Travelling from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO): What you need to know
Istanbul is home to a couple of airports where you can start your adventure. Explore your options for booking a flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) leaving from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW).
Juan Santamaria International Airport is located in San Jose. The city follows the UTC-6 timezone and is nine hours behind Istanbul.
To ensure you get on your flight from Istanbul to SJO, leave enough time for things like baggage drop and finding your gate. Arriving two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general travel rule.
If you're flying during a bank holiday or other peak period, give yourself more time. Get there two hours ahead of domestic flights and up to four hours before international departures. Queues at security and check-in will be longer.
Airports in Istanbul
Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)
Consider adding a stopover to find cheap flights from Istanbul to SJO. Just uncheck 'Direct flights only' when browsing departures from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST). Slip in a stop (and skip the high fares) by flying through one of these popular airports:
Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Tocumen International Airport (PTY)
IST is about 48 kilometres from central Istanbul. If you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving from the centre, it'll take you 50 minutes or so to get there, depending on the traffic. If you're using public transport, expect the travel time to be around 1 hour 45 minutes.
Looking for a comfortable hotel near Istanbul Ataturk Airport? If you're catching an early flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport, these stays will have you sleeping conveniently close to check-in:
Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (SAW)
Tick a new place off your list or just take a moment to reset with a stopover. If you'd like to break up your flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport, browse these options when taking off from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)
Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD)
Using public transport, you can travel from central Istanbul to SAW in about 1 hour 30 minutes. The terminal is roughly 48 kilometres away, and making the journey by car takes approximately 55 minutes.
Start your holiday sooner with an extra night away from home. Before your Istanbul to SJO flight, stay in one of these hotels near Sabiha Gokcen International Airport:
76.93% of all departures from Sabiha Gokcen International Airport arrive according to schedule.
About Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
If you have a late flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport, few things top the convenience of staying near the terminal. Pick up your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping not long after at one of these options near SJO:
Follow your own route with a Juan Santamaria International Airport rental car. Pick up a set of wheels from NextCar, Europcar or Dollar and experience more of San Jose and beyond.
Lock in the best possible rate by booking your vehicle around three weeks before your Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport flight.
Getting from Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) to central San Jose
Juan Santamaria International Airport is about 14 kilometres from central San Jose. How long it takes to get to the centre by cab or car hire depends on the time of day. Do some research before your trip.
If you're travelling on public transport, expect a journey of roughly 2 hours 20 minutes.
How to find the cheapest flights from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
The lowest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport is ر.ق. 1,515. For a return flight on this route, the best price is ر.ق. 3,035. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares could change.
Don't leave things to the last minute. You're more likely to walk away with cheap flights from Istanbul to SJO if you book in advance. Airlines often have some fantastic early bird rates.
If you have some flexibility with your trip dates, use the 'Whole month' tool. It'll show you the cheapest price across every month when searching for your Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport ticket.
Never miss a deal on flight tickets from Istanbul to SJO by creating a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or push notification on the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Discover the best deal on a flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport with the help of the filters. Pick your preferred arrival and departure times, airlines and number of stops. You can also sort your results by 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest.'
The best time to fly from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO)
May is the quietest month for flights from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO), while July is the busiest. Pick the best time to go to San Jose based on whether you want a laid-back vibe or a lively atmosphere.
Lock in an Istanbul to SJO flight ticket departing in March if you're eager to visit the city during its warmest month. Expect temperatures in San Jose to range from 12ºC to 29ºC.
If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport in January when temperatures are between 12ºC and 26ºC.
More about San Jose
When it comes to looking for somewhere to lay your head, you'll find the best stays in San Jose right here. Explore these options as soon as you've booked your flight from Istanbul to Juan Santamaria International Airport:
There are so many things to discover in this city, it can be tricky to work out where to start. National Park (Parque Nacional), Jurassic World and Central Park (Parque Central) are popular attractions which should feature on any well-planned San Jose itinerary.
Explore more of Costa Rica
You've done San Jose, now it's time to discover more of Costa Rica. Travel about 129 kilometres east to Limon to check off its top attractions. From Veragua Rainforest Park to Playa Bonita and Playa Los Baños, your itinerary will be busy.
If you're ready to explore another corner of Costa Rica, head for Liberia, roughly 153 kilometres north-west of San Jose. Ponderosa Adventure Park, Ecologico Park and Museo de Guanacaste are among the biggest draws.
