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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
£109
Typical prices: £131-£304
Ajet
Wed 3/10Wed 10/10
STN - SAW • Direct
Cheapest one-way flight
£58
Typical prices: £70-£194
Pegasus Airlines
Wed 3/10
LGW - SAW • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and others. Average duration is 3h 59m.
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 118 per week
Best reviews • 7.4 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 20 weeks in advance save around 23% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 37% price drop
Most popular
Good to know
+1
Good to know
+1
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We hope you enjoy your trip to Istanbul!
Flight Deals
Booking Insights
Expert advice
Flight Deals

Cheap Flights to Istanbul

 
Discover the best prices for you by selecting your travel dates on KAYAK.

Recent return flight deals to Istanbul

Sat, 3 Oct - Sat, 10 Oct
Ajet Logo
16:05 - 21:55STN  London Stansted-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 50mdirect
Ajet Logo
19:50 - 21:55SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-STN London Stansted
4h 05mdirect
£109Ajet
Mon, 5 Oct - Thu, 8 Oct
Wizz Air Logo
13:30 - 19:30LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
4h 00mdirect
Wizz Air Logo
20:10 - 22:15IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 05mdirect
£114Wizz Air
Thu, 5 Nov - Thu, 12 Nov
Pegasus Airlines Logo
12:15 - 19:10LGW  London Gatwick-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 55mdirect
Pegasus Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-LGW London Gatwick
4h 20mdirect
£114Pegasus Airlines
Mon, 23 Nov - Mon, 30 Nov
Pegasus Airlines Logo
12:15 - 19:10LGW  London Gatwick-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 55mdirect
Pegasus Airlines Logo
09:50 - 11:10SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-LGW London Gatwick
4h 20mdirect
£114Pegasus Airlines
Fri, 9 Oct - Fri, 16 Oct
Wizz Air Logo
13:30 - 19:30LGW  London Gatwick-IST Istanbul
4h 00mdirect
Wizz Air Logo
20:10 - 22:20IST  Istanbul-LGW London Gatwick
4h 10mdirect
£114Wizz Air
Wed, 23 Sep - Wed, 30 Sep
Ajet Logo
16:05 - 21:55STN  London Stansted-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 50mdirect
Ajet Logo
08:45 - 10:50SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-STN London Stansted
4h 05mdirect
£114Ajet
Sun, 8 Nov - Wed, 11 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
15:40 - 22:35STN  London Stansted-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 55mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
17:20 - 18:20SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-STN London Stansted
4h 00mdirect
£114Multiple Airlines
Mon, 9 Nov - Thu, 12 Nov
Multiple Airlines Logo
15:40 - 22:35STN  London Stansted-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
3h 55mdirect
Multiple Airlines Logo
08:50 - 09:50SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-STN London Stansted
4h 00mdirect
£114Multiple Airlines
Fri, 27 Nov - Wed, 2 Dec
British Airways Logo
18:15 - 01:10LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
British Airways Logo
15:00 - 16:15IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
4h 15mdirect
£120British Airways
Fri, 27 Nov - Sun, 29 Nov
British Airways Logo
18:15 - 01:10LHR  London Heathrow-IST Istanbul
3h 55mdirect
British Airways Logo
18:50 - 20:00IST  Istanbul-LHR London Heathrow
4h 10mdirect
£129British Airways
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for United Kingdom to Istanbul flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul with more confidence.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul?

Friday is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul at £195 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Tuesday is the most expensive at £236.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul?

  • November is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul with an average price of £127 return.
  • August (£282) and July (£282) are the most expensive.
  • Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to Istanbul?

Afternoon flights to Istanbul are the cheapest at £199 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at £259.

When are flights to Istanbul the cheapest?

Flights to Istanbul are cheapest 20 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 23% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Expert advice

Expert advice for your flight to Istanbul

 
KAYAK teamed up with top travel experts to share the best tips for your journey.
Our travel experts
Jenna Scatena

Jenna Scatena

Expert on IST

Journalist and Travel Writer, Jenna Scatena is an award-winning travel writer with a love for sharing stories and exploring new places, especially by Vespa. Though she's from San Francisco, she has spent a significant chunk of her vacation days over the last decade eating her way through Texas and sleeping in hotels around the world—especially in California, the Middle East, and Europe.

Key details for flights to Istanbul

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

£58
Best time to beat the crowds (33% less expensive on average)
Most popular time to fly and prices are also 9% lower on average.
Flights from London Gatwick Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport

When to book flights to Istanbul

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to Istanbul based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.
Estimated return price

Your questions about flights to Istanbul, answered

Find helpful route details based on KAYAK data, including flight times, airports, airlines, and booking questions.

  • How many airports are there in Istanbul?

