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Cheap Flights from San Diego to Istanbul

Your route at a glance

Cheapest dealR 9,458
Cheapest monthJanuary
Most popular airlineBritish Airways

Compare San Diego to Istanbul flight deals

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

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Flight deals from San Diego to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from San Diego to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.
Istanbul.R 5,540 per passenger.Departing Thu, 5 Feb.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 5 Feb, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,540, select.
Istanbul.R 5,877 per passenger.Departing Tue, 20 Jan.One-way flight with Hawaiian Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Hawaiian Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 20 Jan, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 5,877, select.
Istanbul.R 7,300 per passenger.Departing Wed, 1 Apr.One-way flight with KLM.Outbound indirect flight with KLM, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 1 Apr, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 7,300, select.
Istanbul.R 8,772 per passenger.Departing Thu, 10 Sep.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Thu, 10 Sep, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 8,772, select.
Istanbul.R 9,054 per passenger.Departing Sat, 30 May.One-way flight with KLM.Outbound indirect flight with KLM, departs from San Diego International on Sat, 30 May, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 9,054, select.
Istanbul.R 9,112 per passenger.Departing Mon, 29 Dec.One-way flight with Hawaiian Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Hawaiian Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Mon, 29 Dec, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 9,112, select.
Istanbul.R 10,779 per passenger.Departing Tue, 30 Jun.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Tue, 30 Jun, arriving in Istanbul Sabiha.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 10,779, select.
Istanbul.R 11,671 per passenger.Departing Wed, 22 Jul.One-way flight with Alaska Airlines.Outbound indirect flight with Alaska Airlines, departs from San Diego International on Wed, 22 Jul, arriving in Istanbul.Price includes taxes and charges.From R 11,671, select.

Find the cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Istanbul

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like San Diego to Istanbul flights are currently cheapest in February.
Dec
from R 9,112
Jan
from R 5,877
Feb
from R 5,540
Mar
Find prices
Apr
from R 7,300
May
from R 9,054
Jun
from R 10,779
Jul
from R 11,671
Aug
Find prices
Sep
from R 8,772
Oct
Find prices
Nov
Find prices

Alternative San Diego to Istanbul routes

Looking for the cheapest, fastest or easiest route from San Diego to Istanbul? You could fly into the following airports instead.

Finding cheap flights from San Diego to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

There are 2 airports in Istanbul: Istanbul Sabiha and Istanbul.
The best price we found for a return flight from San Diego to Istanbul is R 9,458. 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.
Currently, there are no airlines that fly direct from San Diego to Istanbul. But we found flights with one or more stops from R 9,458.
As of December 2025, there are no flights flying from San Diego to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Istanbul is usually January.
If you're flying from San Diego, the cheapest airport near Istanbul is Istanbul – which is 34.4 km away from the centre of Istanbul. We've found flights into this airport from R 9,458.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from San Diego to Istanbul on Saturday, 17 January 2026.
No airlines currently offer direct flights between San Diego and Istanbul. Most routes have one or more stops.
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.
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.
In December, the average temperature is usually around 8°C. August is typically the warmest month in Istanbul, when it usually averages around 27°C. You can expect the least rain in August. The coldest month is January, with temperatures averaging 4°C. The rainiest month is December.
The cheapest airline that flies to Istanbul is British Airways .

Flying from San Diego to Istanbul: what you need to know

  • Planning your trip begins with working out where you'll fly out of in San Diego. San Diego International Airport (SAN) is the city's main base, so check out your options for booking a flight from San Diego to Istanbul departing from here.

  • When planning your arrival in Istanbul, Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the chief entry points.

  • Istanbul is ten hours ahead of San Diego and is in the UTC+3 timezone.

  • For stress-free travel, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to catch your San Diego to Istanbul flight.

  • Flying during a popular month like July? School holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at check-in and security. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours before a domestic departure.

How to find the cheapest flights from San Diego to Istanbul

  • Booking early is often the key to locking in a cheap San Diego to Istanbul flight. Fares tend to rise as demand increases, so the closer your departure date, the more you'll likely spend.

  • The 'Whole month' search tool will show you the cheapest plane tickets from San Diego to Istanbul across every month. It's a great way to snap up a bargain if your plans are flexible.

  • Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from San Diego to Istanbul by creating a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a new low fare is offered.

  • Choose your ideal arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops by using the filters. Or sort your San Diego to Istanbul flight results by 'Cheapest,' 'Fastest' or 'Best.'

Flying from San Diego

San Diego International Airport (SAN)

  • Stopovers are the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for San Diego to Istanbul flights departing from San Diego International Airport, uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some popular options to consider:

    • Denver International Airport (DEN)

    • London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

    • Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)

  • Located around 3 kilometres from the centre of San Diego, SAN can be reached in about 10 minutes by car, depending on traffic. The journey by public transport is roughly 20 minutes.

  • Have an early flight from San Diego to Istanbul? Avoid the stress of rushing to the airport (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays near San Diego International Airport:

  • When it comes to San Diego International Airport's on-time performance, 71.38% of flights stick to their scheduled arrival time.

  • The address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.

Arriving in Istanbul

Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul takes about 50 minutes to reach by car. The centre is roughly 32 kilometres away.

  • It usually takes 1 hour 45 minutes to get there when travelling by public transport.

  • Consider booking a hotel near IST if you have a late flight from San Diego to Istanbul. Pick one of these options and skip the long transfer:

  • Grab an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and discover Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are leading providers you can book with here.

  • Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport around two weeks before your travel date.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)

  • The centre of Istanbul is around 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). After your flight from San Diego to Istanbul has hit the runway and you've made your way to arrivals, expect a drive of around 55 minutes.

  • If you're travelling on public transport, it'll take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes.

  • After your flight from San Diego to Istanbul, rest your head at a hotel close to SAW. These are some comfortable options that'll help you slip into relaxation mode:

  • Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make picking up a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car easy and quick. These trusted companies are located around or in the terminal and will have you on the road before long.

  • Score the best price by securing your ride from SAW four weeks in advance. You'll also have access to a bigger selection of vehicles.

Best time to go to Istanbul

  • It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from San Diego to Istanbul. April is the busiest month for a trip to Istanbul. If you prefer a more relaxed atmosphere, go in February.

  • The warmest month in Istanbul is August, with temperatures ranging between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF). Book your San Diego to Istanbul ticket then if that's your ideal forecast.

  • If you want to travel in cooler conditions, look for a cheap flight from San Diego to Istanbul in January when temperatures average between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF).

More about Istanbul

  • Once you've booked your flight from San Diego to Istanbul, choose a hotel that puts you where you want to be. Make one of these accommodation options your base for exploring Istanbul:

  • Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just a couple of the major attractions to add to your Istanbul itinerary. Keep the sightseeing going at Galata Tower.

Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)

  • Istanbul has plenty to offer, but there are so many other parts of Türkiye (Turkey) just waiting to be explored. About 354 kilometres east of Istanbul, a trip to Ankara will keep you on the move. Check out popular attractions like Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park.

  • Izmir is another favourite destination in Türkiye (Turkey) and is around 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. No journey is complete without seeing Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square.

Plan the rest of your trip from San Diego to Istanbul

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