R5 319 Find Cheap Flights to Istanbul – Compare and Save

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Everything you should know

Cheapest return flight
R10 655
Typical prices: R9 801-R13 706
KLM
Sun 11/11Tue 20/11
JNB - SAW • 1 stop
Cheapest direct flights
R12 101
Typical prices: R13 570-R17 152
Turkish Airlines
Sat 1/12Thu 6/12
JNB - IST • Direct
Direct flights
You can fly direct with Turkish Airlines. Average duration is 10h 40m
FAQs
FAQs
Top airlines
Most flights • 20 per week
Best reviews • 8,1 score
Airline reviews
+1
Airline reviews
+1
Top routes
Cheapest • 17% average savings
Most popular
Insights
Insights
When to book
in advance
Our data shows that travellers who book at least 18 weeks in advance save around 11% compared to booking last minute.
Insights
Insights
When to travel
Cheapest • 10% 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
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

Wed, Nov 11 - Fri, Nov 20
KLM Logo
23:59 - 21:25JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
20h 26m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
15:55 - 22:00SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
31h 05m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
R10 655KLM
Mon, Feb 15 - Mon, Feb 22
Ethiopian Air Logo
14:15 - 5:00DUR  Durban King Shaka Intl-IST Istanbul
13h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
Ethiopian Air Logo
23:55 - 13:25IST  Istanbul-DUR Durban King Shaka Intl
14h 30m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R10 671Ethiopian Air
Sun, Nov 15 - Sun, Nov 22
KLM Logo
23:59 - 21:25JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-SAW Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen
20h 26m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Logo
15:55 - 22:00SAW  Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
31h 05m1 stop Amsterdam Schiphol
R10 671KLM
Wed, Feb 24 - Tue, Mar 2
Ethiopian Air Logo
14:15 - 5:00DUR  Durban King Shaka Intl-IST Istanbul
13h 45m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
Ethiopian Air Logo
0:05 - 13:25IST  Istanbul-DUR Durban King Shaka Intl
14h 20m1 stop Addis Ababa Bole
R10 688Ethiopian Air
Wed, Nov 18 - Wed, Nov 25
Qatar Airways Logo
19:25 - 12:20CPT  Cape Town Intl-IST Istanbul
15h 55m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
20:10 - 10:30IST  Istanbul-CPT Cape Town Intl
15h 20m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
R10 738Qatar Airways
Tue, Nov 17 - Tue, Nov 24
Qatar Airways Logo
12:35 - 12:20CPT  Cape Town Intl-IST Istanbul
22h 45m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
Qatar Airways Logo
20:10 - 10:30IST  Istanbul-CPT Cape Town Intl
15h 20m1 stop Doha Hamad Intl
R10 754Qatar Airways
Wed, Nov 25 - Thu, Dec 3
Etihad Airways Logo
9:50 - 12:50JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-IST Istanbul
26h 00m1 stop Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl
Etihad Airways Logo
13:55 - 8:25IST  Istanbul-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
19h 30m1 stop Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl
R10 904Etihad Airways
Thu, Nov 19 - Thu, Nov 26
Etihad Airways Logo
9:50 - 12:50JNB  Johannesburg OR Tambo-IST Istanbul
26h 00m1 stop Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl
Etihad Airways Logo
13:55 - 8:25IST  Istanbul-JNB Johannesburg OR Tambo
19h 30m1 stop Abu Dhabi Zayed Intl
R10 921Etihad Airways
Mon, Feb 22 - Mon, Mar 8
Emirates Logo
20:00 - 14:10CPT  Cape Town Intl-IST Istanbul
17h 10m1 stop Dubai Intl
Emirates Logo
16:05 - 18:00IST  Istanbul-CPT Cape Town Intl
26h 55m1 stop Dubai Intl
R11 103Emirates
Sun, Nov 15 - Mon, Nov 30
Emirates Logo
13:40 - 21:55CPT  Cape Town Intl-IST Istanbul
31h 15m1 stop Dubai Intl
Emirates Logo
16:05 - 11:35IST  Istanbul-CPT Cape Town Intl
20h 30m1 stop Dubai Intl
R11 103Emirates
Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for flights to Istanbul

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

What is the cheapest flight to Istanbul?

Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to Istanbul is the cheapest route at R10 655 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to Istanbul?

On average, a return flight from South Africa to Istanbul costs R11 383, based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months. Return fares from Johannesburg average R11 238, while Cape Town runs a bit higher at R11 456.

What is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul?

Tuesday is the cheapest day to fly to Istanbul at R11 369 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Saturday is the most expensive at R11 868.

What is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul?

•February is the cheapest month to fly to Istanbul with an average price of R10 289 return.
•December (R13 430) and July (R12 466) are the most expensive.

Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

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

Morning flights to Istanbul are the cheapest at R11 369 return on average. Evening flights are the most expensive at R12 217.

What is a good deal for flights to Istanbul?

Flights under R9 801 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to Istanbul at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•Johannesburg R9 564.

Which is the cheapest airport to fly into in Istanbul?

Prices will differ depending on the departure airport, but generally, the cheapest airport to fly to in Istanbul is Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW), with an average flight price of R10 087.

When are flights to Istanbul the cheapest?

Flights to Istanbul are cheapest 18 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 11% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Key details for flights to Istanbul

Low season

February

Cheapest flight

R5 319
Beat the crowds with an average 27% drop in travellers.
The most popular month to fly with an average 22% increase in travellers.
One-way flight from Cape Town 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 do I know if a flight to Istanbul is a good deal?

    A good deal on a flight to Istanbul is around R9 801 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.

  • Which airports serve Istanbul?

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

  • How long are direct flights to Istanbul from different departure cities?

    Direct flight time to Istanbul varies depending on your departure city:

    • From Johannesburg: 10h 05m
    • From Cape Town: 11h 15m

  • Which city has the cheapest flights to Istanbul?

    Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to Istanbul are from Johannesburg, starting at R10 655 return.

  • How expensive are last-minute flights to Istanbul?

    Last-minute fares to Istanbul (booked within two weeks of departure) are typically 5% higher than the average return fare of R11 383.

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

    Turkish Airlines operates the most flights from South Africa to Istanbul at 20 per week, while Emirates is the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from South Africa to Istanbul. The two are often different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

  • Which airlines should I consider for flights to Istanbul?

  • How many flights serve Istanbul?

    Istanbul receives 3 flights per day and 20 per week from across the world. Johannesburg has the most flights to Istanbul with 10 weekly flights.

  • 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).

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, book around 18 weeks before departure. Based on KAYAK data from the last 12 months, fares are historically about 11% lower during this window than last-minute fares.
  • For flights to Istanbul, a good return fare is around R9 801. If you find a fare below that, you're getting a strong deal.
  • If your travel dates are flexible, consider flying to Istanbul in February. Return fares historically average R10 289, making February the cheapest month to travel based on KAYAK data from 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 morning to save up to R848 on a return flight. Morning flights to Istanbul average R11 369 compared to R12 217 for afternoon flights.
  • 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, Turkish Airlines includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, while South African 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, Ayasofya, and Sultan Ahmet Camii. These are popular with first-time visitors and can give you a good feel for the area.

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.
8,1
EmiratesOverall score based on 3686 reviews
8,2Boarding
8,4Crew
7,9Food
8,1Comfort
8,2Entertainment
Airline reviews

On the way there the food was not a good Standerd and fly Dubai is very cramped and again the food was not a good Standerd but on the way back food was excellent and staff were very helpful specially a lady which I took time to take her name Maria and another staff which was South African very very polite and helpful i am very sorry that I got her name

10,0 ExcellentAnonymous, Sept 2026
Read more Emirates reviews

On the way there the food was not a good Standerd and fly Dubai is very cramped and again the food was not a good Standerd but on the way back food was excellent and staff were very helpful specially a lady which I took time to take her name Maria and another staff which was South African very very polite and helpful i am very sorry that I got her name

There is an issue with A380 when it arrives in Munich, because a business class passengers like me have to wait for the first class passengers to disembark, which takes some time while you are also offloading economy passengers this causes an issue at customs where your business class passengers end up behind a large bulk of economy passengers This is a frustration and the early dislocation should be and is supposed to be a benefit of business class

This was my first time flying with Emirates. Overall, the experience was very good. I thought the seats in economy would have been a bit more comfortable, but, they seem to be on par with other airlines. The food was excellent and very satisfying. If you can afford it, I would definitely suggest upgrading to at lest premium economy seats for long haul flights.

First time and very memorable, the finest flying experience ive ever had

No Vegetarian options onboard, made to wait for a long time for boarding

The internet connection did was not functioning as per normal.

The individual attention the crew gives to passengers is commendable and I find them positively helpful.

More space all around is practically essential on long international fights, and Emirates definitely delivers. But food selection and taste was only average. Otherwise, the flight was smooth and the cabin crew service was fine.

For such a long flight I feel the spacing of seats could’ve been better to make it more comfortable for passengers. Very little space to move & stretch legs.

The flight was delayed in Jhb and I could have had some help in Dubai trying to get to my connecting flight to London

It was good but Food I didn’t get as per choice, I asked for Non veg but I got veg . Entertainment, there is no Panjabi movies and Hindi movies also almost same which was a year ago .

Boarding is chaotic and confusing but otherwise it was fine.