    Istanbul is served by two international airports, which can often be more convenient depending on where in the city you are staying. New Istanbul Airport sits to the north-west of the Turkish capital, while Sabiha Gokcen Airport is to the south-east. By booking through KAYAK, you can find flights to both so check where your hotel is situated to make your trip that bit easier.

  • How do I get from the airport to central Istanbul via public transport?

    From New Istanbul Airport, you can catch the HAVAIST shuttle bus. For example, to get to the central district of Taksim you can catch the HVIST-14 bus with a duration of 90min and a price of ₺30 (roughly £2.60). To get from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Taksim, you can catch the HAVABUS which costs ₺18 (roughly £1.60).

  • Are there on-site hotels at the airports in Istanbul?

    IST airport offers sleeping pods that can be rented as well as an on-site hotel, with rooms both landside and airside. At SAW Airport you can also find services offered by Kepler, which includes a private lounge with sleeping pods to rent per hour or for the day.

  • Which Istanbul airport is nearest to Hagia Sophia?

    The nearest airport to Hagia Sophia is New Istanbul Airport, which is roughly 28 miles away. By flying in to IST airport, there is no need for you to cross the Bosphorus River to get to the Hagia Sophia and other nearby attractions as you would if you flew into SAW Airport.

  • Which is the nearest airport to Bursa?

    If you are planning on travelling to Bursa, it is best to fly into Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). From there, you can get to Bursa by driving southwards for roughly 75 miles or 90min. A bus service also runs from Istanbul Otogari, which costs roughly ₺80 or £7 and has a total duration of around 3h.

  • Are there any family-friendly facilities at Istanbul airport?

    At Istanbul Airport, families with children under five years old are permitted to use the allocated Family First security check points. Infant Care rooms throughout the airport make it easy to change and feed babies in comfort. Arriving passengers with toddlers can take advantage of the strollers located at the flight gates to get to the baggage collection areas.

  • Can I book a Meet & Greet Service on arrival?

    Passengers arriving at Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport can reserve Airport Meet & Greet services, which include an escort through visa and immigration and assistance with luggage. You can also book the ALLWAYS Fast Track Service, which offers priority access through passport and security control.

  • Where can I fly to in Turkey once I arrive in Istanbul?

    Once you arrive in Istanbul, you can fly to a number of domestic destinations within Turkey from Istanbul Airport or Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. Popular cities include Antalya, Ankara, Bodrum, Eskisehir, İzmir, Nevsehir and Trabzon.

  • What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at Istanbul?

    Turkish Airlines operates the most flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul at 118 per week, while Pegasus Airlines is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from the United Kingdom to Istanbul. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airports serve Istanbul?

    Flights to Istanbul arrive at: Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

  • Which airports serve Istanbul and the surrounding area?

    Flights to Istanbul can arrive at several major airports serving the metro area, including Istanbul (IST) and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).

  • Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to Istanbul?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Istanbul are from:
    • London, from £109 return

  • How do I know if a flight to Istanbul is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Istanbul is around £131 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Istanbul?

    Last-minute fares to Istanbul – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 12% above the average return fare of £202.

  • Which airlines should I consider for flights to Istanbul?

Your guide to booking Istanbul flights

From booking to airport arrival, find tips to help you plan your flight with more confidence.
  • For the best chance at a low fare to Istanbul, aim to book around 20 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 23% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
  • For flights to Istanbul, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around £131 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
  • If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to Istanbul in November. Return fares historically average £127 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
  • Before you book:

    • Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
    • Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
    • Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
    • Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
  • Shift your departure to midday to save up to £60 per return. Midday flights to Istanbul average £199 compared to £259 for afternoon flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
  • Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class, and route. On flights to Istanbul, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, Pegasus Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, Turkish Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, and Wizz Air includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
  • Once you arrive in Istanbul, a few great places to start are Taksim Square, Istanbul City Centre, and Taksim. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.
  • For a taxi from the airports to the city centre, you can expect to pay around ₺170 (£15) for a ride to or from both New Istanbul (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) Airport.
  • For direct flights going to Istanbul, look out for those operated by Turkish Airlines, the national airline of Turkey, or its low-cost alternative Pegasus Airlines.
  • If you are looking to hire a car, you can find a number of companies operating from the Arrivals Terminal at New Istanbul Airport including Avis, Budget, Enterprise and Europcar.
  • If you need to freshen up after your flight, you can find spa services at New Istanbul Airport at the Ambassador Spa located in the International Terminal on the airside.
  • To use public transport in Istanbul, it is a good idea to buy and top-up an IstanbulKart, which can be purchased for ₺10 (roughly £0.85) from the yellow and blue machines in the Arrivals Terminal at Istanbul Airport and offers a discount on journeys.
  • The fastest direct flights from the UK to Istanbul depart from London Stansted Airport and arrive at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen Airport (SAW). If you prefer to depart from London Heathrow or London Gatwick, you can find direct flights to Istanbul Airport (IST). A number of airlines operate along these routes including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and British Airways.
  • Passengers arriving on a late flight to Istanbul can stay the night at the ISG Airport Hotel in the passenger terminal of Sabiha Gokcen Airport or the YOTEL Istanbul Airport Hotel at Istanbul Airport. If you are transiting through Istanbul, this is a good option to get some rest.
  • If you are arriving on an early flight to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen Airport, you can leave your luggage in the Baggage Storage Office in the International Arrivals terminal. It is open 24/7 and fees are charged depending on the size of your luggage.

