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$573+ 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 7/27. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Jul 8 — Jul 151
Tue 7/8
Tue 7/15
1 adult, Economy
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Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Istanbul are usually found in March or February, booked 90 days in advance, depart on a Tuesday or Monday and return on a Friday

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 July 3, 2025.

Round-trip from

$962
(oojo)

One-way from

$573
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,284

Good round-trip deal

$998 or less

Good one-way deal

$560 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. 13% potential increase in price ($188 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 July 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 July 3, 2025.

This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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.
Tue 9/26:45 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 00mTurkish Airlines
Fri 9/127:10 amIST - SFO
Nonstop13h 25mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 7/2$962
This Delta deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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.
Fri 8/88:25 pmSFO - IST
1 stop21h 00mDelta
Mon 8/255:05 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 40mDelta
Deal found 7/3$963
This United Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/3. 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 United Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 8/66:10 amSFO - IST
3 stops29h 10mUnited Airlines
Wed 8/272:00 pmIST - SFO
2 stops20h 59mUnited Airlines
Deal found 7/3$965
This Air Canada deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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.
Fri 10/311:20 pmSFO - IST
2 stops24h 05mAir Canada
Tue 12/28:50 amIST - SFO
2 stops22h 44mAir Canada
Deal found 7/2$966
This Ovago deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 Ovago is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/65:00 pmSFO - IST
2 stops40h 15mBritish Airways
Sat 9/208:25 amIST - SFO
2 stops23h 21mBritish Airways
Deal found 7/2$969
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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.
Tue 7/228:25 pmSFO - IST
1 stop21h 00mKLM
Wed 8/205:05 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 40mKLM
Deal found 7/2$971
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 8/53:05 pmSFO - IST
1 stop26h 20mAir France
Wed 8/204:20 amIST - SFO
1 stop23h 55mAir France
Deal found 7/2$975
This American Airlines deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 American Airlines is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Fri 8/811:02 amSFO - IST
2 stops21h 48mAmerican Airlines
Mon 8/258:25 amIST - SFO
2 stops23h 58mAmerican Airlines
Deal found 7/2$979
This Lufthansa deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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 Lufthansa is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 7/212:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop20h 40mLufthansa
Wed 8/202:00 pmIST - SFO
1 stop32h 40mLufthansa
Deal found 7/2$982
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/2. 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.
Thu 10/23:55 pmSFO - IST
1 stop34h 00mQatar Airways
Fri 10/108:05 pmIST - SFO
1 stop27h 30mQatar Airways
Deal found 7/2$995
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 7/1. 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.
Sat 11/81:10 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 15mMultiple Airlines
Fri 11/149:05 amIST - SFO
2 stops21h 20mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 7/1$1,010

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 July 3, 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 9/2

6:45 pm-5:45 pm

Nonstop13h 00m

Istanbul

Fri 9/12

7:10 am-10:35 am

Nonstop13h 25m

$962

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 8/8

8:25 pm-3:25 am

1 stop21h 00m

Istanbul

Mon 8/25

5:05 pm-11:45 am

1 stop28h 40m

$963

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 8/6

6:10 am-9:20 pm

3 stops29h 10m

Istanbul

Wed 8/27

2:00 pm-12:59 am

2 stops20h 59m

$965

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 9/10

8:30 am-4:20 pm

2 stops21h 50m

Istanbul

Mon 9/15

8:25 pm-11:09 pm

2 stops36h 44m

$967

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

5:00 pm-7:15 pm

2 stops40h 15m

Istanbul

Sat 9/20

8:25 am-9:46 pm

2 stops23h 21m

$969

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 7/22

8:25 pm-3:25 am

1 stop21h 00m

Istanbul

Wed 8/20

5:05 pm-11:45 am

1 stop28h 40m

$971

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Tue 8/5

3:05 pm-3:25 am

1 stop26h 20m

Istanbul

Wed 8/20

4:20 am-6:15 pm

1 stop23h 55m

$975

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 8/8

11:02 am-6:50 pm

2 stops21h 48m

Istanbul

Mon 8/25

8:25 am-10:23 pm

2 stops23h 58m

$979

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 7/21

2:40 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop20h 40m

Istanbul

Wed 8/20

2:00 pm-12:40 pm

1 stop32h 40m

$982

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Thu 8/21

7:25 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop15h 55m

Istanbul

Tue 8/26

7:45 am-9:40 pm

2 stops23h 55m

$992

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 7/2

Showing 1-10 of 20 results
1
2

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 June 27, 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 90 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $923). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,362). 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 July 3, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 28% 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 June 29, 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.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport

Explore weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Istanbul. Discover flights operating on different days of the week, giving you the flexibility to choose a travel day that best fits your plans. Compare info to find the most convenient option for your journey. Data last updated July 3, 2025.

The most flights from SFO to IST are scheduled on a Monday (8 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Tuesday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (5 on average).

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 July 3, 2025.
Get a feel of what it's like to fly with Delta, KLM, and Air France 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
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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
7,982 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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
7.8
Good
1,367 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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.
Air France
7.5
Good
1,465 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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.
Qatar Airways
7.4
Good
3,594 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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.
Etihad Airways
7.4
Good
1,220 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,982 reviews

Entertainment

7.9

Crew

8.5

Food

7.3

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Overall

8.0

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 6 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.

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

    According to our current data, Turkish Airlines ($962), Delta ($963), and United Airlines ($965) offers the cheapest pricing from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport. These flights start at 18% 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 Qatar Airways, with whom users have recently found tickets for as low as $592. However, be on the lookout for offers from Air Canada 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 (89%), Pakistan International Airlines (89%) and IndiGo (89%).

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

    Looking at all options, your cheapest flight can be booked for $431. While the most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul) can be booked for $704 on average our data indicates $3,060 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 Historisches Museum Frankfurt. Römerberg, Hauptwache, and Historisches Museum Frankfurt can be accessed by traveling approximately 7.4 mi, 7.4 mi, and 7.3 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 $43.

  • 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport (average of $923). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul Airport in June is currently the most expensive (average of $1,362). 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 July 3, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$629Average$951FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$689Average$1,218FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
LufthansaCheapest$693Average$1,130FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
British AirwaysCheapest$833Average$1,246FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Air CanadaCheapest$852Average$1,294FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
KLMCheapest$869Average$1,238FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
American AirlinesCheapest$904Average$1,334FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$904Average$1,008FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$944Average$1,199FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%

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