Istanbul

$363+ Cheap flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul

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 5/2. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Apr 22 — Apr 291
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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 March 23, 2026.

This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 5/184:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sat 5/234:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$706
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 9/34:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Fri 9/114:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$727
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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.
Sun 9/134:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Fri 9/254:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$728
This KAYAK deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 9/84:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sat 9/194:30 am
IST
-
SFO
2 stops29h 16m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$746
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/104:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sun 5/244:30 am
IST
-
SFO
2 stops25h 17m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/20$747
This Trip.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/19. 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 Trip.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 5/104:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Sat 5/164:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/19$750
This Expedia deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 Expedia is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 8/234:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
2 stops22h 35m
Scandinavian Airlines
Wed 9/234:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$756
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 4/134:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Mon 4/274:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/20$764
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/22. 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 Kiwi.com 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
Mon 4/274:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/22$765
This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/18. 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 9/154:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Tue 9/294:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/18$768
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/20. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/254:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Thu 9/174:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/20$779
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 3/22. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 8/184:45 pm
SFO
-
IST
1 stop24h 55m
Scandinavian Airlines
Fri 9/114:30 am
IST
-
SFO
1 stop20h 10m
Scandinavian Airlines
Deal found 3/22$780

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 (TR5). 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 March 23, 2026.

Round-trip from

$706
(oojo)

One-way from

$363
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

February

Average price

$924
From San Francisco to Istanbul
One-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 18% potential increase in price ($238 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($39 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Average for round-trip flights in March 2026

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 March 23, 2026.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that are best for you.

Fly from

Fly to

Route

Depart

Return

Price

Cheapest round-trip

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 4/8

8:10 pm-3:30 am

1 stop21h 20m

Istanbul

Wed 4/15

6:00 am-4:07 pm

2 stops20h 07m

$933

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Mon 4/20

1:45 pm-9:00 pm

1 stop21h 15m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Mon 4/27

2:40 pm-11:45 am

1 stop31h 05m

$943

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 4/20

8:10 pm-1:20 am

2 stops19h 10m

Istanbul

Mon 4/27

6:00 am-3:21 pm

2 stops19h 21m

$960

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 4/24

11:15 pm-3:30 am

2 stops18h 15m

Istanbul

Wed 4/29

4:25 am-6:00 pm

1 stop23h 35m

$984

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Thu 4/23

1:45 pm-10:55 pm

1 stop23h 10m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 4/29

8:50 am-11:45 am

1 stop36h 55m

$998

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Tue 5/5

1:45 pm-10:55 pm

1 stop23h 10m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 5/20

8:50 am-11:45 am

1 stop36h 55m

$998

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Tue 6/2

1:35 pm-9:00 pm

2 stops21h 25m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Tue 6/9

8:50 am-11:45 am

1 stop36h 55m

$1,002

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Sun 9/13

3:05 pm-10:55 pm

2 stops21h 50m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Fri 9/25

8:50 am-1:24 am

2 stops26h 34m

$1,006

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Mon 6/8

6:00 am-9:00 pm

2 stops29h 00m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Mon 6/15

2:40 pm-12:50 pm

2 stops32h 10m

$1,006

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 4/22

7:05 am-3:40 am

2 stops34h 35m

Istanbul

Mon 4/27

4:30 am-9:23 pm

3 stops26h 53m

$1,010

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 3/20

Showing 1-10 of 45 resultsSorted by cheapest first
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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

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

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 March 13, 2026.

The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Istanbul is 71 days before your desired departure date. The cost of your flight will likely increase significantly if you book two weeks in advance of your flight.

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

Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul (average of $642). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul in June is currently the most expensive (average of $951). 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 March 23, 2026.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul 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?

Use this chart to determine the cheapest time to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Istanbul. Price data was last updated on March 23, 2026.

Travelers seeking maximum savings on their San Francisco to Istanbul flight should consider departing on Tuesday 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.

Weekly flight availability from San Francisco to Istanbul

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 March 23, 2026.

The most flights from SFO to TR5 are scheduled on a Tuesday (6 on average). You will have fewer flight options on Monday, which is when the least amount of flights are scheduled (3 on average).

How often are flights from San Francisco to Istanbul delayed?

About 9% of weekly flights between San Francisco and Istanbul have experienced delays in the past year, with the average delay time being 176 minutes.

What is the most punctual flight time for San Francisco to Istanbul flights?

Historically, flights departing in the morning are less likely to be delayed, whereas flights leaving in the early afternoon tend to experience delays more often.

What day of the week experiences the fewest flight delays on this route?

Tuesday tends to have the lowest number of delays on this route, whereas Friday has historically faced a higher average of delays compared to other days of the week.

Which airline has the best punctuality record on San Francisco to Istanbul flights?

Over the last year, Turkish Airlines have had the lowest number of delays on this route, with just 9% of flights being delayed.

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 March 23, 2026.
See what other customers who have flown with Delta,KLM, andUnited Airlines from San Francisco to Istanbul have to say. You can also see how each airline compares in terms of entertainment options, comfort, food, crew/service, and boarding process.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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.

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Food

7.2

Overall

7.9

Entertainment

7.8

Comfort

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?

    For a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul, you will be flying from San Francisco. San Francisco (SFO) is just 11.8 mi from the center of the city. San Francisco is the only San Francisco airport and it handles 4 outbound flights to Istanbul per day. 13 airlines have flights to Istanbul from San Francisco on a regular basis.

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

    A quick flight from San Francisco to Istanbul can take about 21h 20m. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $933. San Francisco and Istanbul are separated by a distance of 6684 mi. Both multi-stop and nonstop flights can be found to your destination and back.

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

    Cheapflights users have booked flights from San Francisco to Istanbul round-trip from $567. Other airlines that can offer you cheap pricing are Scandinavian Airlines, from $604, and Lufthansa, from $660. IndiGo is priced at 47% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

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

    The cheapest airlines for a one-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul are Turkish Airlines ($509), British Airways ($519), and Lufthansa ($564).

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

    Looking for the most reliable airlines to get you to your destination on time? Our data shows these are most likely to get you from San Francisco to Istanbul on time: Turkish Airlines (81%), Pakistan International Airlines (81%), IndiGo (81%).

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

    Looking for the cheapest flight from San Francisco to Istanbul? While on average our users pay $2,297, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $470. The most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul), is priced around $747.

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

  • 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 Festhalle. Römerberg, Oper Frankfurt and Festhalle are located about 7.4 mi, 7.0 mi, and 6.5 mi, respectively from Frankfurt am Main if you are interested in checking them out. Those looking to explore during their layover in Frankfurt am Main can rent a car from Frankfurt am Main for about $47 per day.

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

    Most Paris visitors opt to spend their time at Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées, and Louvre Museum. Eiffel Tower, Champs-Elysées and Louvre Museum are located about 15.8 mi, 14.7 mi, and 14.3 mi, respectively from Paris Charles de Gaulle if you are interested in checking them out. Those looking to explore during their layover in Paris can rent a car from Paris Charles de Gaulle for about $36 per day.

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

  • 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?

    Currently, April is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul (average of $642). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul in June is currently the most expensive (average of $951). 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 March 23, 2026.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
Scandinavian AirlinesCheapest$604Average$648FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
LufthansaCheapest$660Average$1,177FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$702Average$1,120FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
KLMCheapest$718Average$844FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air FranceCheapest$723Average$1,367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
LOTCheapest$787Average$844FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time81%
British AirwaysCheapest$872Average$1,239FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
DeltaCheapest$873Average$1,045FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$902Average$1,235FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%

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