Travelling from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Istanbul: what you need to know
The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3. The city is 11 hours ahead of Oakland, where San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport is located.
Leave plenty of time to get on your OAK to Istanbul flight. Generally, it's best to arrive two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Flying during a popular month like July? Major public holidays and other high seasons can mean longer lines at check-in and security. Be extra cautious and arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and possibly even visit a new city. When browsing for plane tickets from OAK to Istanbul, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Top options include:
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Travelling from central Oakland to OAK takes about 30 minutes by public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a taxi, you'll cover the 11 kilometres in 20 minutes or so, depending on traffic.
Booked an early flight from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and sneak in some extra snooze time) by choosing one of these hotels near OAK:
82% of flights leaving San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport touch down at their destination as planned. With its impressive on-time stats, you're unlikely to be delayed when flying out of OAK.
OAK is located at 1 Airport Drive.
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport (OAK) to Istanbul
R 5,979 is the lowest price we've found for a one-way San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul flight. A return plane ticket right now is R 15,193. Depending on when you want to go and the availability, these fares may change.
Don't wait until the last minute. You're more likely to pick up cheap flights from OAK to Istanbul if you book early. Airlines often offer some amazing early bird discounts.
Finding cheap tickets from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul is easier if you can be flexible with your trip dates. Try using the 'Whole month' search tool to access the lowest fares across the month and score a fantastic deal.
Spend less time searching for cheap flights from OAK to Istanbul by setting up a Price Alert. You'll get an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Tailor your flights with filters. Select your arrival and departure times, airlines and total journey duration. You can also sort the results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best' flights from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Airport (IST)
Istanbul Airport (IST) to the centre of Istanbul takes around 45 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 40 kilometres away.
It typically takes 1 hour 10 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
The last thing you need is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul. Stay at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Booking your vehicle from Istanbul Airport about two weeks in advance of your flight from OAK to Istanbul can help you secure the lowest rate.
Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Once your flight from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in about 1 hour 5 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is roughly 48 kilometres from Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
If you're catching public transport, it'll take around 1 hour 40 minutes.
There are some great places to rest your head close to SAW. Tuck yourself in and get cosy after your OAK to Istanbul flight at one of these well-located options:
Lock in the best price by securing your ride from SAW four weeks in advance. You can also expect to have a greater range of vehicles.
Best time to go to Istanbul
February is the quietest month for flights from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul, while August is the most popular. Figure out the ideal time to go to Istanbul based on whether you like a lively atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in Istanbul is July, with temperatures ranging between 21ºC (70ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Lock in your San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul plane ticket then if this is the type of weather you enjoy.
For cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from OAK to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF).
More about Istanbul
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the top stays in Istanbul right here. Check out these options after you've booked your flight from San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport to Istanbul:
Historic Areas of Istanbul and Hagia Sophia Museum are just two of the leading attractions to put on your Istanbul itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Hagia Sophia History Museum.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
You've done Istanbul, now it's time to discover other corners of Türkiye (Turkey). Travel about 354 kilometres east to Ankara to tick off its top attractions. From The Roman Theatre to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, there's plenty to keep you busy.
Izmir is another favourite destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres southwest of Istanbul. No trip is complete without visiting Aegean Coast, Smyrna Basilika and Ataturk Konak Square.
