Cheap flights from San Francisco to Istanbul from
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How much do flights to Istanbul cost?
Cheapest nonstop round-trip | £967 |
|---|---|
Nonstop flights in August | £547 – £769 |
Most popular airline | Turkish Airlines |
Getting from Istanbul airports to the city center
Fastest options: Metro and Havaist bus from IST, Havabus from SAW. Best value: public buses and metro connections.
How to get from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Istanbul?
Transport Option | Typical Time | Typical Cost | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
24-30 min | ₺23 – ₺35; Istanbulkart fare; transfers extra (~$0.70–1.00 USD) | every 6–10 min (traffic dependent) | budget travelers to European side | |
60-120 min | ₺180 – ₺250; varies by destination (~$5–7 USD) | every 20–60 min (traffic dependent) | direct to Taksim or Sultanahmet | |
40-90 min | ₺800 – ₺1,500; metered; varies by traffic (~$22–42 USD) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | door-to-door convenience | |
40-90 min | ₺1,200 – ₺2,500; pre-booked; fixed price (~$33–70 USD) | pre-booked (traffic dependent) | groups or late arrivals |
How to get from Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Istanbul?
Transport Option | Typical Time | Typical Cost | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
60-120 min | ₺150 – ₺200; varies by destination (~$4–6 USD) | every 30–60 min (traffic dependent) | direct to Taksim or Kadıköy | |
60-90 min | ₺17 – ₺25; Istanbulkart fare (~$0.50–0.70 USD) | every 15–30 min (traffic dependent) | budget travelers | |
45-100 min | ₺700 – ₺1,400; metered; varies by traffic (~$20–40 USD) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | door-to-door to Asian side | |
45-100 min | ₺650 – ₺1,300; app-based; varies by demand (~$18–36 USD) | on-demand 24/7 (traffic dependent) | cashless payment option |
Notes:
- Prices in TRY; table created in 2025 and subject to change.
- Istanbulkart is required for metro and public buses; cards available at airport stations and kiosks.
- Istanbul traffic can be severe, especially during rush hours. Allow extra time for road-based transport.
- Taxis are metered; ensure the meter is running. Ride-hailing prices vary with demand.
- We recommend checking official transport websites for your travel planning.
Updated: December 2025
Key info about flying to Istanbul
Weekly direct flights
Discover the top airlines offering direct flights from San Francisco to Istanbul in the next month. You’ll find the number of daily direct flights per airline in the chart.
| Airline | Mon 17.08 | Tue 18.08 | Wed 19.08 | Thu 20.08 | Fri 21.08 | Sat 22.08 | Sun 23.08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 9 total | Daily flights: 1.29 average | Most flights: Monday 2 flights |
| Airline | Mon 24.08 | Tue 25.08 | Wed 26.08 | Thu 27.08 | Fri 28.08 | Sat 29.08 | Sun 30.08 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 9 total | Daily flights: 1.29 average | Most flights: Monday 2 flights |
| Airline | Mon 31.08 | Tue 01.09 | Wed 02.09 | Thu 03.09 | Fri 04.09 | Sat 05.09 | Sun 06.09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 9 total | Daily flights: 1.29 average | Most flights: Monday 2 flights |
| Airline | Mon 07.09 | Tue 08.09 | Wed 09.09 | Thu 10.09 | Fri 11.09 | Sat 12.09 | Sun 13.09 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 9 total | Daily flights: 1.29 average | Most flights: Monday 2 flights |
Check-in for a flight from San Francisco to Istanbul
| Name | Carrier code | IATA Code | Passport needed during booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines | THY | TK | No |
| Pegasus | PGT | PC | No |
| United Airlines | UAL | UA | No |
| Lufthansa | DLH | LH | No |
| JetBlue Airways | JBU | B6 | No |
Online check-in is not available for these airlines.
Weather in Istanbul
Average Weather
| Month | Average monthly max temperature | Average monthly min temperature |
| January | 9°C | 5°C |
| February | 9°C | 5°C |
| March | 11°C | 6°C |
| April | 15°C | 9°C |
| May | 20°C | 14°C |
| June | 25°C | 19°C |
| July | 28°C | 22°C |
| August | 28°C | 23°C |
| September | 24°C | 20°C |
| October | 19°C | 15°C |
| November | 15°C | 12°C |
| December | 11°C | 7°C |
14 day forecast
Frequently asked questions
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