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$493+ 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 12/28. Fares are subject to change and may not be available on all flights or dates of travel.
SFO — IST
Nov 29 — Dec 61
Sat 11/29
Sat 12/6
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 (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 October 30, 2025.

Round-trip from

$693
(oojo)

One-way from

$493
(Kiwi.com)

Popular in

June

Cheapest in

March

Average price

$1,059
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 ($186 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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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 30, 2025.

This oojo deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 11/91:10 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 15mTurkish Airlines
Wed 11/191:50 pmIST - SFO
Nonstop13h 55mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 10/29$693
This KLM deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/30. 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.
Thu 11/271:55 pmSFO - IST
1 stop16h 00mKLM
Wed 12/34:50 amIST - SFO
1 stop19h 35mKLM
Deal found 10/30$694
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/30. 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 11/308:25 amSFO - IST
3 stops25h 35mMultiple Airlines
Sun 12/148:20 amIST - SFO
2 stops22h 15mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/30$695
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 12/18:30 amSFO - IST
3 stops28h 50mMultiple Airlines
Mon 12/810:00 pmIST - SFO
3 stops34h 22mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$697
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 11/288:25 amSFO - SAW
3 stops24h 40mMultiple Airlines
Fri 12/59:05 amSAW - SFO
2 stops21h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$698
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 11/198:30 amSFO - IST
3 stops25h 30mMultiple Airlines
Mon 11/2410:00 pmIST - SFO
2 stops32h 35mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$698
This Lufthansa deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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.
Fri 11/141:35 pmSFO - IST
1 stop22h 10mLufthansa
Sat 12/66:30 amIST - SFO
1 stop17h 10mLufthansa
Deal found 10/29$699
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/66:50 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 10mTurkish Airlines
Thu 12/111:50 pmIST - SFO
Nonstop13h 55mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 10/29$700
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 11/288:25 amSFO - SAW
3 stops24h 40mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/49:05 amSAW - SFO
2 stops21h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$701
This IEagle deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 IEagle is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Thu 11/136:50 pmSFO - IST
Nonstop13h 10mTurkish Airlines
Thu 11/278:05 amIST - SFO
Nonstop14h 00mTurkish Airlines
Deal found 10/29$701
This Mytrip deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 - IST
3 stops23h 00mMultiple Airlines
Mon 12/810:00 pmIST - SFO
2 stops25h 40mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$702
This Booking.com deal was found by Cheapflights users on 10/29. 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 Booking.com is selected, and click “Compare selected” under the list of providers to see comparable flight deals.
Sat 12/68:39 amSFO - IST
2 stops22h 26mMultiple Airlines
Thu 12/186:30 amIST - SFO
2 stops21h 30mMultiple Airlines
Deal found 10/29$705

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 30, 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

Sun 12/7

10:40 am-4:55 pm

2 stops19h 15m

Istanbul

Wed 12/17

4:50 am-1:25 pm

1 stop19h 35m

$718

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Wed 11/12

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Wed 11/26

3:45 pm-11:50 am

1 stop31h 05m

$720

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Mon 11/17

1:55 pm-5:25 pm

1 stop16h 30m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Mon 12/8

9:00 am-8:59 pm

2 stops22h 59m

$730

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Thu 11/13

11:45 am-5:25 pm

2 stops18h 40m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Tue 11/18

9:00 am-8:56 pm

2 stops22h 56m

$734

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - SAW

SFOSAW

San Francisco

Thu 11/13

11:45 am-5:25 pm

2 stops18h 40m

Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen

Thu 11/20

9:00 am-8:56 pm

2 stops22h 56m

$734

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sat 1/24

6:50 pm-7:00 pm

Nonstop13h 10m

Istanbul

Wed 1/28

1:50 pm-4:45 pm

Nonstop13h 55m

$743

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Mon 12/29

6:00 am-4:55 pm

2 stops23h 55m

Istanbul

Fri 2/13

4:50 am-10:12 pm

2 stops28h 22m

$758

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 1/11

12:47 am-4:55 pm

2 stops29h 08m

Istanbul

Mon 1/19

5:55 pm-5:40 pm

2 stops34h 45m

$759

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Sun 11/16

1:35 pm-10:45 pm

1 stop22h 10m

Istanbul

Sat 12/6

6:30 am-12:40 pm

1 stop17h 10m

$760

San FranciscoIstanbul

SFO - IST

SFOIST

San Francisco

Fri 1/23

6:50 pm-7:00 pm

Nonstop13h 10m

Istanbul

Sat 1/31

8:05 am-11:05 am

Nonstop14h 00m

$763

Flights are sorted by cheapest round-trip flights first.

Deals found on 10/29

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 October 24, 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 $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 October 30, 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 October 26, 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.

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 30, 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
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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
7,993 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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
8,998 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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
4,031 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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
7,541 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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
7,487 reviews
Delta
7.9
Good
7,993 reviews

Comfort

7.9

Entertainment

7.9

Food

7.3

Overall

7.9

Crew

8.5

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?

    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 2 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 13h 10m. KLM provides one of the quickest options available for as low as $743. 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 Delta, from $666, and Lufthansa, from $710. 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 (66%), Pakistan International Airlines (66%), IndiGo (66%).

  • 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 $2,246, our data indicates the cheapest price to be $398. The most popular route (San Francisco - Istanbul), is priced around $36.

  • 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 $44 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 $39 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

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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 October 30, 2025.
AirlineCheapestAverageFlexibilityOn-time
IndiGoCheapest$567Average$805FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time80%
DeltaCheapest$666Average$991FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-timeN/A
LufthansaCheapest$710Average$1,126FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time76%
United AirlinesCheapest$713Average$1,234FlexibilityNo 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$806Average$1,231FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time77%
Qatar AirwaysCheapest$918Average$1,170FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time68%
British AirwaysCheapest$927Average$1,309FlexibilityNo cancel feeOn-time70%

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