Istanbul essentials
- Country
- Türkiye
- Airports
- Istanbul Airport (IST), plus Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) for many budget airlines
- Cheapest time to fly
- November to March, outside the holidays, is usually cheapest; spring and autumn are popular.
- From the airport
- The M11 metro links Istanbul Airport with the city, and an Istanbulkart card covers metro, trams, buses and ferries.
- Time difference
- 7 hours ahead of Toronto (can shift by an hour when clocks change)
- Entry for Canadians
- Check Türkiye's current entry rules for Canadian passport holders before you book.
Entry rules change, so confirm on the Government of Canada travel advice page before you book.
Cheapest flights to Istanbul from Canada
Nonstop flights
- From Toronto: Air Transat and Turkish Airlines
- From Montreal: Turkish Airlines, with Air Transat joining from October 2026
Our guides for Istanbul
Hotels, tours and more for Istanbul
These links search our partners. Some earn us a commission at no extra cost to you, and it never changes what we recommend.
Get flight deals from your city by email
One short email a week, only when we find a real deal from your city. Every fare is re-checked live before we send it. Free, and you can unsubscribe any time.
Istanbul: common questions
When is the cheapest time to fly to Istanbul from Canada?
November to March, outside the holidays, is usually cheapest; spring and autumn are popular.
Which airport do you fly into for Istanbul?
Istanbul Airport (IST), plus Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) for many budget airlines. The M11 metro links Istanbul Airport with the city, and an Istanbulkart card covers metro, trams, buses and ferries.
Do Canadians need a visa for Türkiye?
Check Türkiye's current entry rules for Canadian passport holders before you book.
Which Canadian cities fly to Istanbul?
Viorvo tracks fares to Istanbul from Toronto, Montreal. Each route page shows the lowest recent fares and the cheapest month.