Very good in general but we were assigned seats in different rows.

On plane great. Everything else needs improvement. Missed both connecting flights because of flight delays. The directions to go to the hotel desk were terrible. On the flight here I mistakenly went to wrong “hotel” both and got hoodwinked into paying for transportation and stayed in lesser hotel. The staff at airport were not helpful and signage is not clear. Next time I will fly different airline. Not sure how they got such a high rating with how they manage flights at Istanbul. Also the flight temp is hotter than any other carrier I have flown.

Food wasn’t good but not their fault as I should have pre selected

Their weakness is in boarding. Business class rarely boards first and there are no announcements explaining delays, so customers are always left waiting and wondering why boarding has paused.

My experience was amazing. Very friendly hosts and impeccable service.

Everything was great except the meat served was tough and overcooked!

Friendly cabin crew and the flight was on time. Would recommend toanyone

Our charging and WiFi were not working in our business class seats, even after they "refreshed" it.

The plane cleanness, punctuality and crew attention was great. The airline is offering free fast wifi on the flight, however apparently without much policy on the use. Quite a few passengers felt the liberty to watch shorts or other content without headphones from their devices as well as talking for long durations over phone calls. This made a 4-hour, fully booked flight somehow difficult to bear.

The crew were fabulous. We travelled Doha to Miami and the crew in board we exceptional too.

Qatar was pretty OK for their services but Arangrant was awful at theirs and frankly lied to me. Qatar offers four business class fares and only three of them allow lounge access. This is a horrible policy when you pay so much for business class and shame on them for denying the simple use of their lounges for this confusion. When I requested my business class ticket with Arangrant I knew this and specifically told them I would only purchase the lowest class business seat that would still permit me lounge access on all legs of my trip. They lied to me and said I did and then I was refused this service on my return flights. I had no less than 4-8 schedule changes and got screwed by a late departure from DCA on my double connection to JNB. I lost nearly a full day on my outbound and then had little to no use of the lounges on my outbound flights. To then be denied access on my return flights made the 27 hour trip home pretty awful. Kayak should no longer work with Arangrant as they are dishonest and liars. Qatar should price all four of their business class fares to include lounge access and stop the insanity they have forced on people. My return trip home nearly ruined my entire trip to South Africa and I blame Arangrant for telling me lies and for Qatar for offering insane rules and regulations on such expensive business class fares. For the money I paid to Qatar, I did not receive the full services I was promised. I will probably never use Arangrant and their ignorant services ever again. I will question whether I ever fly on Qatar Airways again as well. When you pay so much and get such little in return, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth. Arangrant gives the whole industry a bad name and Qatar is not far behind them. I can honestly say that the wretched service and way I was treated by both have soured me on travel companies and airlines. It is bad enough that we have an idiot, felon, racist and bigoted president and administration to contend with while he has started an illegal war, I did not expect to get screwed over by Arangrant and Qatar as well. Shame on all of you.

Flight departed punctually on time. Unfortunately it seems because the destination airport is a secondary airport the airline sees it fit to operate a plane with lower comfort and offerings. There was no inflight entertainment, wifi or let alone a screen to at least track flight status for remaining flight time.

Nothing to complain. The staff and flight was good especially the seats which was better compared than the cloth ones on Qatar airways

As gold member there is no priority checkin. Meaning you either have to board with your zone or last with business class pax. As economy pax all the baggage bays are filled by the time you arrive

This is my first and last flight with Qatar because when we go for boarding pass in Delhi airport the team asked for money charging me for hand baggage which is technically including with my ticket so also we get one our temple pics I ask them to checking in but they tell me I have to pay $500 dollars for that additional which is not make sense than I diseased to throw away because I can’t take with us . For carry in beg also I pay some Indian n currency for the guy who help I already pay 6 passengers ticket cost me $8000 so really I’m not happy . PLUS MY 6 checked baggage was damaged I already claim for four beg at airport but now I’m worried about my stuff inside maybe broken too which is more expensive stuff me really bad experience

This flight was packed and undercrewd! Service cart cam by twice on a 14 hour flight

It was an American Airline flight from Doha to Philadelphia. AA121 November 6, 2023. One heavy set female flight attendant was rude. She just tossed our wraps on our tray. I saw her busy with her cell phone in the back while the restrooms were all filthy. She was obviously not happy with her job or just lazy. My husband used the restroom even before the plane took off in Doha and it was already smelling of urine. There was hair on the box of our wrap. Good thing our wrap was inside a box! The hair was consistent with the hair of one of the flight attendants. Flight attendants should have their hair up.

