HomeSearch by dateVacation packagesHotelsFlight dealsCar rentalTravel tips & news
Istanbul

$501+ 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 11/30. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Dec 23 — Dec 301
Tue 12/23
Tue 12/30
1 adult, Economy
We work with more than 300 partners to bring you better travel deals

Find cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul with Cheapflights

1. Tell us where you want to go

Enter your travel information like dates, passengers, trip type (one-way or round trip), and preferred cabin class then click “Find deals”

2. Select your favorite providers

We find the providers serving your travel needs. Choose up to four travel providers to compare side-by-side for flights, hotels, or car rentals.

3. Compare prices and book

Review each provider’s pricing and select the best option for you! Book through your favorite provider’s website for a seamless experience.

Cheapflights Tip: The best prices from San Francisco to Istanbul are usually found in March or November, booked 71 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 (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 November 23, 2025.

Round-trip from

$678
(KAYAK)

One-way from

$501
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$987
From San Francisco to Istanbul
Search Deals
One-way flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
Search Deals
Highest demand for flights based on searches. 14% potential increase in price ($194 potential increase over avg. RT price).
Search Deals
Cheapest flight prices on average. 3% potential price decrease ($35 potential savings vs. average RT price).
Search Deals
Average for round-trip flights in November 2025
Search Deals

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 November 23, 2025.

This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Sun 12/78:25 amSFO - IST
2 stops23h 00mMultiple Airlines
Mon 12/157:20 pmIST - SFO
2 stops32h 10mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/21$688
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Wed 12/38:25 amSFO - IST
2 stops23h 00mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/117:20 pmIST - SFO
2 stops28h 20mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/21$714
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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 12/301:55 pmSFO - SAW
1 stop16h 30mKLM
Tue 1/1312:55 pmSAW - SFO
1 stop33h 55mKLM
Deal found 11/21$719
This Air France deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/22. 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 Air France is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Mon 12/293:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mMultiple Airlines
Tue 1/135:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/22$723
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Fri 12/510:30 amSFO - IST
2 stops19h 25mKLM
Sun 12/74:50 amIST - SFO
1 stop19h 35mKLM
Deal found 11/21$728
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/23. 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 12/313:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mKLM
Sat 1/244:50 amIST - SFO
2 stops24h 32mKLM
Deal found 11/23$732
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/20. 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.
Mon 12/293:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mKLM
Tue 1/135:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 11/20$752
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Sun 12/73:40 pmSFO - IST
1 stop25h 10mKLM
Sat 12/275:55 pmIST - SFO
1 stop28h 55mKLM
Deal found 11/21$753
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Thu 12/118:25 amSFO - SAW
3 stops30h 05mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/259:15 amSAW - SFO
2 stops23h 07mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/21$759
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/22. 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 KLM is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sun 12/71:55 pmSFO - SAW
1 stop20h 25mKLM
Mon 12/1512:55 pmSAW - SFO
1 stop33h 55mKLM
Deal found 11/22$774
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Wed 12/38:25 amSFO - SAW
3 stops29h 05mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/119:15 amSAW - SFO
2 stops23h 07mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/21$811
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 11/21. 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.
Tue 12/28:25 amSFO - SAW
3 stops27h 35mMultiple Airlines
Wed 12/108:35 pmSAW - SFO
3 stops35h 47mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 11/21$816

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 November 23, 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 - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 1/14

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Thu 1/22

9:00 am-11:50 am

1 stop37h 50m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 1/28

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Tue 2/10

9:00 am-11:50 am

1 stop37h 50m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 1/14

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 1/28

3:45 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 05m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Tue 1/13

1:55 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop20h 25m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Thu 1/15

12:55 pm-11:50 am

1 stop33h 55m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Sun 1/11

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Mon 1/19

9:00 am-11:50 am

1 stop37h 50m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Sun 1/11

1:55 pm-9:20 pm

1 stop20h 25m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Thu 1/15

9:00 am-11:50 am

1 stop37h 50m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Thu 2/19

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Thu 2/26

9:00 am-11:50 am

1 stop37h 50m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 1/14

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 2/11

3:45 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 05m

$719

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Wed 1/14

3:40 pm-3:50 am

1 stop25h 10m

Istanbul

Tue 2/10

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$722

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 1/12

3:40 pm-3:50 am

1 stop25h 10m

Istanbul

Wed 1/28

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$722

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 11/21

Showing 1-10 of 39 results
1
2
3
4

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 November 21, 2025.

