Cheap flights to Istanbul
Air connection with one of the world's largest metropolises is provided by two main air hubs: the modern Istanbul New Airport, located 35 km from the center, and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in the east of the city. Istanbul sees heavy traffic from many countries, with the leaders in weekly flights being Antalya (655 flights), Izmir (597 flights), and Ankara (544 flights). High traffic is also recorded on routes from London and Moscow.
161 airlines offer their services on this route, with the national carrier Turkish Airlines holding a dominant position, along with major companies Pegasus Airlines and AJet. Travelers have access to direct flights and convenient connections, information about which can be found in the sections on weather or in the general city guide. Below on this page, there are special cards with a search form that will help you quickly find the best flight option from your city.
Izmir — Istanbul
Antalya — Istanbul
Mugla — Istanbul
Konya — Istanbul
Denizli — Istanbul
Ankara — Istanbul
Kayseri — Istanbul
Edremit — Istanbul
Bodrum — Istanbul
Samsun — Istanbul
Rize — Istanbul
Sivas — Istanbul
When is the best time to book a flight to Istanbul?
The price of a flight to Istanbul changes depending on how far ahead you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, book around 9 days before departure, when the average ticket costs about $364. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.
Flight insights to Istanbul
Data-driven trends for direct flights to Istanbul — how often airlines fly, where passengers come from, and typical fares and flight times.
Most frequent departure cities
The most frequent direct routes to Istanbul come from Antalya, Izmir and Ankara. Antalya leads with around 655 flights a week.
Top departure countries
Most direct flights to Istanbul depart from Turkey, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Turkey alone accounts for about 40% of all direct routes.
- Turkeyavg $38
- Germanyavg $68
- Saudi Arabiaavg $89
- Russian Federationavg $128
- United Kingdomavg $62
Direct routes & fares
Popular non-stop routes to Istanbul range from Izmir at $27 to London at $62 — a quick way to compare direct-flight fares.
Cheapest departure cities
The cheapest places to fly to Istanbul from right now are Izmir from $27, Antalya from $31 and Mugla from $32.
Popular departure cities to Istanbul
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
United Kingdom
Turkey
Cyprus
Turkey
Turkey
Russian Federation
Turkey
Greece
Turkey
Uzbekistan
United Arab Emirates
France
Saudi Arabia
Egypt
Azerbaijan
Lebanon
Netherlands
Germany
Italy
Turkey
Austria
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Jordan
Romania
Turkey
Turkey
Turkey
Germany
Germany
Georgia
Spain
Switzerland
Iran
Belgium
Kuwait
Russian Federation
Kazakhstan
Spain
Saudi Arabia
Algeria
Germany
Denmark
Italy
Qatar
Turkey
Germany
Germany
Turkey
Serbia
Turkey
Poland
Turkey
Thailand
Czech Republic
MoldovaFrequently asked questions
- Which airports receive flights to Istanbul?
- Passengers are served by two main air hubs: the international Istanbul New Airport (IST), located 35 kilometers from the city center, and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW), located 30 kilometers away. Both terminals serve both domestic and international destinations.
- Which cities fly most frequently to Istanbul?
- The largest number of flights arrives from Turkish cities: 655 flights per week are operated from Antalya, 597 from Izmir, and 544 from Ankara. Among popular foreign destinations, London leads with a frequency of 439 departures and Ercan with 390 flights weekly.
- How many airlines operate flights to Istanbul?
- A total of 161 airlines operate flights to this metropolis. The bulk of the traffic is provided by Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet, but Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, and other international carriers are also present in the market.
- How many cities can you fly to Istanbul from?
- Thanks to the work of more than 160 airlines, the city is connected by regular services to hundreds of locations worldwide. The top 15 most active destinations include cities in Turkey, the United Kingdom, Russia, Greece, the UAE, and Uzbekistan.
- How to find cheap tickets to Istanbul?
- To find great deals, it is recommended to compare flights from traditional carriers and low-cost airlines, such as Pegasus Airlines. It is also worth checking departures to different airports in the city and booking tickets in advance, especially for the peak tourist season.