Cheap flights from Shanghai to Istanbul from £303
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How much do flights to Istanbul cost?
Cheapest one-way trip | £303 |
|---|---|
Cheapest nonstop round-trip | £636 |
Cheapest round-trip | £526 |
Average round-trip | £610 |
Nonstop flights in May | £494 – £2,209 |
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.
From Istanbul Airport (IST)
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 |
From Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)
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 Shanghai to Istanbul in the next month. You’ll find the number of daily direct flights per airline in the chart.
| Airline | Mon 04.05 | Tue 05.05 | Wed 06.05 | Thu 07.05 | Fri 08.05 | Sat 09.05 | Sun 10.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 26 total | Daily flights: 3.71 average | Most flights: Wednesday 4 flights |
| Airline | Mon 11.05 | Tue 12.05 | Wed 13.05 | Thu 14.05 | Fri 15.05 | Sat 16.05 | Sun 17.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| 1 | --- | 1 | --- | --- | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 28 total | Daily flights: 4 average | Most flights: Tuesday 4 flights |
| Airline | Mon 18.05 | Tue 19.05 | Wed 20.05 | Thu 21.05 | Fri 22.05 | Sat 23.05 | Sun 24.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 21 total | Daily flights: 3 average | Most flights: Wednesday 3 flights |
| Airline | Mon 25.05 | Tue 26.05 | Wed 27.05 | Thu 28.05 | Fri 29.05 | Sat 30.05 | Sun 31.05 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | |
| 1 | 1 | 1 | --- | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Weekly flights: 22 total | Daily flights: 3.14 average | Most flights: Saturday 4 flights |
Check-in for a flight from Shanghai to Istanbul
| Name | Carrier code | IATA Code | Passport needed during booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Eastern Airlines | CES | MU | Yes |
| Air China | CCA | CA | Yes |
| Pegasus | PGT | PC | No |
| China Southern Airlines | CSN | CZ | Yes |
| Turkish Airlines | THY | TK | 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 | 7°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 | 25°C | 20°C |
| October | 19°C | 15°C |
| November | 15°C | 12°C |
| December | 11°C | 8°C |
14 day forecast
Frequently asked questions
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