Francisco; the airport handles an average of 5 outbound flights to Istanbul per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 11 airlines have flights from the San Francisco airport to Istanbul. It is only a 11.8 mi journey to San Francisco (SFO) from San Francisco’s city center.

  • How long is the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    A quick flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport can take about 18h. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $819. The distance from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport is about 6684 mi.

  • What are the cheapest airlines flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport round-trip?

    According to our current data, IndiGo ($567), Delta ($612), and United Airlines ($689) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport. These flights start at 50% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the most reliable airlines from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    The top 3 most reliable airlines when flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport are Turkish Airlines (78%), Pakistan International Airlines (78%) and IndiGo (78%).

  • What are the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $400. While the most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul) can be booked for $638 on average, our data indicates $2,307 when flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport.

  • Where are the most common layover locations when flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

    San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flights have a layover in Frankfurt am Main most of the time. Paris is the second most popular location for layovers on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport.

  • What are some popular things to do or see while on a layover in Frankfurt am Main?

    Most Frankfurt am Main visitors opt to spend their time experiencing Römerberg, Hauptwache, and Festhalle. Römerberg, Hauptwache, and Festhalle can be accessed by traveling approximately 7.4 mi, 7.4 mi, and 6.5 mi, respectively from Frankfurt am Main. Those looking to explore during their layover in Frankfurt am Main can rent a car from Frankfurt am Main for about $40 per day.

  • What are some popular points of interest to see during a layover in Paris?

    Paris travelers tend to visit Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, and Louvre Museum more than any other notable places. Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, and Louvre Museum can be visited by traveling about 15.8 mi, 14.7 mi, and 14.3 mi respectively from Paris Charles de Gaulle. Those on a layover in Paris in need of a rental car can book one at Paris Charles de Gaulle for about $37.

  • Where are the least popular layover locations for San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flights?

    San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flights have a layover in London the least frequently. Amsterdam is the second least popular location for layovers on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport.

  • Can I find deals for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that include hotel bookings?

    Yes. In addition to deals on San Francisco to Istanbul flights, Cheapflights offers vacation packages that include both flights and hotel.

  • How can I find direct flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    After entering your origin and destination, apply the non-stop filter on the search result page to find direct flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.

  • Can I find deals for business class flights from San Francisco to Istanbul?

    Yes. Cheapflights offers flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul by cabin class. In addition to browsing deals, you can also filter by cabin class on the search results page after making a search.

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

    Currently, October is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $916). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,359). There are several factors that can impact the price of a flight, so comparing airlines, departure airports and flight times can provide users with more options.

See more FAQs

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Alternative routes for San Francisco to Istanbul

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
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Top 10 airlines flying from San Francisco to Istanbul

Discover the top 10 airlines that operate flights from San Francisco to Istanbul. Compare their services, reliability, and customer satisfaction ratings to choose the airline that best suits your travel preferences and needs. Over the last 7 days, Cheapflights users made 2,558,603 searches. Data last updated September 16, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$612Average$966FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$689Average$1,227FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
LufthansaCheapest$693Average$1,097FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
KLMCheapest$752Average$1,073FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air CanadaCheapest$762Average$1,294FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
Air FranceCheapest$802Average$1,367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$828Average$1,162FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
British AirwaysCheapest$838Average$1,299FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
American AirlinesCheapest$904Average$1,334FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%

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