International route
Cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Istanbul Airport (IST). 6,689 miles, 12h 55m nonstop.
SFO to IST 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
- 12h 55mnonstop, 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
- Tuesday18% less than Friday
- Time difference
- 10h aheadIstanbul vs San Francisco
San Francisco to Istanbul
Round trips from $459
Per traveler, taxes and fees included. Lowest fare we found departs Wed, Jan 6.
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 WhatsAppSan Francisco to Istanbul 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 San Francisco to Istanbul
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?
San 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 $459; September 2026 is the most expensive at $608 and up, a difference of $149 per traveler.
- Departing on a Tuesday averages 18% less than a Friday 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.
- Istanbul is 10 hours ahead of San Francisco. Expect to lose 10 hours on the clock heading east, so an overnight or late-afternoon departure tends to arrive at a more usable hour.
Ready to compare live fares?
See every airline on SFO–IST side by side with bags and seat rules spelled out.
Search San Francisco to IstanbulSan Francisco to Istanbul: common questions
How long is the flight from San Francisco to Istanbul?
A nonstop flight from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST) takes about 12h 55m 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 SFO to IST?
United Airlines and Turkish Airlines operate nonstop flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST), 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 San Francisco to Istanbul?
Over the next six months, January 2027 has the lowest round-trip fares from San Francisco (SFO) to Istanbul (IST), starting at $459 per traveler including taxes and fees. Within any month, Tuesday departures average the lowest prices.
How far in advance should I book San Francisco to Istanbul 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 San Francisco and Istanbul?
Istanbul is 10 hours ahead of San Francisco. SFO is on America/Los Angeles time and IST on Europe/Istanbul 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 San Francisco
All routes- San Francisco to New YorkSFO → JFKfrom $238
- San Francisco to ChicagoSFO → ORDfrom $159
- San Francisco to Los AngelesSFO → LAXfrom $63
- San Francisco to SeattleSFO → SEAfrom $80
- San Francisco to HonoluluSFO → HNLfrom $244
- San Francisco to VancouverSFO → YVRfrom $105
- San Francisco to LondonSFO → LHRfrom $510
- San Francisco to ParisSFO → CDGfrom $507
More flights to Istanbul
All routes- New York to IstanbulJFK → ISTfrom $392
- Newark to IstanbulEWR → ISTfrom $488
- Chicago to IstanbulORD → ISTfrom $450
- Washington to IstanbulIAD → ISTfrom $476
- Los Angeles to IstanbulLAX → ISTfrom $490
- Miami to IstanbulMIA → ISTfrom $569
- Boston to IstanbulBOS → ISTfrom $455
- Atlanta to IstanbulATL → ISTfrom $484