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$290+ 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 4/16. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Mar 25 — Apr 11
Wed 3/25
Wed 4/1
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Istanbul are usually found in February or January, booked 71 days in advance, depart on a Monday or Tuesday and return on a Thursday

Cheap 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 February 23, 2026.

This Cheapflightsfares deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. 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 Cheapflightsfares is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 8/154:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sat 8/224:30 am
IST
-
SFO
2 stops25h 25m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/21$703
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. 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 oojo is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 3/304:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Mon 4/274:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/21$704
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/79:05 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop19h 00m
Lufthansa
Tue 4/145:40 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop17h 00m
Lufthansa
Deal found 2/21$706
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/22. 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 KAYAK is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 5/49:05 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop19h 00m
Lufthansa
Tue 5/123:45 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop25h 15m
Lufthansa
Deal found 2/22$707
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/34:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Fri 5/224:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/19$711
This Scandinavian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/19. 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 Scandinavian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/204:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Wed 4/294:30 am
IST
-
SFO
2 stops29h 57m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/19$712
This Scandinavian Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/21. 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 Scandinavian Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/144:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sat 4/254:30 am
IST
-
SFO
3 stops28h 42m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/21$715
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/20. 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 KAYAK is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 4/1411:00 am
SFO
-
IST
2 stops30h 40m
Scandinavian Airlines
Mon 5/184:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 2/20$718
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 2/22. 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 KAYAK is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 5/54:35 pm
SFO
-
IST
2 stops23h 30m
Lufthansa
Mon 5/113:45 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop25h 15m
Lufthansa
Deal found 2/22$719

Find 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 February 23, 2026.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$703
(Cheapflightsfares)

One-way from

$290
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$847

Good round-trip deal

$757 or less

Good one-way deal

$529 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for San Francisco-Istanbul flight deals.
Search Deals
Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San Francisco-Istanbul flights.
Search Deals
From San Francisco to Istanbul
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 18% potential increase in price ($240 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($39 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in February 2026
Search Deals
Price to beat on a round-trip flight from San Francisco to Istanbul.
Search Deals
Price to beat on a one-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul.
Search Deals

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 February 23, 2026.
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

Sun 4/12

4:45 pm-3:40 am

1 stop24h 55m

Istanbul

Fri 4/24

4:30 am-9:23 pm

3 stops26h 53m

$745

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sat 3/28

5:40 pm-3:40 am

1 stop24h 00m

Istanbul

Mon 4/6

4:30 am-8:00 pm

2 stops25h 30m

$781

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 4/6

8:10 pm-3:30 am

1 stop21h 20m

Istanbul

Fri 4/17

6:00 am-4:07 pm

2 stops20h 07m

$818

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 4/6

8:10 pm-1:20 am

2 stops19h 10m

Istanbul

Sun 4/19

5:20 pm-11:45 am

1 stop28h 25m

$834

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 3/17

11:50 am-4:55 pm

2 stops19h 05m

Istanbul

Tue 4/7

6:00 am-4:04 pm

2 stops20h 04m

$836

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 3/16

11:50 am-4:55 pm

2 stops19h 05m

Istanbul

Mon 3/23

5:55 pm-12:50 pm

1 stop28h 55m

$836

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Thu 5/7

11:15 pm-3:30 am

2 stops18h 15m

Istanbul

Sun 5/17

4:25 am-12:50 pm

1 stop18h 25m

$847

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 5/29

1:45 pm-1:20 am

1 stop25h 35m

Istanbul

Wed 6/10

4:25 am-8:20 pm

1 stop25h 55m

$930

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 5/29

1:45 pm-1:20 am

1 stop25h 35m

Istanbul

Tue 6/9

4:25 am-12:50 pm

1 stop18h 25m

$930

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 4/14

4:45 pm-1:20 am

2 stops22h 35m

Istanbul

Tue 4/28

4:30 am-9:23 pm

3 stops26h 53m

$937

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 2/19

Showing 1-10 of 23 results
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Compare providers for flights from San Francisco to Istanbul

Provider information is updated monthly. Please note that these providers often have deals for this flight, but the availability may vary on a day-by-day basis on Cheapflights.
Use the table below to compare price accuracy, trust ratings, and cancellation policies for each provider offering flight deals from San Francisco to Istanbul in February.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
AranGrantPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*2 stars
oojoPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
OvagoPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
Kiwi.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
Justfly.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapfaremartPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star
SmartFaresPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*1 star
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy1 starTrust Score*2 stars

*The Trust Score is based on feedback from users after their booking experience. It measures overall satisfaction, helping us identify issues like hidden fees, problems during the ticketing process, and the quality of customer service. This score is our best indicator of the provider's quality and reliability.

  • Most accurate provider: When it comes to deals on San Francisco-Istanbul Airport flights, users find the pricing of FlightHub to be most consistent on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub Users can find the same prices on San Francisco-Istanbul Airport flight deals on Cheapflights vs. FlightHub >95% of the time. Price accuracy is based on data collected from San Francisco-Istanbul Airport flight searches over the past month and is updated monthly.
  • Most trusted provider: When it comes to deals on San Francisco-Istanbul Airport flights, Cheapflights users trust FlightHub the most. FlightHub has received a user feedback score of 3 out of 3 stars (3 being the best), meaning they have been trusted the most by Cheapflights users looking for San Francisco-Istanbul Airport flight deals. Provider user feedback score is based on Cheapflights searches over the past month and is updated monthly.

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 February 20, 2026.

To ensure you get the cheapest price possible for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport, you should look to book at least 71 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $644). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $959). 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 February 23, 2026.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 24% 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 February 21, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Istanbul Airport flight should consider departing on Saturday evenings when fares are most often at their lowest. Friday 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 February 23, 2026.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Delta, KLM, and United 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
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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.
KLM
7.7
Good
1,458 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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
9,342 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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
4,233 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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
7,803 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
8,234 reviews

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.8

Food

7.2

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 3 outbound flights to Istanbul per day. You should also have plenty of airline options to choose from since 12 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 21h 20m. Scandinavian Airlines provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $818. The distance from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport is about 6684 mi. This flight may include one or multiple stops.

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

    According to our current data, IndiGo ($567), Delta ($585), and Scandinavian Airlines ($604) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport. These flights start at 47% lower than the current average price 3 months from now.

  • What are the cheapest airlines to fly from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport one-way?

    The cheapest airline one-way is Turkish Airlines, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $509. However, be on the lookout for offers from British Airways and Lufthansa, as they are both options that can get you from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport for a low price.

  • 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 (65%), Pakistan International Airlines (65%) and IndiGo (65%).

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

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $386. While the most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul) can be booked for $611 on average, our data indicates $2,449 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, Oper Frankfurt, and Konstablerwache. Römerberg, Oper Frankfurt, and Konstablerwache can be accessed by traveling approximately 7.4 mi, 7.0 mi, and 7.7 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 $49 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 Amsterdam the least frequently. London 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, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $644). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $959). 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

Traveling to a place near Istanbul Airport?

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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 February 23, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$585Average$1,001FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
Scandinavian AirlinesCheapest$604Average$647FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
LufthansaCheapest$676Average$1,194FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$703Average$1,126FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
KLMCheapest$718Average$839FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air FranceCheapest$723Average$1,367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
United AirlinesCheapest$830Average$1,271FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
British AirwaysCheapest$872Average$1,278FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$914Average$1,180FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%

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