Skyscanner

Flights to Istanbul

Compare Istanbul Airport flights across hundreds of providers

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly

Book the best fare with no fees

Flight deals to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Istanbul.R 3,997 per passenger.Departing Thu, 6 Nov.One-way flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK).Outbound indirect flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK), departs from Cape Town on Thu, 6 Nov, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 3,997, select.
Istanbul.R 4,279 per passenger.Departing Fri, 10 Oct.One-way flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK).Outbound indirect flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK), departs from Cape Town on Fri, 10 Oct, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 4,279, select.
Istanbul.R 5,117 per passenger.Departing Tue, 9 Dec.One-way flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK).Outbound indirect flight with Norse Atlantic Airways (UK), departs from Cape Town on Tue, 9 Dec, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,117, select.
Istanbul.R 5,326 per passenger.Departing Tue, 23 Sep.One-way flight with Etihad Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Etihad Airways, departs from Johannesburg O.R. Tambo on Tue, 23 Sep, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,326, select.
Istanbul.R 5,330 per passenger.Departing Wed, 14 Jan.One-way flight with Qatar Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Qatar Airways, departs from Cape Town on Wed, 14 Jan, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,330, select.
Istanbul.R 5,330 per passenger.Departing Fri, 6 Mar.One-way flight with Qatar Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Qatar Airways, departs from Cape Town on Fri, 6 Mar, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,330, select.
Istanbul.R 5,336 per passenger.Departing Fri, 27 Feb.One-way flight with Qatar Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Qatar Airways, departs from Cape Town on Fri, 27 Feb, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,336, select.
Istanbul.R 5,563 per passenger.Departing Thu, 20 Aug.One-way flight with Qatar Airways.Outbound indirect flight with Qatar Airways, departs from Cape Town on Thu, 20 Aug, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,563, select.

Find the cheapest time to fly to Istanbul

Flexible on travel dates? Find the cheapest month – or even day – to fly to Istanbul.
Sep
from R 5,326
Oct
from R 4,279
Nov
from R 3,997
Dec
from R 5,117
Jan
from R 5,330
Feb
from R 5,336
Mar
from R 5,330
Apr
from R 5,616
May
from R 5,595
Jun
from R 6,156
Jul
from R 5,637
Aug
from R 5,563

Airports near Istanbul

Compare routes to Istanbul below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier.

Direct flights to Istanbul

Frequently asked questions

Turkish Airlines, IndiGo, Thai Airways all fly direct to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly to Istanbul is usually December.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Istanbul but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
Yes – the average flight time is 10 hours and 30 minutes.
The best price we found for a return flight to Istanbul is R 8,801. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that the cheapest date to fly to Istanbul Airport is Monday, 1 December 2025.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Istanbul is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Flying to Istanbul

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight foundR 3,997
Cheapest month to flyNovember
Average flight time10 hrs, 30 mins
Most popular airlineTurkish Airlines
Average flights per week37

Discover Istanbul

How to find cheap flights to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • The lowest price currently available for a one-way flight to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is R 3,997. A return plane ticket to IST right now is R 8,801.

  • Get updates on fares by setting up a Price Alert. The moment prices on tickets to IST fall, you'll get a notification.

  • The earlier you book, the better. You might even be able to score some excellent early bird deals on tickets to Istanbul, where Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located.

  • Expand your search for cheap flights to Istanbul by clicking the 'Add nearby airports' filter. This lets you compare fares for all the nearest airports at your departure and destination points and could help you save money.

  • Search for plane tickets to Istanbul Ataturk Airport that come with a stop or two. Taking the scenic route can be cheaper. After your results show up, select the 'Stops' filter to browse your options.

Best time to go to Istanbul

  • The cheapest month to jump on a flight to Istanbul is typically May.

  • To find the month with the cheapest flights to IST, use the 'Whole month' tool. If your travel dates are flexible, search for the green prices on the calendar — they show you the lowest available fares.

  • August is the most popular month for flights to IST. Travel then if you're eager to experience Istanbul at its liveliest.

  • February is the quietest time of year to travel if you're after a more relaxed vibe. You'll typically find cheaper prices on plane tickets to Istanbul then.

  • Check the weather conditions before you go. August is the warmest time of year in Istanbul, averaging between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).

  • January brings the lowest temperatures, ranging from around 2ºC (36ºF) to 11ºC (52ºF).

  • Hoping for clearer skies? August is the driest month in Istanbul, averaging two days of rain.

  • The wettest time of year is January. Visit then and you'll likely get around eight days of rainfall.

Flying to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): What you need to know

Getting to central Istanbul from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • IST is located about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul.

  • You'll reach the centre in around 50 minutes if you're catching a cab or a ride-share after your flight to IST.

  • You can expect the trip to take about 1 hour 45 minutes on public transport.

  • If you're eager to stay close to the action in Istanbul, unpack your suitcase at one of these comfortable hotels:

Istanbul highlights

  • Jump off your flight to Istanbul and find your way to these must-see attractions:

    • Hagia Sophia Museum: Around 0.48 kilometres north-east of the centre in Fatih, this landmark offers a lasting first impression of the city.

    • City Garden: Make your way to this park when you feel like slowing the pace in Istanbul. It's roughly 5 kilometres east of the centre in Kadıköy.

    • Historic Areas of Istanbul: This is just one more reason to visit this city. A top landmark, it's around 5 kilometres west of the centre of Istanbul in Topkapi.

How to get to Bursa from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • Going straight to Bursa? From IST, it'll take around 2 hours 10 minutes to drive there. The city is about 193 kilometres from the airport.

Travelling from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Gebze

  • Gebze is another city that's easy to get to from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. It's around 80 kilometres away.

  • Going there by car takes roughly 1 hour 15 minutes.

Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)

  • Türkiye (Turkey) has plenty more waiting for you. Venture on to Bursa, located about 121 kilometres south of Istanbul. Old Bursa Historic Houses, Archeological Museum and Bursa Grand Bazaar should be on your must-see list. Yenisehir Airport (YEI) is the city's closest major airport.

  • Eskisehir could easily become your new favourite place in Türkiye (Turkey). You'll find it roughly 225 kilometres south-east of Istanbul. Eskişehir, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri are visitor favourites. You can arrive here through Anadolu Airport (AOE).

  • Or set out for Sultangazi, roughly 21 kilometres south-east of Istanbul. Kanuni Sultan Suleyman Mosque, Şehit Er Onur Karakuş Parkı and Şehit Öğretmen Ekrem Yıldız Parkı are just a taste of what's waiting.

More travel options

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.