Flying from Sao Paulo to Istanbul: what you need to know
There are two main airports you can fly out of in Sao Paulo. Explore your options leaving from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) or Viracopos Airport (VCP) when booking your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul.
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW) are Istanbul's major gateways.
A direct flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul takes on average 12 hours 35 minutes. The timezone in Istanbul is UTC+3, which makes it 6 hours ahead of Sao Paulo.
With 15 flights a week between the two airports, Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) is the busiest route. Hop on the first flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul with Turkish Airlines at 00:05. If you prefer to get more out of your day before leaving, the latest flight from GRU to IST is with Turkish Airlines at 23:00.
Leave plenty of time to catch your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. As a general rule, turn up two hours before international departures and an hour ahead for domestic flights.
During popular months such as July, it's best to get to the airport earlier than usual. Arrive two hours before a domestic departure and four hours ahead of an international flight whenever you're flying during a peak period in general.
You can visit Türkiye (Turkey) for tourism purposes without a visa if you hold a passport from Brazil. But before organising your cheap flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, make sure you have the latest information. Visa rules can change, and you may need some travel documents if your trip is for work or other reasons.
Flying from Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU)
You can book a nonstop flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul taking off from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU). Start your journey at GRU and arrive at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST).
Turkish Airlines is a popular carrier that operates direct flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul departing from GRU.
Stopovers are the perfect opportunity to take a break from travelling — and perhaps even explore a different city. When searching for flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul departing from Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport, deselect the 'Direct flights only' box to see where you can stop along the way. Here are some options to consider:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Located around 26 kilometres from central Sao Paulo, GRU can be reached in approximately 32 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The same journey on public transport is roughly 1 hour and 22 minutes.
Looking for a handy hotel close to Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport? If you've booked an early flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, these accommodation options will have you moments from check-in:
Viracopos Airport (VCP)
Get the most out of your holiday with a stopover on your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. Visit friends or family or tick a new city off your list. Whatever your plans, check out these stops between Sao Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport and Istanbul:
London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
You can arrive at VCP from central Sao Paulo in about 1 hour and 16 minutes by car (depending on traffic). The ride by public transport takes roughly 3 hours and 25 minutes to travel the 97 kilometres or so.
Want to enjoy an extra night away before your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul? Kick back in a hotel near Viracopos Airport before your adventure officially starts. Here's where you can stay:
Arriving in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to the centre of Istanbul is about 50 minutes by car. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.
It takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes if you're travelling by public transport.
The last thing you want is a lengthy journey to your hotel if you're getting in late on a flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. Stay at one of these accommodation options near IST instead:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
The centre of Istanbul is located around 48 kilometres from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW). As soon as your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul has landed and you've navigated your way to arrivals, the drive should take about 57 minutes.
You can also opt for public transport, which will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
You'll find some cosy stays ready to welcome you near SAW. Unwind after your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul at any of these perfectly located options:
How to find the cheapest flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul
P23,879 is the best price for a one-way ticket from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. Return flights start from P43,972. These fares may change based on availability.
To secure cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, book your journey 3 months ahead of your departure date.
Organise your trip for November. That's the cheapest month for tickets from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. If you're flexible with your dates, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the cheapest price across each month.
Create a Price Alert for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. There's no need to search every day to see if prices have dropped. We'll update you as soon as there's a change in price.
Use filters to find your ideal trip. To see the 'Fastest,' 'Cheapest' or 'Best' flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter results by airline, departure and arrival times, and journey duration.
Best time to go to Istanbul
August is the busiest month for flights from Sao Paulo to Istanbul. To escape the crowds, head to Istanbul in February.
Before locking in your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, consider the kind of weather you enjoy. August is the warmest month in Istanbul, with temperatures ranging from 20ºC to 30ºC.
Look for cheap tickets from Sao Paulo to Istanbul in January if you'd rather travel during cooler conditions. Temperatures are at their lowest then, ranging between 2ºC and 11ºC on average.
More about Istanbul
Start your Istanbul trip off on the right foot by choosing the perfect place to stay. After booking your flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul, explore our range of hotels including:
Topkapi Palace and The Basilica Cistern are just the start of the leading attractions to add to your Istanbul must-do list. Keep the momentum going by heading to Galata Tower.
Complete your Istanbul trip with a car rental
We use the same magic that helped you find your cheap flight from Sao Paulo to Istanbul to track down amazing deals on car rentals. Search for your ride in seconds and compare offers in one place. Plus you'll find all the info you need to drive in Istanbul, from the most popular car rental to the best time to book.