Food not good as good as last time flew with them

The following is a review for a flight from Johannesburg to Washington, DC with a connection at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and refueling landing at Rome, Italy. The flight was provided by Ethiopian Airlines. There were two of us: me and my wife on this flight. Everything was on time. Enough legroom between the seats, I was able to stretch my legs and sleep for at least some time during the 14 hour second flight (19 hours in total for both flights). Very decent meals that included two lunches and one breakfast on the flight from Addis Ababa to Washington and one lunch on the flight from Johannesburg to Addis Ababa. The lunch choices were beef, chicken and fish, I think the vegetarian option was available as well, accompanied with beans. The breakfast was a choice between egg and pancake, accompanied with a fruit salad. The egg breakfast was awesome, it came with a scrambled egg and a sausage. However, my wife mentioned unusual taste of the pancake breakfast meal, by all means those were not pancakes. What wasn't good: Externally initiated commercials on the infosystem screens, you couldn't turn the screen off. These commercials were accompanied by loud and annoying music, transmitted through the entire cabin. Obviously, there was no escape from this music as well. Additional moment: on the flight from Addis Ababa to Washington, DC, we landed at Rome for refueling. This was totally fine and it was in the flight itinerary. But, the flight attendant asked me to straighten the seat while we were at the steady position during the refueling. I can't rationalize this order except that some people just like to be a boss of some kind. Keeping the light lit in the economy cabin while keeping it dimmed in the first class also didn't improve my and my wife's feelings. Overall, the services were very good and the flight, despite its longevity, went on very smoothly.

They only gave us 30 minutes to make an international connecting flight. We didn’t make the connection but they did do a good job rebooking us despite the chaos. Our bags didn’t make it back and their process for customer support is pretty bad when it comes to luggage.

The food was terrible and the seating was uncomfortable, but the airline did a great thing letting us board in Abbis Ababa on our connecting flight after our original flight was very delayed.

Food was really not appealing. There was a blocked sink in the toilet. Toilet is cramped and the wall between the 2 toilets are not secured properly.

The use of a domestic carrier without entertainment was disappointing and a let down

Plane was late with no information or announcement … had to walk up n downstairs.., had not communicated this … and ppl had suitcase to carry .

My entertainment screen wasn't working and they couldn't fix it.

It is just ok, the sits are very uncomfortable, the temperature too low and there weren’t blankets. The food is mediocre and there are no screens to watch movies.

Entertainment system poor - couldn't hear, no flight info etc.

I've never been served three bread courses in a single meal before. Was really impressed by the novelty of that.

At the Check-in desk in Constantine, I put my luggage on the belt. It wasn’t very full. The Air Algerie agent said that my luggage was too heavy, and so I had to pay money. I asked how heavy it was, and he said 20 kg. I doubt just clothes would be that heavy. So I asked how much money I had to pay. He said 12000 Dinars, which is about $150 dollars (i.e., about 150 Euros). I started objecting, saying I don’t have that much Dinars, mostly because one can’t exchange dollars or Euros for Dinars. No one would get on a flight to Paris with 150 Euros worth of Dinars. Worthless. Also, I told him the flight itself didn’t cost as much as $150, so this charge was way too high. But, the Check-in person insisted that they would no take my luggage weighing that much (20 kg). So I asked what weight it must be. He hesitated, looked upward for a few seconds, and said 10 kg. So I stepped a few feet away and transferred clothes from my luggage to my backpack, leaving my luggage feeling 1/2 the original weight - - - hopefully now only 10 kg. I went up to the Check-in desk again. The Check-in guy put my bag on the scale, and said, “You still must pay 12000 Dinars.”. I asked why, and he said my ticket did not include any luggage at all. I objected immediately, saying that I had a round-trip ticket and that Air Algerie carried my luggage from Paris to here in Constantine. Therefore my ticket must actually have included luggage going both ways, round trip. But he continued to say that, no, my ticket didn’t include luggage, and that I must pay 12000 Dinars. At that point another Air Algerie agent walked up behind me, asking what was going on. When I told him, he said, “Come with me.” He took me 30 feet away, behind a pillar. He asked how much money I had. I said $40 US dollars and 20 Euros. He looked one way and then the other way. He said, “Give me the $40 and I’ll see what I can do.” A couple minutes later he said it was all fine, and they would take my luggage. So I went back to the Check-in counter, and they took my luggage, saying, “Don’t worry, it’s all fine. Everything is fine.”

Always late , never on time people rushing to catch their connection flight , the only punctuality of air algerie is for sure they delay the flight

Air algerie flights always the same Late or canceled with poor service So , not a surprise The flight yesterday full and late with poor service as usual

3hours deleyed, absolutely horrible day.,horrible company.,bad service.,they should check the flight if it safe before letting the passengers in .. it was a technical problem ( very hot temperatures inside the flight) we had to come back and change the flight.never again with this company

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