International route
Cheap flights from Istanbul to San Francisco
Istanbul Airport (IST) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). 6,689 miles, 13h 30m nonstop.
IST to SFO at a glance
Computed from airline schedules and the fares we track for this route. Refreshed several times a day.
- Distance
- 6,689 milesgreat-circle
- Typical flight time
- 13h 30mnonstop, gate to gate
- Nonstop airlines
- UATK2 airlinesUnited, Turkish
- Nonstop flights per day
- 4all airlines combined
- Cheapest month
- January 2027over the next six months
- Best day to fly
- Tuesday21% less than Sunday
- Time difference
- 10h behindSan Francisco vs Istanbul
Istanbul to San Francisco
Round trips from $480
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Sat, Jan 9.
Cheapest month: January 2027
See fares on these datesLock any fare free — pay only when you accept your last-minute deal
Or ask an agent on WhatsAppIstanbul to San Francisco fares by month
Lowest round-trip economy fare per traveler in each of the next six months, taxes and fees included. Select a month to search that date.
Airlines flying Istanbul to San Francisco
2 airlines fly nonstop with 4 departures a day combined, plus 30 more with one stop.
- TKTurkish AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $70
- UAUnited AirlinesStar AllianceNonstop · 2 flights a day · first checked bag from $40
- EIAer LingusConnecting via DUB, SNN · first checked bag from $70
- AMAeroméxicoSkyTeamConnecting via MEX, GDL · first checked bag from $40
- ACAir CanadaStar AllianceConnecting via YVR, YUL, YYC · first checked bag from $35
- AFAir FranceSkyTeamConnecting via CDG, ORY · first checked bag from $75
- AIAir IndiaStar AllianceConnecting via DEL · first checked bag included
- ASAlaska AirlinesoneworldConnecting via SEA, PDX, LAX, SAN · first checked bag from $35
- AAAmerican AirlinesoneworldConnecting via DFW, CLT, ORD, PHX, PHL, LAX · first checked bag from $40
- NHANA All Nippon AirwaysStar AllianceConnecting via NRT · first checked bag included
- AVAviancaStar AllianceConnecting via SAL · first checked bag from $45
- BABritish AirwaysoneworldConnecting via LHR, LGW · first checked bag from $75
- DLDelta Air LinesSkyTeamConnecting via ATL, MSP, DTW, SLC, SEA, LAX, JFK, BOS, LGA · first checked bag from $35
- LYEl AlConnecting via TLV · first checked bag from $80
- EKEmiratesConnecting via DXB · first checked bag included
- EYEtihad AirwaysConnecting via AUH · first checked bag included
- AYFinnaironeworldConnecting via HEL · first checked bag from $70
- AZITA AirwaysConnecting via FCO, MXP · first checked bag from $70
- JLJapan AirlinesoneworldConnecting via NRT · first checked bag included
- B6JetBlueConnecting via BOS, FLL, MCO, LAX, SJU · first checked bag from $40
- KLKLM Royal Dutch AirlinesSkyTeamConnecting via AMS · first checked bag from $75
- LALATAM AirlinesConnecting via BOG · first checked bag from $45
- LHLufthansaStar AllianceConnecting via FRA, MUC · first checked bag from $75
- NONorse Atlantic AirwaysLow-costConnecting via LGW, OSL · first checked bag from $80
- QRQatar AirwaysoneworldConnecting via DOH · first checked bag included
- SKSAS Scandinavian AirlinesSkyTeamConnecting via CPH, ARN, OSL · first checked bag from $70
- LXSWISSStar AllianceConnecting via GVA · first checked bag from $75
- TPTAP Air PortugalStar AllianceConnecting via LIS · first checked bag from $70
- VSVirgin AtlanticSkyTeamConnecting via LHR, MAN · first checked bag from $75
- VBVivaLow-costConnecting via MTY, GDL, CUN · first checked bag from $45
- Y4VolarisLow-costConnecting via MEX, TIJ, CUN · first checked bag from $45
- WSWestJetConnecting via YYC, YVR, YYZ · first checked bag from $35
Connecting options
Hubs where one airline can carry you on both legs, most choices first.