Reviews of the top 5 airlines flying to Istanbul

 
Need help choosing which airline to fly with to Istanbul? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.
7.4
Turkish AirlinesOverall score based on 4470 reviews
7.5Entertainment
7.8Crew
7.3Comfort
7.3Boarding
7.5Food
Airline reviews

Everything was good except for the seating arrangements. We could not get seats to be seated together with my wife. We’re unfortunately.

4.0 OkayBoris, Sept 2026
Read more Turkish Airlines reviews

Everything was good except for the seating arrangements. We could not get seats to be seated together with my wife. We’re unfortunately.

Food could of been a bit more premium, but everything was excellent. LOVED the innovative boarding drinks and terrific service!

Staff could have been friendlier and offered drinks more often

They have adopted a crazy "no paper boarding passes at all cost policy". We spent half an our at the checkin stall – my elderly mother and her grandchildren were flying. She had no phone reception for some reason (besides being an inexperienced smartphone user), the kids had dumbphones, And they still won't issue a paper boarding pass. We had to do a lengthy dance with getting the boarding pass SMS on my phone and transferring them to her phone via WiFi. This was horrible, honestly. I can't imagine how they could manage it without me being there. Trees (and airline profits) should be less important than people.

Staff friendly. Business class but issue with flat bed. Incoming Turkish flight delayed. Made connection due to fast buggy but luggage did not make it. Confusion at Delhi airport

Very good overall.... apart from the cost of extra check ed in luggage where they charge £17 per kg, and no option to just buy an extra bag allowance (at least on the route I took)

Very old plane on the Istanbul to Bangkok flight, had an emergency exit isle row, no where to put anything, on a plus point loads of leg room. Food was the best I have had in 39 years of flying.

It was a nightmare. I booked business class ticket from Ediburgh to Beirut via Istanbul to attend a funeral. I had a wonderful experience flying to Istanbul from Edinburgh. Then I could not get a boarding pass issued to Beirut. It seems that although they booked me and I had a reservation number, I had no seat allocated and the flight was full. I was asked to go from one desk to another and made to wait for 2 hours. I missed my flight as I did not have a seat assigned and it was full. The only option was to put me on the next flight, 6 hours later, for a fee of over $400. They said that was the best they can do to 'help me' and to 'take it or leave it'. Well, I was not about to be bullied; I stood my ground. I booked and paid premium for the journey, which was confirmed. The eventually accepted to not charge me extra and i waited a total of over 8 hours in the airport with no compensation. On top of my grief with the risk of missing the funeral service, I had to put up with their indifference and condescending attitude. They spoke about me in Turkish thinking I would not understand (I hold a British passport) in front of me. When they eventually handed my passport and boarding pass back to me, I showed them I was born in Istanbul and that I understood everything and said a condescending 'thank you' back to them in Turkish. You should have seen their faces. I said that consumers have rights and it is a shame that Turkish Airlines does not have good customer service to at least acknowledge and apologize for errors committed by the airline. Blaming the me, the client, for such an error and placing unreasonable ultimatums, rudeness and dismissiveness to be rid of me, particularly when I was vulnerable and visibly grieving was really shocking... The airline taints the city of Istanbul and the people of Türkiye. Such a shame.

A good airline, but at checking in, they allocated seats for my wife, and I far away from each other, and to change them, they wanted a payment, such a bad policy, it leaves a bitter taste in the mouth All was good on the plane, good food, but the air hostess was abrupt and a bit rough dealing with the passengers, but one has to find excuses for staff working under pressure

I found it okay. Did not think the food was that great. And the service could have been better. Seat was a little cramped. Delay getting to Istanbul made me rush all the way across the airport to get to the connection. This was a not good experience.

Check in, was fine, boarding was good, we left on time, punctual flight, aircraft condition was also good, Boeing 737-600 , all went well, I did not expect more or any better

Flight changed and cancelled several times over the months in advance that I booked it. However, actual flight went well, no delays, spacious seats. Had some landing issues but otherwise, fine. Also loved that they don’t check weight of luggage!

Seats are disaster, not comfortable at all. With my height 183 cm there were no space for my legs... The airplane was Turkish airlines and no entertainment on board.

