Cheap Flights from San Diego (SANA) to Istanbul (ISTA)

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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.

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 July.

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.

San Diego to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found$1,101
Cheapest month to flyJune

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 $1,101. 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 $1,101.
As of May 2025, there are no flights flying from San Diego to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from San Diego to Istanbul is usually May 2025.
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 $1,101.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it is currently cheapest to fly from San Diego to Istanbul on Tuesday, 3 June 2025.
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 May, the average temperature is usually around 17°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 Delta .

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

  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) is San Diego's main airport. Explore 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 major entry points.

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

  • To ensure you make it on your San Diego to Istanbul flight, leave plenty of time to navigate the airport and find your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and an hour before domestic flights is a good rule of thumb.

  • Peak months like July or high seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year will mean longer waits at check-in and security. Play it safe and get to the terminal even earlier. Arriving two hours before a domestic flight and four hours ahead of an international departure is a wise idea.

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)

  • A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a break from travelling — and maybe even explore a different city. When browsing San Diego to Istanbul flights leaving from San Diego International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some options to consider:

    • Denver International Airport (DEN)

    • Franz Josef Strauss Airport (MUC)

    • London Heathrow Airport (LHR)

  • Travelling from central San Diego to SAN takes around 20 minutes by public transport. If you ride-share, drive or get a cab, you'll cover the 3 kilometres in 10 minutes or so, depending on traffic.

  • Need a convenient hotel close to San Diego International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from San Diego to Istanbul, these accommodation options will put you moments from your check-in counter:

  • 71.38% of flights that depart San Diego International Airport land at their destination on time.

  • The address for SAN is N Harbour Dr.

Arriving in Istanbul

Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is approximately 32 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. If you're catching a cab or a ride-share, the drive takes around 50 minutes.

  • Getting to the centre on public transport will take you around 1 hour 45 minutes.

  • The last thing you need is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from San Diego to Istanbul. Stay at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:

  • Explore without limits with an Istanbul Ataturk Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from Hit, Avec car rentals or Eren Rent a Car and chase adventure across Istanbul and beyond.

  • Get the best deal by reserving your vehicle from Istanbul Ataturk Airport about two weeks in advance of your trip.

Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)

  • The centre of Istanbul is approximately 31 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). As soon as your flight from San Diego to Istanbul has touched down and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should be around 55 minutes.

  • You can expect the journey to take approximately 1 hour 30 minutes on public transport.

  • There are some comfortable places to lay your head close to SAW. Tuck yourself in after your San Diego to Istanbul flight at any of these perfectly located options:

  • Essence, Eren Rent a Car and 724 Rent make collecting a Sabiha Gokcen International Airport rental car simple. These suppliers are located around or in the terminal and will have you on the road before long.

  • Avoid last-minute price surges. Booking your ride four weeks before your arrival at SAW will save you money.

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

  • Start your Istanbul trip right by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from San Diego to Istanbul, check out our selection of hotels including:

  • Every great journey has to include some sightseeing. Topkapi Palace, The Basilica Cistern and Galata Tower are must-visits when exploring Istanbul.

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.

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