Cheap flights from Houston (HOU) to Istanbul (IST)

The Houston George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) Airport, located 20 miles from the downtown area, can be accessed by the METRO bus. Taxis and shuttles can also help you avoid parking. Flight times are usually just over 13 hours to Istanbul to Ataturk (IST) Airport. When you arrive, you can take advantage of the Metro, the Seabus or traditional bus to get you into town. Taxis and rental cars are also available.

Attractions and Tips

The Hagia Sophia is a must-see for both the interior and the exterior architecture and design. Less than a half-mile away, you can visit the Istanbul Archaeology Museum, the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace. A tour of the palace will take you through the Audience Chamber and ensure that you see many of the relics kept inside. The Harem tour has an additional fee but allows you access to more areas of the palace. For a unique shopping experience, make sure you stop by the Grand Bazaar, a large indoor shopping mall with thousands of shops.

The heat and the number of people that visit Istanbul rise in the summertime. Temperatures stay in the high-70s and low-80s; however, the spring and autumn are both ideal times to visit because the weather cools off slightly and there are less people at all of the various attractions. Winter weather in December and January tends to be wet and foggy.