- Los Angeles (LAX)AADLB6AS4 airlines
- Seattle (SEA)DLAS2 airlines
- Boston (BOS)DLB62 airlines
- Vancouver (YVR)ACWS2 airlines
- Calgary (YYC)ACWS2 airlines
Which airport should I use?
IstanbulSan Francisco has 3 airports. Fares can differ by $50 to $150 round trip between them, so check the alternatives before you book.
Tips for this route
- Only United and Turkish fly this route nonstop, which keeps nonstop fares firm. A one-stop itinerary through LAX or SEA is usually cheaper if you can spare the extra three to five hours.
- January 2027 is the cheapest month to fly over the next six months, with round trips from $480; September 2026 is the most expensive at $589 and up, a difference of $109 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 21% less than a Sunday on this route. If your dates are flexible, shift the outbound by a day or two and check the calendar view before you book.
- Book 2 to 5 months ahead for the best fares; long-haul seats sell out earliest for summer and holiday travel.
- San Francisco is 10 hours behind Istanbul. A morning departure lands in San Francisco with most of the day left; an evening flight arrives close to local dinner time.
Destination guide
San Francisco: Fog, hills and the Golden Gate
San Francisco packs cable cars, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and world-class food into 49 square miles. SFO is the main gateway; Oakland and San Jose are handy alternatives with lower fares on many routes.
Best time to visit: September and October are the warmest, clearest months. Spring (April–May) is green and mild. Summer fog ('Karl') keeps the coast cool; winter is rainy but inexpensive.
Flying the other way? San Francisco to IstanbulFares, airlines and tips for SFO to IST.Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on IST–SFO side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search Istanbul to San FranciscoIstanbul to San Francisco: common questions
How long is the flight from Istanbul to San Francisco?
A nonstop flight from Istanbul (IST) to San Francisco (SFO) takes about 13h 30m gate to gate, covering 6,689 miles. Connecting itineraries add the layover, typically 2 to 5 hours more in total.
Which airlines fly nonstop from IST to SFO?
United Airlines and Turkish Airlines operate nonstop flights from Istanbul (IST) to San Francisco (SFO), with 4 nonstop departures a day between them. One-stop options connect through LAX, SEA and BOS.
What is the cheapest month to fly from Istanbul to San Francisco?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from Istanbul (IST) to San Francisco (SFO), starting at $480 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book Istanbul to San Francisco flights?
Book 2 to 5 months ahead for the best fares; long-haul seats sell out earliest for summer and holiday travel. Air1 Tickets includes free cancellation within 24 hours of booking on every fare, so you can lock in a good price and keep looking.
What is the time difference between Istanbul and San Francisco?
San Francisco is 10 hours behind Istanbul. IST is on Europe/Istanbul time and SFO on America/Los Angeles time. Departure and arrival times in search results are always shown in local time at each airport.
Related routes
Other popular city pairs from the same departure city and to the same destination, with the lowest round-trip fares we found.
More flights from Istanbul
All routes- Istanbul to New YorkIST → JFKfrom $390
- Istanbul to NewarkIST → EWRfrom $515
- Istanbul to ChicagoIST → ORDfrom $445
- Istanbul to WashingtonIST → IADfrom $478
- Istanbul to Los AngelesIST → LAXfrom $491
- Istanbul to MiamiIST → MIAfrom $566
- Istanbul to BostonIST → BOSfrom $450
- Istanbul to AtlantaIST → ATLfrom $482
More flights to San Francisco
All routes- New York to San FranciscoJFK → SFOfrom $239
- Chicago to San FranciscoORD → SFOfrom $159
- Los Angeles to San FranciscoLAX → SFOfrom $63
- Seattle to San FranciscoSEA → SFOfrom $80
- Honolulu to San FranciscoHNL → SFOfrom $243
- Vancouver to San FranciscoYVR → SFOfrom $107
- London to San FranciscoLHR → SFOfrom $513
- Paris to San FranciscoCDG → SFOfrom $508