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$460+ 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 1/8. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Aug 26 — Sep 21
Tue 8/26
Tue 9/2
1 adult, Economy
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Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul with Cheapflights

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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 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 (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 August 21, 2025.

Round-trip from

$828
(KLM)

One-way from

$460
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,125
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 ($183 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 August 2025
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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 August 21, 2025.

This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 9/610:55 amSFO - IST
2 stops19h 25mKLM
Sat 1/104:50 amIST - SFO
2 stops22h 39mKLM
Deal found 8/21$828
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 10/201:45 pmSFO - SAW
1 stop23h 15mKLM
Wed 10/299:00 amSAW - SFO
1 stop37h 50mKLM
Deal found 8/21$829
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/117:40 pmSFO - IST
3 stops28h 10mMultiple Airlines
Sat 10/189:50 pmIST - SFO
2 stops28h 40mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/21$829
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 9/82:40 pmSFO - SAW
2 stops21h 10mMultiple Airlines
Wed 9/245:55 pmSAW - SFO
2 stops32h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/21$830
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/163:05 pmSFO - IST
1 stop26h 20mMultiple Airlines
Thu 10/304:50 amIST - SFO
2 stops21h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/21$832
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/20. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 10/154:54 pmSFO - SAW
2 stops18h 11mKLM
Wed 10/293:45 pmSAW - SFO
1 stop31h 05mKLM
Deal found 8/20$834
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/171:45 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 35mKLM
Thu 10/305:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 8/21$836
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/20. 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 Air France is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 9/48:25 pmSFO - IST
2 stops18h 55mKLM
Wed 1/145:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 8/20$837
This Kiwi.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 Kiwi.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 11/154:40 pmSFO - SAW
1 stop16h 20mMultiple Airlines
Sun 11/2311:00 amSAW - SFO
2 stops38h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/21$838
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/19. 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 Mytrip is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Tue 9/94:05 pmSFO - SAW
1 stop16h 40mMultiple Airlines
Tue 9/165:40 pmSAW - SFO
2 stops30h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 8/19$840
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/20. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 10/1810:30 amSFO - IST
2 stops19h 35mKLM
Fri 10/315:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 8/20$840
This FlightHub deal was found by Cheapflights users on 8/21. 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 FlightHub is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Wed 9/1012:40 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 05mTurkish Airlines
Wed 9/171:20 pmIST - SFO
Nonstop13h 20mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 8/21$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 August 21, 2025.
Use the filters below to find and compare flights from San Francisco to Istanbul that are best for you.

Fly from

San Francisco

Fly to

Istanbul

Route

Depart

Return

Price

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sat 9/6

10:55 am-4:20 pm

2 stops19h 25m

Istanbul

Sat 1/10

4:50 am-4:29 pm

2 stops22h 39m

$828

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Mon 10/20

1:45 pm-11:00 pm

1 stop23h 15m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 10/29

9:00 am-12:50 pm

1 stop37h 50m

$829

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Mon 10/20

1:45 pm-5:05 pm

1 stop17h 20m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Fri 11/7

12:55 pm-11:50 am

1 stop33h 55m

$829

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Thu 10/23

1:45 pm-5:10 pm

1 stop17h 25m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Tue 11/4

12:55 pm-11:50 am

1 stop33h 55m

$829

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Tue 10/14

1:45 pm-5:10 pm

1 stop17h 25m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 10/29

9:00 am-12:50 pm

1 stop37h 50m

$829

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 10/15

1:45 pm-9:05 pm

1 stop21h 20m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 10/29

12:55 pm-12:50 pm

1 stop33h 55m

$829

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Thu 9/18

3:05 pm-3:25 am

1 stop26h 20m

Istanbul

Thu 10/30

4:50 am-4:05 pm

2 stops21h 15m

$832

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 10/12

8:25 pm-3:25 am

1 stop21h 00m

Istanbul

Thu 10/30

4:50 am-4:05 pm

2 stops21h 15m

$832

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 10/29

1:25 pm-5:25 pm

2 stops18h 00m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Sat 11/8

12:55 pm-11:50 am

1 stop33h 55m

$834

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 9/17

1:45 pm-1:20 am

1 stop25h 35m

Istanbul

Tue 10/28

5:55 pm-12:50 pm

1 stop28h 55m

$836

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 8/21

Showing 1-10 of 43 results
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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 August 8, 2025.

The best time to book flights from San Francisco to Istanbul is 44 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul (average of $923). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul 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 August 21, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul in the evening. Doing so could potentially save you 26% 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 August 17, 2025.

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. 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

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 August 21, 2025.

The most flights from SFO to TR5 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 August 21, 2025.
See what other customers who have flown with Delta, United Airlines, and Turkish 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.
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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
7,981 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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
8,934 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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
3,950 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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
7,344 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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
7,291 reviews
Delta
8.0
Very good
7,981 reviews

Overall

8.0

Food

7.3

Entertainment

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Boarding

8.2

Crew

8.5

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 7 outbound flights to Istanbul per day. 11 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 19h 25m. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $828. San Francisco and Istanbul are separated by a distance of 6684 mi.

  • 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 Delta, from $618, and United Airlines, from $689. IndiGo is priced at 50% lower than the current average price of a flight leaving 3 months from now.

  • 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 (86%), Pakistan International Airlines (86%), IndiGo (86%).

  • 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 $2,307, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $396. The most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul), is priced around $689.

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

    Most of the time, San Francisco to Istanbul flights that have layovers will stop in Frankfurt am Main. Paris sees the next most layovers on San Francisco to Istanbul flights.

  • 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 are located about 7.4 mi, 7.4 mi, and 7.3 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 $42 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 $42 per day.

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

    Flights departing from San Francisco and landing in Istanbul layover in Amsterdam least frequently. London is the second least popular location for layovers on flights from San Francisco to Istanbul.

  • 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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul (average of $923). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul 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 August 21, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$618Average$959FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
United AirlinesCheapest$689Average$1,228FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
LufthansaCheapest$693Average$1,092FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
KLMCheapest$754Average$1,172FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air CanadaCheapest$762Average$1,294FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
British AirwaysCheapest$813Average$1,267FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$829Average$1,233FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
American AirlinesCheapest$904Average$1,334FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time71%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$935Average$1,172FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%

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