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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 1/9. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Nov 15 — Nov 221
Sat 11/15
Sat 11/22
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 Monday or Tuesday and return on a Thursday

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 October 16, 2025.

Most accurate provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Most trusted provider

FlightHub
3 stars

Round-trip from

$798
(KAYAK)

One-way from

$463
(United Airlines)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,056

Good round-trip deal

$845 or less

Good one-way deal

$453 or less
Provider with most accurate pricing for San Francisco-Istanbul flight deals.
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Provider most trusted by Cheapflights users for San Francisco-Istanbul flights.
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From San Francisco to Istanbul
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One-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 13% potential increase in price ($184 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 October 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 October 16, 2025.

This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/16. 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 Delta is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 11/183:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mDelta
Mon 12/14:50 amIST - SFO
1 stop19h 35mDelta
Deal found 10/16$812
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/16. 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 11/172:40 pmSFO - IST
2 stops22h 30mMultiple Airlines
Mon 11/246:30 pmIST - SFO
3 stops29h 10mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/16$813
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/16. 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 Air France is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 12/113:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mMultiple Airlines
Sun 12/145:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/16$824
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/16. 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.
Fri 11/287:30 amSFO - IST
3 stops29h 50mMultiple Airlines
Fri 12/54:40 pmIST - SFO
3 stops31h 00mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/16$829
This Air Canada deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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 Canada is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/911:28 pmSFO - IST
2 stops42h 57mAir Canada
Thu 12/256:30 amIST - SFO
2 stops40h 50mAir Canada
Deal found 10/14$836
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/15. 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 KAYAK is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/156:50 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 10mTurkish Airlines
Mon 11/171:50 pmIST - SFO
Nonstop13h 55mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 10/15$837
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/15. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 11/126:50 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 10mTurkish Airlines
Sun 11/168:05 amIST - SFO
Nonstop14h 00mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 10/15$838
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/16. 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 Air France is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 12/163:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mMultiple Airlines
Thu 1/85:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/16$839
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/14. 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.
Mon 10/278:25 amSFO - IST
2 stops26h 55mMultiple Airlines
Tue 11/117:00 pmIST - SFO
3 stops32h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/14$840
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/15. 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 KAYAK is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 11/1612:50 pmSFO - IST
2 stops22h 55mLufthansa
Mon 12/17:00 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 40mLufthansa
Deal found 10/15$841

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 October 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

Fri 10/31

1:25 pm-4:55 pm

2 stops17h 30m

Istanbul

Tue 11/11

4:50 am-5:38 pm

2 stops23h 48m

$883

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 3/1

12:40 am-4:55 pm

2 stops29h 15m

Istanbul

Thu 4/2

4:20 am-12:50 pm

1 stop18h 30m

$918

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 3/6

3:40 pm-3:50 am

1 stop25h 10m

Istanbul

Tue 3/10

4:50 am-2:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$919

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 3/25

4:15 pm-4:40 am

2 stops26h 25m

Istanbul

Sat 4/11

4:30 am-11:12 pm

2 stops28h 42m

$922

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 3/15

6:00 am-3:50 am

2 stops35h 50m

Istanbul

Fri 3/27

4:50 am-11:12 pm

2 stops28h 22m

$927

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 11/7

11:58 am-3:50 am

2 stops28h 52m

Istanbul

Thu 11/20

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$947

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 11/9

12:30 am-4:55 pm

2 stops29h 25m

Istanbul

Sun 11/16

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$948

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sat 3/7

2:40 pm-10:45 pm

1 stop21h 05m

Istanbul

Mon 3/16

7:00 pm-1:40 pm

1 stop28h 40m

$972

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 11/4

10:40 am-4:55 pm

2 stops19h 15m

Istanbul

Mon 11/17

4:50 am-4:05 pm

2 stops22h 15m

$987

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 12/24

5:30 pm-12:25 am

1 stop19h 55m

Istanbul

Sat 1/10

2:55 pm-6:45 pm

1 stop38h 50m

$992

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 10/15

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 October.
ProviderPrice AccuracyTrust Score*
ExpediaPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust Score*3 stars
FlightHubPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
eDreamsPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
AranGrantPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
oojoPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
Kiwi.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapfaremartPrice Accuracy-Trust Score*1 star
Justfly.comPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*3 stars
CheapflightsfaresPrice Accuracy3 starsTrust Score*1 star
OvagoPrice Accuracy2 starsTrust 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 October 10, 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $645). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $965). 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 October 16, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 21% 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 October 12, 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. Tuesday mornings flights should be avoided if possible as fares are typically the most expensive at this time.

How much does it cost to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport?

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 October 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
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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
7,980 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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
8,982 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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
4,010 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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
7,497 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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.
British Airways
6.7
Okay
7,457 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,980 reviews

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

Boarding

8.2

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 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 17h 30m. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $883. 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 ($664), and United Airlines ($697) 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 (74%), Pakistan International Airlines (74%) and IndiGo (74%).

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

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $401. While the most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul) can be booked for $513 on average, our data indicates $2,267 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 $44 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 $40.

  • 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, January is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $645). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $965). 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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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 October 16, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$664Average$981FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$697Average$1,234FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
LufthansaCheapest$699Average$1,118FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Air FranceCheapest$732Average$1,367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
KLMCheapest$739Average$1,025FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air CanadaCheapest$762Average$1,294FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$826Average$1,165FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
British AirwaysCheapest$904Average$1,309FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$918Average$1,157FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%

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