Cheap Flights from Zurich to Istanbul

Compare Zurich to Istanbul flight deals

Find the cheapest month or even day of the year to fly to Istanbul

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Flight deals from Zurich to Istanbul

Looking for a cheap last-minute deal or the best return flight from Zurich to Istanbul? Find the lowest prices on one-way and return tickets right here.

Find the cheapest month to fly from Zurich to Istanbul

We’re always keeping an eye on fares, so you can find the best one in seconds. It looks like Zurich to Istanbul flights are currently cheapest in December.

Direct flights from Zurich to Istanbul

Zurich to Istanbul: Alternative routes

Compare routes from Zurich to Istanbul below. You may find an airport to fly into that's cheaper, faster, or easier than Istanbul.

Zurich to Istanbul: Flight information

The things to know before you go.
Cheapest flight found176 €
Cheapest month to flyDecember
Average flight time3 hrs, 2 mins
Most popular airlineTurkish Airlines
Average flights per week146

Finding cheap flights from Zurich to Istanbul: Frequently asked questions

The best price we found for a return flight from Zurich to Istanbul is 176 €. This is an estimate based on information collected from different airlines and travel providers over the last 4 days and is subject to change and availability.
3 hours and 2 minutes is the average flight time from Zurich to Istanbul.
Turkish Airlines, MIAT Mongolian Airlines and Gulf Air fly direct from Zurich to Istanbul.
As of June 2025, there are 117 flights per week flying from Zurich to Istanbul.
The cheapest month to fly from Zurich to Istanbul is usually June 2025.
After crunching the numbers on our flight calendar, we found that it's currently cheapest to fly from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Airport on Saturday, 6 December 2025.
Yes – the average flight time is 3 hours and 2 minutes.
We show every price from over 1,200 airlines and travel agents, comparing them all so you don’t have to. If you know you want to fly to Istanbul but you’re not ready to book, set up a Price Alert. We’ll track prices for you, and let you know when they rise or fall.
We crunched all the numbers in our flight calendar and it looks like the cheapest time to book a flight to Istanbul is around 40 days in advance, so don’t leave your flight to the last minute.
Currently, Air France and Turkish Airlines offer the cheapest flight tickets to Istanbul.

Flying from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST): what you need to know

  • The average time for a direct flight from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is 3 hours.

  • Istanbul's timezone is UTC+3, making Istanbul two hours ahead of Zurich.

  • Flights from ZRH to IST start at 06:45 — the first with Turkish Airlines. The last service of the day is at 18:50 with Turkish Airlines. Overall, you can take your pick of 39 weekly Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flights.

  • For a stress-free journey, turn up at the airport two hours ahead of international flights and one hour before domestic departures. This ensures you have enough time to board your ZRH to IST flight.

  • Flying during a peak month such as July? Public holidays and other popular periods can mean longer queues and delays at airport checkpoints. Play it safe and get there up to four hours ahead of international flights and two hours before a domestic departure.

  • Turkish Airlines is your ticket to exploring Istanbul (and maybe even some other great corners of Türkiye (Turkey)!). Check out the direct flights from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport offered by this airline.

  • The majority of travellers choose to fly with Turkish Airlines on this route.

How to find the cheapest flights from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • 93 € is the best price for a one-way Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport flight. A return flight starts at 176 €. These fares may change based on availability and demand.

  • To get cheap tickets from ZRH to IST, reserve your trip two months ahead of your departure.

  • The cheapest month for flights from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport is January. Use the 'Whole month' tool to see the lowest prices if you have flexible travel dates.

  • Stay on top of deals for cheap flights from ZRH to IST by setting up a Price Alert. You'll receive an email or notification through the app when a special offer becomes available.

  • Find the perfect flight for you by using the filters. To see the 'Best,' 'Cheapest' or 'Fastest' flights from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport, use the 'Sort by' tool. You can also filter by departure and arrival times, airline, and number of stops.

Handy information about Zurich Airport (ZRH)

  • 69.02% of flights that take off from Zurich Airport land at their destination on schedule.

  • Zurich Airport is around 13 kilometres from central Zurich. If you're catching a cab, ride-sharing or driving from the centre, it'll take 20 minutes or so to arrive, depending on the traffic.

  • You can expect a trip time of about 1 hour 35 minutes when using public transport.

  • Have an early flight from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport? Avoid the stress of rushing to the terminal (and sneak in some extra precious sleep) by choosing one of these stays close to ZRH:

Arriving at Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

Getting from Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST) to central Istanbul

  • Istanbul Ataturk Airport to central Istanbul has a drive time of around 50 minutes. It's approximately 48 kilometres away.

  • Getting to the centre by public transport takes roughly 1 hour 45 minutes.

When to fly to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (IST)

  • April is the most popular month for flights from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport. To steer clear of the crowds, go to Istanbul in February.

  • Book your flight from Zurich Airport to Istanbul Ataturk Airport for August if you'd like to go to Istanbul during its warmest month. Expect temperatures of between 20ºC (68ºF) and 30ºC (86ºF).

  • If you want cooler conditions, look for a cheap ticket from ZRH to IST in January. Average temperatures are between 2ºC (36ºF) and 11ºC (52ºF) then.

Explore more of Türkiye (Turkey)

  • You've seen Istanbul, now it's time to discover other corners of Türkiye (Turkey). Travel about 354 kilometres east to Ankara to check off its top sights. From Museum of Anatolian Civilizations to Kocatepe Mosque (Kocatepe Camii) and Genclik Park, you've got a jam-packed schedule ahead.

  • If you're ready to explore another major stop in Türkiye (Turkey), head for Izmir, roughly 322 kilometres south-west of Istanbul. Kordonboyu, Kadifekale Castle and Konak Square are the start of reasons to visit.

Prices shown on this page are estimated lowest prices only. Found in the last 45 days.