Flying from Istanbul to Seattle: what you need to know
Start your holiday planning by considering where you'll take off for your flight from Istanbul to Seattle. Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are the two main airports in Istanbul.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Lake Union Sea Plane Base (LKE) are Seattle's primary hubs.
A direct flight from Istanbul to Seattle takes on average 12 hours 36 minutes. The timezone in Seattle is UTC-7, which makes it 10 hours behind Istanbul.
The busiest route for flights from Istanbul to Seattle is from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). You can choose from 12 weekly services between these two airports. If you want to get going first thing, the earliest flight from IST to SEA is the 08:05 Turkish Airlines option. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 15:20 with Turkish Airlines.
Give yourself plenty of time to catch your flight from Istanbul to Seattle. As a general rule, arrive at least two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
Heading away during a peak period like public or school holidays? Expect longer queues at security and check-in. To give yourself peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours ahead of domestic departures.
You will need an embassy visa for United States if you hold a passport from Türkiye (Turkey) and are travelling for tourism purposes. Travel documentation and visa requirements are subject to change. So before you book your cheap flights from Istanbul to Seattle, check with your airline and the destination country's local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date information.
Flying from Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
If you're searching for a direct flight from Istanbul to Seattle, you can catch one from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Fly from IST to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) in one continuous trip.
Turkish Airlines is a popular airline that offers direct flights from Istanbul to Seattle taking off from IST.
Think about adding a stopover to potentially save on your flight from Istanbul to Seattle. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when searching for departures from Istanbul Ataturk Airport. Take a break from travelling at one of these popular options:
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
IST is around 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on traffic. If you're taking public transport, expect the travel time to be approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Looking for a convenient hotel close to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Seattle, these accommodation options will have you moments from your departure lounge:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Make the most of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from Istanbul to Seattle. Visit friends or family or tick a new city off your bucket list. Whatever you choose to do, here's where you can stop between Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Seattle:
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
On public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. The airport is roughly 48 kilometres away, and making the trip by car will take approximately 57 minutes.
Kick off your holiday early with an extra night away from home. Before catching your flight from Istanbul to Seattle, take it easy in one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Arriving in Seattle
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is around 23 kilometres from the centre of Seattle. With your own car rental or if you take a cab, the drive is around 18 minutes.
If you're using public transport, expect a journey time of roughly 54 minutes.
The last thing you want is a long journey to your hotel if you're landing late on a flight from Istanbul to Seattle. Reserve one of these accommodation options near SEA instead:
Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE)
After your flight from Istanbul to Seattle has hit the runway, you can get to the city centre in around 11 minutes by car. Central Seattle is roughly 3 kilometres from Lake Union Sea Plane Base Airport (LKE).
The trip will take approximately 23 minutes on public transport.
There are some comfortable stays to park your luggage (and yourself) near LKE. Kick back after your flight from Istanbul to Seattle at any of these well-located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Seattle
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Seattle is $701. For a return flight on this route, the best price is $783. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Book 10 months before travelling. After crunching the numbers on our calendar, this is how far you should book ahead to find cheap tickets from Istanbul to Seattle.
Plan your trip for June. That's the cheapest month for flight tickets from Istanbul to Seattle. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest price across each month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Seattle. You don't need to check back in every day to see whether fares have dropped. We'll notify you as soon as there's a change in price.
Use filters to find your ideal journey. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Best' or 'Cheapest' flights from Istanbul to Seattle, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and journey duration.
Best time to go to Seattle
It's time to figure out your dates for your flight from Istanbul to Seattle. July is the busiest month for a trip to Seattle. If you like a more peaceful vibe, go in May.
Book your flight from Istanbul to Seattle for August if you'd like to explore the city during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures in Seattle to range from 12ºC to 28ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from Istanbul to Seattle in February if you like cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between -1ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Seattle
After booking your flight from Istanbul to Seattle, think about where you want to stay in this city. Make one of these options your base for exploring Seattle:
There are so many things to discover in this city it can be difficult to know where to begin. Gas Works - Lake View Point, Queen Anne Bowl Playfield and LMN Architects are highlights which should be on any good Seattle itinerary.
Complete your Seattle trip with a car rental
Check out our lineup of car rentals once you've booked your hotel and cheap flight from Istanbul to Seattle. Whether you're after a compact ride, roomy sedan or something with all the extras, you can easily compare companies in one go to get the best deal.
