Cheap flights from Zurich to Istanbul
Zurich Airport is the only departure point for this route, while Istanbul serves you from two separate terminals. Direct flights connect these cities year-round, making this one of the simpler connections to plan. You can choose which Istanbul airport matters most based on your final destination in the city.
Prices found on this route
Lowest fare found per airline in recent searches — click to search that date on kissandfly.com
| Airline | Flight | Rating | Date | Price from | Search |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct | — | 18 Nov 2026 | from $62 | Search 18 Nov 2026 | |
| direct | ★★★★★ 3.7 | 18 Nov 2026 | from $64 | Search 18 Nov 2026 | |
| with a stop | ★★★★★ 4.1 | 21 Nov 2026 | from $114 | Search 21 Nov 2026 | |
| with a stop | ★★★★★ 3.6 | 25 Nov 2026 | from $124 | Search 25 Nov 2026 | |
| with a stop | ★★★★★ 4.3 | 18 Nov 2026 | from $165 | Search 18 Nov 2026 | |
| with a stop | ★★★★★ 4.1 | 24 Dec 2026 | from $169 | Search 24 Dec 2026 | |
| with a stop | ★★★★★ 4.1 | 17 Dec 2026 | from $171 | Search 17 Dec 2026 | |
| direct | ★★★★★ 4.7 | 18 Nov 2026 | from $185 | Search 18 Nov 2026 | |
| with a stop | — | 24 Apr 2027 | from $186 | Search 24 Apr 2027 | |
| with a stop | — | 27 Nov 2026 | from $241 | Search 27 Nov 2026 |
Source: fares found by Tickets Travel Network search engines, snapshot of 2 November 2026. Prices are converted to USD at an approximate rate; the exact price is shown on the booking site.
Price by month
Lowest fare found for each month in recent searches. Cheapest month: February — from $58.
| Month | Price from | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | from $62 | 18 Nov 2026 | |
| December 2026 | from $169 | 24 Dec 2026 | |
| January 2027 | from $120 | 17 Jan 2027 | |
| February 2027 | from $58 | 9 Feb 2027 | |
| March 2027 | from $62 | 6 Mar 2027 | |
| April 2027 | from $127 | 30 Apr 2027 | |
| May 2027 | from $224 | 19 May 2027 | |
| June 2027 | from $105 | 16 Jun 2027 | |
| July 2027 | from $271 | 20 Jul 2027 | |
| August 2027 | from $107 | 10 Aug 2027 | |
| September 2027 | from $73 | 3 Sept 2027 | |
| October 2027 | from $155 | 1 Oct 2027 |
Airports on this route
Distances are straight-line from the city centre
| City | Airport | To centre |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | Zurich ZRH | 11 km |
| Istanbul | Istanbul Airport IST | 33 km |
| Istanbul | Sabiha Gokcen SAW | 33 km |
Route on the map
When to fly
October typically offers lower fares on this route compared to summer travel or holiday periods around year-end. Prices build gradually through spring into summer peak season before easing again toward autumn. If your schedule allows flexibility, targeting October gives you better value without sacrificing weather conditions in either city.
Airlines and what to expect
This route has both full-service and budget options available. Turkish Airlines operates as the main flag carrier with direct service. Pegasus and Sun Express provide low-cost alternatives on this same corridor. Other carriers like LOT, KLM, Air Serbia, Easyjet, Cityjet and Scandinavian Airlines connect through their respective hubs rather than flying direct to Istanbul from Zurich.
Arriving — Istanbul
Before landing in Istanbul, decide which airport suits your plans best. Istanbul Airport sits further from the city centre but offers metro access. Sabiha Gokcen serves Asian-side destinations more conveniently with its own transport links. Factor in transfer time and cost depending on where you need to go after arrival.
Before you go: Turkey
- Currency
- TRY (₺)
- Power sockets
- Type C, F · 230 V
- Language
- Turkish
- Emergency number
- 112, 177
- Driving side
- right
- Calling code
- +36
- Internet domain
- .tr
- Population of Istanbul
- 15.7 M (2023)
- Time zone
- UTC+03 (Europe/Istanbul)
Country facts: Wikidata
Check before you book
- Verify whether your ticket requires a connection or is direct service.
- Review baggage allowances carefully since low-cost carriers charge separately.
- Check visa requirements for Turkey before departure.
- Consider which airport aligns with your final destination in Istanbul.
- Compare total travel time across different routing options.
Frequently asked questions
Zurich – Istanbul: when is it cheapest to fly?
The lowest price in recent searches was found for February 2027 — $58. Prices change daily; check the live price in the search.
Zurich – Istanbul: which airlines fly this route?
Airlines with offers on this route: Ajet, Pegasus, Easyjet, Sun Express, Air Serbia, LOT Polish Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Cityjet, HOP!.
Zurich – Istanbul: are there direct flights?
Yes, direct flights were available in recent searches.
How long is the flight from Zurich to Istanbul?
The distance is about 1,766 km, so a non-stop flight takes roughly 2 h 36 min. Direct flights were found in recent searches.
Which airports serve Zurich – Istanbul?
Zurich: Zurich (ZRH). Istanbul: Istanbul Airport (IST), Sabiha Gokcen (SAW).
What is the time difference between Zurich and Istanbul?
Istanbul is 2 h ahead of Zurich.
Zurich — more routes
Istanbul — flights from other cities
| From | Airline | Flight | Date | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antalya | Pegasus | with a stop | 4 Dec 2026 | from $29 |
| Bucharest | Pegasus | direct | 2 Dec 2026 | from $46 |
| Budapest | Wizz Air | direct | 9 Jan 2027 | from $53 |
| Chisinau | Tarom | with a stop | 11 Dec 2026 | from $68 |
| Krakow | Air Serbia | with a stop | 9 Nov 2026 | from $98 |
| Iasi | Tarom | with a stop | 1 Dec 2026 | from $122 |
| Batumi | Pegasus | direct | 10 Nov 2026 | from $126 |
| Warsaw | Pegasus | with a stop | 7 Nov 2026 | from $139 |
Nearby alternatives
Airports within reach of Zurich / Istanbul that also have this destination — sometimes far cheaper
| Route | Distance | Flight | Date | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mulhouse-Basel → Istanbul | 100 km from Zurich | direct | 4 Nov 2026 | from $58 |