Travelling from Santander Airport (SDR) to Istanbul: what you need to know
Santander Airport is located in Santander. Based in the UTC+3 timezone, Istanbul is 2 hours ahead of Santander.
For a smooth journey, arrive at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and an hour before domestic departures. This will give you plenty of time to catch your flight from SDR to Istanbul.
You'll likely experience longer lines in popular months like August and other peak seasons. Arriving up to fours hours ahead of international flights and two hours for domestic departures will give you plenty of time for security and boarding.
A stopover is the ideal opportunity to take a travel break — and perhaps even explore another city. When searching for flights from SDR to Istanbul, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Consider one of these popular options:
Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN)
Valencia Airport (VLC)
Malaga Airport (AGP)
If you hold a passport from Spain and plan to travel to Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes, you won't need a visa. However, entry and visa requirements may differ based on the length of your trip and can be subject to change. For the latest rules, check with your destination's nearest consulate or embassy before reserving a cheap ticket from Santander Airport to Istanbul.
SDR is around 6 kilometres from central Santander. If you're catching a cab, driving or ride-sharing from the centre, it'll take you 9 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic conditions. If you're using public transport, expect the journey time to be around 40 minutes.
Want a leisurely start to your trip? Stay near SDR. Whether you have an early flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul or want to avoid feeling rushed, these hotels are just the thing:
How to find the cheapest flights from Santander Airport (SDR) to Istanbul
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Santander Airport to Istanbul is $158. The cheapest price for a return flight is $306. Keep in mind fares can change due to demand at the time of booking.
It's a good idea to book early if you want to find cheap tickets from SDR to Istanbul. That's because airlines adjust prices based on demand, which tends to rise closer to the departure date.
Getting cheap tickets from Santander Airport to Istanbul is easier if you can be flexible with your travel dates. Use the 'Whole month' tool to show the best prices across the month and score a great deal.
Create a Price Alert for flight tickets from SDR to Istanbul. There's no need to check every day to see if prices have fallen. We'll let you know when the price changes.
Play around with the filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Cheapest,' 'Best' or 'Fastest' flights from Santander Airport to Istanbul, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by arrival and departure times, airline, and number of stops.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is around 48 kilometres from the centre of Istanbul. With a cab or in your own car rental, the drive is around 50 minutes.
Getting to the centre by public transport will take you around 1 hour and 45 minutes.
If you're coming in on a late flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul, few things beat the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and resting not long after at one of these hotels near IST:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Once your flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul has hit the tarmac, you can reach the city centre in about 57 minutes by car. Central Istanbul is roughly 48 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
You can also travel by public transport, which will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Place the 'Do not disturb' sign on your door and relax at a hotel near SAW. Here are a few options where you can check in after your flight from SDR to Istanbul:
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month for flights from Santander Airport to Istanbul. To skip the crowds, head to Istanbul in February when things are quieter.
Book your flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul for August to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures to range from 20ºC to 30ºC.
January sees average temperatures of between 2ºC and 11ºC. Look for cheap flights from SDR to Istanbul sometime around then if you want to travel when it's cooler.
More about Istanbul
When it comes to looking for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the best places to stay in Istanbul right here. Explore these hotels as soon as you've locked in your flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just two of the top attractions to put on your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Galata Tower.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Santander Airport to Istanbul to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and easily compare your options. Plus we give you everything you need to know about car rentals in Istanbul, from the most popular car type to the average daily price.