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, November is the cheapest month in which you can book a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul (average of $614). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul 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 November 23, 2025.

It’s typically best to fly out from San Francisco to Istanbul in the morning. Doing so could potentially save you 11% on the flight price compared to flying in the afternoon, 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 November 2, 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. 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 November 23, 2025.

The most flights from SFO to TR5 are scheduled on a Thursday (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 much does it cost to fly round-trip from San Francisco to Istanbul?

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 183 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 November 23, 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
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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
7,999 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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
9,034 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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
4,050 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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
7,583 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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
7,535 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,999 reviews

Boarding

8.1

Crew

8.5

Entertainment

7.9

Overall

7.9

Comfort

7.9

Food

7.3

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. 12 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 16h 30m. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $719. San Francisco and Istanbul are separated by a distance of 6719 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 $666, and Lufthansa, from $707. 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 (69%), Pakistan International Airlines (69%), IndiGo (69%).

  • 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 $2,394, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $400. The most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul), is priced around $596.

  • 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, Festhalle, and Historisches Museum Frankfurt. Römerberg, Festhalle and Historisches Museum Frankfurt are located about 7.4 mi, 6.5 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 $43 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 $38 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 $614). Flying from San Francisco to Istanbul 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

Browse thousands of different options on Cheapflights for your next trip

Toggle through the tabs below to find thousands of options on Cheapflights for your next trip.

Alternative routes for San Francisco to Istanbul

See prices for flight routes from nearby airports that may be better suited for you.
Los Angeles to Istanbul flights
San Francisco to Istanbul flights
Los Angeles to Sabiha Gokcen flights
San Francisco to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Ontario to Istanbul flights
Santa Ana to Istanbul flights
San Jose to Istanbul flights
Oakland to Istanbul flights
Burbank to Istanbul flights
Las Vegas to Istanbul flights
San Jose to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Oakland to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Ontario to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Burbank to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Las Vegas to Sabiha Gokcen flights
San Diego to Istanbul flights
San Diego to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Sacramento to Istanbul flights
San Jose to Trabzon flights
Los Angeles to Antalya flights
Sacramento to Sabiha Gokcen flights
Los Angeles to Ankara flights
Reno to Istanbul flights
San Francisco to Antalya flights
Reno to Sabiha Gokcen flights
San Francisco to Izmir flights
Long Beach to Istanbul flights
San Francisco to Ankara flights
Los Angeles to Dalaman flights
San Luis Obispo to Istanbul flights
San Francisco to Kayseri flights
San Jose to Ankara flights
Los Angeles to Izmir flights
Los Angeles to Konya flights
San Francisco to Batman flights
San Jose to Izmir flights
San Jose to Antalya flights
Los Angeles to Bodrum flights
Los Angeles to Trabzon flights
San Diego to Izmir flights
San Francisco to Gaziantep flights
San Francisco to Van flights

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 November 23, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$666Average$995FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
LufthansaCheapest$707Average$1,132FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
United AirlinesCheapest$713Average$1,233FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time69%
Air FranceCheapest$732Average$1,367FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
KLMCheapest$732Average$938FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time75%
Air CanadaCheapest$762Average$1,294FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time67%
Turkish AirlinesCheapest$783Average$1,229FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$918Average$1,170FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%
British AirwaysCheapest$927Average$1,309FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%

100% Free

Cheapflights is completely free to use, so you can start saving the moment you arrive.

Book with Flexibility

Our users can plan ahead with confidence and find flights with no change fees

Travel Smart

Millions of people come to us for their flight needs every year. We help make travel planning easy by providing useful insights and data-driven graphs that can inform your decisions.