Flying from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): What you need to know
There are a couple of airports you can fly out of in Sao Paulo. Explore your options departing from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Viracopos Airport (VCP) when booking your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Around 12 hours 40 minutes is the typical travel time on a direct Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight.
Istanbul is six hours ahead of Sao Paulo. Istanbul Ataturk Airport is located in Istanbul, which is in the UTC+3 timezone.
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the most popular route. There are 11 direct flights a week to pick from. If you have things to do before leaving, hop on the last flight with Turkish Airlines at 5:15pm. Opt for the first GRU to IST departure with Turkish Airlines at 4:05am if you're aiming for an earlier start.
To ensure you catch your flight from Sao Paulo to IST, leave enough time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Turning up two hours before international departures and an hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
Longer lines at security and check-in are likely if you're heading away during high season, so allow some extra breathing room. The recommendation for peak periods? Arrive up to four hours ahead for international flights and two hours for domestic departures.
Airports in Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
You can jump on a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) leaving from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU).
When jetting out of GRU, you can catch a direct flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport with Turkish Airlines.
Turkish Airlines sees the most traveller bookings for flights from GRU to IST.
A stopover is the perfect opportunity to break up your trip and possibly even explore a different city. When browsing cheap flights from Sao Paulo to IST departing from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU), uncheck the 'Direct flights only' box to discover where you can stop along the way. Some popular options include:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
GRU is around 26 kilometres from central Sao Paulo. If you're driving, catching a cab or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take 30 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're taking public transport, expect the journey time to be around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Catching an early flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by staying at one of these hotels close to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport:
Of the flights that depart from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, 75.54% arrive on time at their destination.
Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport (CGH)
On public transport, you can travel from central Sao Paulo to CGH in around 35 minutes. The terminal is roughly 10 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 15 minutes.
Flying off with the first light? Think about staying at one of these accommodation options near Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport the day before your Sao Paulo to IST flight:
73.8% of flights taking off from Sao Paulo/Congonhas Airport arrive within the expected time frame.
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
The journey time to VCP from central Sao Paulo is around 3 hours 25 minutes on public transport. If you prefer to travel by car, it'll take you roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to cover the 97 kilometres or so.
Sleep a little longer, move a little slower, and still make your Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight with time to spare. These hotels near Viracopos Airport make getting to the terminal a breeze if you're flying out first thing:
Airports have an on-time performance rating that measures how often flights get to their destinations within the expected time frame. At VCP, that figure is 75.02%.
About Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Consider booking a hotel close to IST if you're catching a late flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Check in to one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Pick up an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car and explore Istanbul and beyond with your own wheels. Hit, Avec car rentals and Eren Rent a Car are popular outlets to choose from here.
Booking your ride around two weeks ahead of your Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight can help you get the lowest rate.
Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul
Central Istanbul is about 32 kilometres from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Travel times by car hire or cab will vary based on traffic conditions and time of day, so do some research before your trip.
It'll take around 1 hour 45 minutes to get there using public transport.
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is R 6,203. For a return flight on this route, the best price is R 12,667. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares may change.
Book six months before flying. Pricing trends suggest that this is the ideal window for finding cheap flights from Sao Paulo to IST.
The best month for landing cheap Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport tickets is November. Use the 'Whole month' tool to compare flight prices, then choose the dates that offer the lowest fares.
Snapping up a cheap plane ticket from Sao Paulo to IST couldn't be easier with Price Alerts. Simply create one of these automatic alerts and we'll notify you when there's a better deal.
Find an affordable flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport by using filters. Choose your preferred times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Think about the pace you're looking for when picking your flight dates. February is the quietest month to go to Istanbul. August is when most people book flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST), which may be ideal if you're after more excitement.
Lock in a Sao Paulo to IST plane ticket departing in August if you're eager to explore the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in Istanbul to range from 20ºC (68ºF) to 30ºC (86ºF).
January has temperatures of between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF). Look for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport around that time if you want to travel in cooler conditions.
More about Istanbul
Once you've booked your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, find a hotel that keeps you close to what you want to see. Make one of these options your base for exploring Istanbul:
You'll find loads of exciting things to do in Istanbul when you're in the mood to sightsee. Start exploring at Hagia Sophia History Museum followed by Hagia Sophia Museum and Historic Areas of Istanbul.
Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul has plenty going for it, but there are so many other parts of Türkiye (Turkey) you should also see. Around 225 kilometres south-east of Istanbul, a visit to Eskisehir will fill your itinerary to the brim. Start with attractions like Eskişehir, Eskişehir and Eskişehir Odunpazarı Evleri.
Around 153 kilometres east of Istanbul, Adapazarı is another essential stop in Türkiye (Turkey). Experience the best of this destination with a visit to Ozanlar Ulu Cami, Güllük Cami and Valide Cami.
