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Cheap Flights from Chicago to Istanbul
CHI → IST • About 10h 45m nonstop • 2 airlines
Adults
+12 years old
Children
2-11 years old
Infants
Under 2 years
Fares shown are the lowest we have recorded recently on this route and are not a live quote. Run a search above for today's availability, or call (800) 399-8818 and an agent will price it with you.
Flights from Chicago (CHI) to Istanbul (IST)
The Chicago to Istanbul route covers roughly 5,480 miles and takes about 10h 45m nonstop. 2 airlines compete on it — Turkish Airlines, United Airlines — which keeps fares moving and makes it worth comparing carriers rather than defaulting to the one you usually fly. We have seen one-way fares on this route start around $486.
Istanbul is the only major city on two continents, split by the Bosphorus, and has been the capital of both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. The Hagia Sophia has stood for fifteen hundred years.
It is also one of the great food cities, and one of the best-connected air hubs in the world — which makes it as good a stopover as a destination.
Airlines flying CHI to IST
- Turkish Airlines
- United Airlines
Airports on this route
- Departing: Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD)
- Departing: Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW)
- Arriving: Istanbul Airport (IST)
- Arriving: Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)
Chicago is served by 2 airports. Fares between them can differ by $50 to $150 on the same dates, so ask us to price all of them before you book.
Best time to fly to Istanbul
April through June and September through November. Summer is hot and crowded.
Top things to do in Istanbul
- Hagia Sophia
- Blue Mosque
- Topkapı Palace
- Grand Bazaar
- Bosphorus cruise
- Basilica Cistern
- Süleymaniye Mosque
How to save on Chicago to Istanbul flights
- Shift your departure by one or two days — midweek departures on this route are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
- Book four to eight weeks ahead. Last-minute fares on CHI to IST routinely run double the advance price.
- Compare all 2 carriers rather than checking one airline's own site.
- Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen are on opposite sides of the city — never connect between them without hours to spare.
- Turkish Airlines offers a stopover programme that can include a hotel on longer connections.
- The Istanbul Museum Pass pays for itself in two days of sightseeing.
About flights from Chicago to Istanbul
Fares on the CHI to IST route move with demand, so flexibility is worth more than timing tricks. Shifting your departure by a day or two, flying midweek instead of Friday or Sunday, and booking four to eight weeks ahead all reduce the fare on this route. Chicago is served by 2 airports, so ask us to price all of them — the difference is often significant. Our agents also hold consolidator and unpublished fares that do not appear in online results.
Turkish Airlines, United Airlines all operate on this route. Turkish Airlines typically offers the most frequencies, with United Airlines providing competing schedules. Availability varies by season and by which Chicago airport you depart from, so it is worth comparing all carriers before booking.
A nonstop flight takes about 10h 45m. Itineraries with a connection typically add two to four hours depending on the layover city and the length of the stop.
The two cities are roughly 5,480 miles apart by air.
Departures leave from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW). Arrivals land at Istanbul Airport (IST), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW).
April through June and September through November. Summer is hot and crowded.