London to Istanbul flights

When fares to Istanbul are lowest

Fares to Istanbul are lowest outside the busy weeks, so aim for dates away from Easter, the July and August school holidays, October half term and Christmas and New Year. The live fare calendar on this page shows this month's lowest fares for London to Istanbul, and the Slashtel Fare Index helps you judge whether now is a good time to book.

The Slashtel Fare Index compares the lowest fare in the next three months against the route's usual monthly fare. A reading of 100 is usual, and 85 or under is a good time to book. Use it alongside the calendar rather than picking a date at random.

To plan your booking:

1. Open the fare calendar on this page and look at the month you want to travel.
2. Check the Slashtel Fare Index for the route and note whether it sits at 85 or under.
3. Avoid the busy weeks listed below unless your dates are fixed by school or family plans.
4. Set a price alert so you hear when fares fall well under the usual price for your dates.
5. Book once the fare matches your budget or your own target.

Direct flights and airlines on the route

AJet, British Airways, Pegasus and Turkish Airlines fly London to Istanbul nonstop, all landing at İstanbul Airport (IST). Several other airlines appear in our fare checks with a stop, so check the itinerary carefully before you book if a nonstop flight matters to you.

Nonstop service keeps the journey simple and avoids the risk of a missed connection. Direct flights are the practical choice for city breaks and for family visits when you want to arrive without a long detour.

Jet2, Ryanair, SunExpress, Wizz Air and easyJet appear in our fare checks with a stop. Some of these are self transfer routes on separate tickets, which carry risk if a flight is delayed. If you take one, allow plenty of time between flights and understand that protection on one ticket does not cover the other.

Busy weeks on the London to Istanbul route

Easter, the UK school summer holidays in July and August, October half term, and Christmas and New Year are the busiest weeks on London to Istanbul. Fares are usually higher then, and the nonstop airlines fill up sooner, so book earlier if your dates fall in these periods.

Summer is the longest busy stretch, with families travelling for visits and holidays across July and August. Half term and Easter are shorter but still push demand up on nonstop flights.

Christmas and New Year combine family visits with city breaks, so the days around both holidays move quickly. If you can travel just outside these windows, the fare calendar usually shows lower fares.

The time difference matters when you plan. Turkey is 3 hours ahead of the UK in winter and 2 hours ahead in British Summer Time, so an evening arrival feels later to you than the clock suggests.

Arriving in Istanbul: phone, data and entry

Turkey has 4G mobile coverage, with 5G in some areas, on the Turkcell, Vodafone and Türk Telekom networks. Sort out data before you fly so you can use maps and messages on arrival, and check the official entry rules for your passport before you travel.

A travel eSIM or a mobile top up from Slashtel lets you land connected without hunting for a shop at the airport. Check that your phone supports eSIM before you buy, and install the plan before departure.

Entry requirements depend on your passport and your reason for travel. Check the official rules for your passport well before you fly, and make sure your documents are in order before you book non refundable fares.

How to get a price alert for your dates

We check fares every day and email when they fall well under the usual price for your dates or under your own target. Set an alert once you know your travel window, and let the fare checks do the watching for you.

Choose your dates or a date range, then set your own target if you have a budget in mind. Alerts work well for flexible travellers who can move a trip by a few days to catch lower fares.

Combine alerts with the fare calendar and the Slashtel Fare Index. If the index is at 85 or under and an alert arrives, that is a strong signal to book.