Bad. Cancelled and delayed flight. Payed 25£ for seat but got just normal one. No one refunded the money.

I resent being called a ‘guest’ of Pegasus airlines and then they refuse to give me water, because they want to sell it to me. Also, the baggage allowances are ridiculously stingy. I also resent the way staff are on the look out to catch passengers out. I would never dream of treating my ‘guests’ like Pegasus treats us.

Great flight and great crew. Many thanks to them for their hard work making our trip so relaxing.

The plane was too hot inside. There was no entertainment and we had to sit on the plane for one hour before takeoff. There was no free wifi.

Online check-in was unavailable for my flight. So I waited 40 min in the queue at the check-in counter. Then, unlike any other airline in the world (and I am a very frequent international flyer) Pegasus was adamant that my CPAP was just another carry on and that I had to pay extra for it. Then, after I had paid in advance for a seat, they insisted I could not sit in an exit row because I was over 60 years old (I'm clearly in good shape and buy exit row seats more or less weekly). We pushed back harder and harder and insisted on talking to the station chief, who spoke with the counter staff by phone (not to me) and eventually relented. Experience on boarf was ok-- for a budget airline.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGVSRsasQcG/?igsh=dmkxa2s1eHNlbHZs

The airport staff were some of the worst I've ever flown, and I fly at least 50x every year. From the staff at the gate, to the check in staff, to the ticketing sales staff. My experience in Instanbul was so bad Ill.never fly Pegasus again. They were incredibly rude, dismissive and not helpful whatsoever. This is the worst of the worst if you want to fly a budget airline I'd go elsewhere. The airplane seats are really uncomfortable and don't recline at all, you get charged for every single thing so in the end you will pay more flying with them. The crew on the plane were the only kind people we encountered with Pegasus.

The crew were outstandingly kind and cheerful. We carried our cat and they offered help.

Late departure. No announcements. Boarding was a disaster. Some kind of technical issue scanning boarding passes.

All good but air not give the pasing er any food even glase of water

Flight delayed by 1hr when we already boarded because someone had to get off. Leg room is terrible for 6ft people like me.

The flight was canceled and I was directed to Air France two days later than my plan departure day. This involve getting two more days of hotel and also not being able to get a boarding pass until I got to the Istanbul Air France boarding desk. It has been a troubling time.

I didn’t take that flight. My original flight was cancelled from Los Angeles. They rebooked me following day through Montreal My flight was LAX to YUL and YUL GVA

It makes no sense for several types of drinks to already be out of stock in the middle of the flight.

Pleasant and friendly staff. Comfortable aircraft. Speedy boarding. Took off on time. Arrived earlier than scheduled. Overall very enjoyable flight.

Business class to Istanbul. Packed flight. Cabin crew seemed incapable of differentiating between economy and business passengers with regard to access to the WC which meant whole flight I had people standing in aisle and leaning into my aisle seat, queueing for the front WC. Crew put it down to a lack of curtain between the two classes. The seats, for a 3hrs55 min flight were just standard seats with middle seat unoccupied. So nothing special apart from the food, which was mediocre. Aside from the roast chicken dinner (‘special’ traditional British menu option, which looked poor but tasted good I gather). However 2 king prawns does not make a main course salad.

Terrible. Missed my flight to final destination because of delayed British Airways flight. Had to spend 12 hours in airport and $1500 for new plane tickets

I asked for a wheelchair. I have a back health condition. I had to walk a lot

Boarding = No one respected the boarding groups. The ground crew did nothing to enforce the boarding system. What is the point of being a Gold member when there are no benefits to that? Tired old plane

The flight and the staff was excellent. Only bad thing is no entertainment and you have to pay for anything other than water.

Flight departed 45 mins late Crew great Food items missing from breakfast

Far easier than I expected it to be. Checked in online & had our boarding passes emailed through. Straight through security & boarded on time. No issues.

The crew at Check-in was very helpful. It’s was appreciate.

Half an hour delay. Squeezed into a small Departure Lounge with very few seats. Noisy flight with screaming unruly kids. Loud IPads and Phones. Heaven!

Were delayed in the airport for 5 hours with no explanation. Flight kept getting delayed by an hour at a time and wizz air staff were no where to be found

Delayed delayed delayed - always with Wizzair. Staff were friendly and well mannered but clearly the company is unorganized and the aircrafts are outdated.

It's a budget airline. Great for short flight. Smooth landing.

4 hr delay and only told less than 2hrs before. Only given water and nuts on the flight as complimentary service. Left to wait in rain before boarding.

To be honest I did not like anything. Communication to why my flight was cancelled mid air 2 and half hours into my flight. Customer service desk were not helpful with providing information or a solution on what can be done.

What I liked new airplane Sitting was extremely uncomfortable! Crew not smiley at all Always chewing gum

The flight was cancelled just 4 hours before the take off...

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