How to get fromCalifornia to Istanbulby plane or bus

Travel from

To

See all options

Search accommodation with Expedia

There are 7 ways to get from California to Istanbul by plane or bus

Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.

Fly San Francisco International Airport to Istanbul
best
1. Fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Istanbul (IST)plane SFO - IST
16h 37m
₺21,569–43,673
Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport
cheapest
1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane LAX - SAW
18h 44m
₺17,441–50,700
Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Istanbul
1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Istanbul (IST)plane LAX - IST
16h 41m
₺28,438–49,677
Fly San Diego International Airport to Istanbul
1. Fly from San Diego International Airport (SAN) to Istanbul (IST)plane SAN - IST
19h 2m
₺29,200–55,316
Fly Sacramento International Airport to Istanbul
1. Fly from Sacramento International Airport (SMF) to Istanbul (IST)plane SMF - IST
22h 28m
₺23,189–70,235
Fly Fresno Yosemite International Airport to Istanbul
1. Fly from Fresno Yosemite International Airport (FAT) to Istanbul (IST)plane FAT - IST
21h 39m
₺23,130–80,130
Fly Los Angeles International Airport to Burgas Airport, bus
1. Fly from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Burgas Airport (BOJ)plane LAX - BOJ
2. Take the bus from Burgas to Istanbulbus
24h 49m
₺19,964–61,493

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Istanbul (IST) flights

42Weekly Planes

14h 46mAverage Duration

₺16,036Cheapest Price

Questions & Answers

Map of how to get from California to Istanbul.

Launch map view

Distance: 10,847.9 km
Duration: 16h 37m

What companies run services between California, USA and Istanbul, Turkey?

Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, and three other airlines fly from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Istanbul (IST) every 4 hours.

Airlines

Bus operators

Want to know more about travelling around the world?

Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including Getting to Milan from the airport, French strikes 2018: What are my alternative transport options?, and How to get from Heathrow Airport into central London - to help you get the most out of your next trip.

Istanbul(opens in a new window), Türkiye(opens in a new window)

The Turkish city is a traveller’s dream. A visit to the world-famous Blue Mosque is a must, along with Topkapi Palace and church-turned-mosque-turned-museum Hagia Sophia. Transport yourself to ancient times in the Grand Bazaar, walk through the fascinating Basilica Cistern, wander down Istiklal Avenue in the heart of the city, and take a river cruise down the Bosphorus. Rejuvenate your body at a local hammam or Turkish bath, sip on some divine Turkish coffee and feast on delicious food and baklava, before checking out the city’s thriving nightlife scene.

Things to do in Istanbul

Topkapı Palace(Opens in a new window)

The Topkapı Palace (Turkish: Topkapı Sarayı or in Ottoman Turkish: طوپقپو سرايى, Ṭopḳapu Sarāyı), or the Seraglio, is a large museum in Istanbul, Turkey. In the 15th century, it served as the main residence and administrative headquarters of the Ottoman sultans.

Hagia Sophia(Opens in a new window)

Hagia Sophia was a Greek Orthodox Christian patriarchal basilica (church), later an imperial mosque, and is now a museum (Ayasofya Müzesi) in Istanbul, Turkey. The Roman Empire's first Christian Cathedral, from the date of its construction in 537 AD, and until 1453, it served as an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted by the Fourth Crusaders to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Empire. The building was later converted into an Ottoman mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1931. It was then secularized and opened as a museum on 1 February 1935. Famous in particular for its massive dome, it is considered the epitome of Byzantine architecture and is said to have "changed the history of architecture". It remained the world's largest cathedral for nearly a thousand years, until Seville Cathedral was completed in 1520.

Golden Horn(Opens in a new window)

The Golden Horn (Turkish: Altın Boynuz; Ancient Greek: Χρυσόκερας, Chrysókeras; Latin: Sinus Ceratinus), also known by its modern Turkish name as Haliç, is a major urban waterway and the primary inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey.

New Mosque(Opens in a new window)

The Yeni Cami (pronounced Yeni jami), meaning New Mosque; originally named the Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Valide Sultan Camii) and later New Valide Sultan Mosque (Turkish: Yeni Valide Sultan Camii) after its partial reconstruction and completion between 1660 and 1665; is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in the Eminönü quarter of Istanbul, Turkey. It is situated on the Golden Horn, at the southern end of the Galata Bridge, and is one of the famous architectural landmarks of Istanbul.

Places to stay in Istanbul

Merdan Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.1Very Good

Şar Apartment Suites(Opens in a new window)

8.2Very Good

Yılsam Sultanahmet Hotel(Opens in a new window)

8.8Fabulous

Eurostar Old City Hotel & Spa(Opens in a new window)

8.5Very Good

Rome2Rio makes travelling from California to Istanbul easy.

Rome2Rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Find all the transport options for your trip from California to Istanbul right here. Rome2Rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. Rome2Rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward.