Flying from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST): What you need to know
Planning your trip starts with working out where you'll leave from in Chicago. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) is the city's main base, so check out your options for booking a flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST) jetting off from here.
Expect to be travelling for 10 hours 30 minutes. That's the average time for a direct Chicago to Istanbul Airport flight.
Istanbul is nine hours ahead of Chicago. Istanbul Airport is located in Istanbul, which runs on the UTC+3 timezone.
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to Istanbul Airport (IST) is the most popular route. There are 15 direct flights a week to choose from. If you prefer starting your day later, hop on the last flight with Turkish Airlines at 11:45pm. Opt for the first ORD to IST departure operated by Turkish Airlines at 11:25am if you're aiming for an earlier start.
For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to board your flight from Chicago to IST.
If you're getting away during a peak month like July, get to the airport even earlier. You'll want to arrive up to four hours before an international flight and two hours ahead of a domestic departure. Expect lines to be longer during high seasons like Thanksgiving and spring break.
Airports in Chicago
Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
You can find a direct flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST) out of Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD).
Turkish Airlines is a well-known airline that operates direct flights from Chicago to Istanbul Airport departing from ORD.
The airline most travellers choose when flying between ORD and IST is Turkish Airlines.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and maybe even visit a new city. When searching for cheap flights from Chicago to IST leaving from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to find out where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH)
The journey from central Chicago to ORD takes around 45 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 27 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Want an easy start to your journey? Stay near Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Whether you've booked an early flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport or just don't want to be rushed, these hotels are the ideal choice:
Of all flights leaving Chicago O'Hare International Airport, 70% arrive on time at their destination.
The address for ORD is 10000 West O'Hare.
Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
Check a new destination off your list or just take some time to unwind with a stopover. If you'd like to split up your flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport, browse these options when leaving from Chicago Midway International Airport:
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
MDW is about 16 kilometres from central Chicago. It'll take 25 minutes or so to get to the airport if you're driving from the city centre. Public transport takes approximately 30 minutes.
Taking off bright and early? Think about staying at one of these hotels near Chicago Midway International Airport the day before your Chicago to IST flight:
Chicago Midway International Airport has an on-time performance of 76%. This figure shows how frequently flights that leave from this airport arrive at their destination on schedule.
The address for MDW is 5700 South Cicero.
Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD)
Whether just for an hour or several days, a stopover can make your whole trip feel more relaxed and effortless. When flying out of Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD), you can book a plane ticket from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST) with a stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
From central Chicago, RFD is around 145 kilometres away. It'll take you roughly 1 hour 40 minutes to reach the airport by car and 2 hours or so if you use public transport.
Skip the rush on your departure day — stay near Chicago Rockford International Airport and know you'll get to the terminal with time to spare. Settle in at one of these hotels the day before if you're catching an early Chicago to Istanbul Airport flight:
The on-time performance rating of RFD is 71%. To put it simply, that's how frequently flights departing this airport arrive at their destination as planned.
The street address of Chicago Rockford International Airport is 2 Airport Cir.
About Istanbul Airport (IST)
If you're coming in on a late flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport, nothing beats the convenience of staying close to the terminal. Grab your luggage from the carousel and then be showered and relaxing soon after at one of these options near IST:
To get the best deal, reserve your vehicle around two weeks ahead of your Chicago to Istanbul Airport flight.
Getting from Istanbul Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Central Istanbul is around 40 kilometres from Istanbul Airport and takes about 45 minutes to reach by car. Explore your options for getting into the city, whether that's with a taxi, car hire or ride-share.
If you're travelling by public transport, expect a journey time of about 1 hour 10 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST)
R 5,347 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Chicago to Istanbul Airport. Return flights start from R 11,376. These fares can change based on availability.
To score cheap flights from Chicago to IST, book your plane ticket five months before your planned departure.
The best month for finding cheap Chicago to Istanbul Airport tickets is October. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then select the dates with the lowest fares.
Snapping up a cheap plane ticket from Chicago to IST is a breeze with Price Alerts. All you need to do is create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when a lower fare pops up.
Chase down a great fare on a flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport with the help of the filters. Pick your ideal departure and arrival times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
The best time to fly from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST)
Picture the kind of break you want when deciding your trip dates. February is the quietest month to go to Istanbul. August is when most people book flights from Chicago to Istanbul Airport (IST), which may be perfect if you'd rather travel when it's busy.
Book a Chicago to IST plane ticket departing in July if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 21ºC (70ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
Search for cheap tickets from Chicago to Istanbul Airport in January if you want to travel in cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF).
More about Istanbul
When it comes to searching for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the top stays in Istanbul right here. Check out these options once you've locked in your flight from Chicago to Istanbul Airport:
Every great holiday has to include a little sightseeing. Hagia Sophia Museum, Historic Areas of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia History Museum are attractions you won't want to skip in Istanbul.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Eskisehir is just one of the many places in Türkiye (Turkey) waiting to be discovered once you've taken in the sights of Istanbul. Around 225 kilometres away to the southeast, top sights here include Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri, Archeological Museum and TÜRASAŞ Revolution Cars Museum.
Next? Set out for Adapazarı. It's roughly 153 kilometres east of Istanbul and boasts highlights including Ağa Cami and Earthquake & Cultural Museum.
