Turkey Tour Packages from Switzerland 2027: Istanbul, Cappadocia and Flights from Zurich

A Turkey tour package from Switzerland costs from $699 (about CHF 576) per person with us for 4 days in Istanbul, with hotel, transfers, guiding and entrance tickets; Istanbul and Cappadocia in 6 days starts at $1,800 (about CHF 1,484). You book the flight from Zurich, Geneva or Basel yourself, and non-stop it takes about three hours. All routes and prices are on our Turkey tour packages page.

We are a licensed agency in Istanbul (TÜRSAB A-group, no. 15751) and have organised private trips since 2010. Swiss groups have a habit we rarely see elsewhere: in one family the grandmother prefers French, the son-in-law German and the children English. We assign the guide in whichever language works best for your group and build the programme around your flight times.

How much is a Turkey tour package from Switzerland? Our 2027 packages

Every package is a private arrangement on the ground: hotel with breakfast, airport transfers, guiding, entrance tickets and, on trips covering more than one region, the domestic flights. Prices are per person in a double room in a mid-range hotel from our selection, which you approve before booking. The international flight from Switzerland is not included. See also our page: Turkey tour packages from Sweden. See also our page: Turkey tour packages from Denmark.

The franc figures are rounded and based on the European Central Bank reference rates of 23 October 2026 (€1 = $1.1193 = CHF 0.9227, so $1 ≈ CHF 0.82); we invoice in dollars. Prices vary by season, hotel and what's included, so ask us for today's price for your dates. Every combination covering several regions is on our multi-city Turkey tour packages page.

For a Swiss travel budget something else counts too: on the ground, much costs less than at home. A meze dinner in Kadıköy, a taxi across the Old City or a hammam visit weighs far less on the budget than a comparable evening in Zurich. The big museums, on the other hand, have become more expensive, and their tickets for foreigners are now priced in euros. In our packages they are already included.

Direct flights to Istanbul from Zurich, Geneva and Basel

From Zurich, Turkish Airlines flies non-stop to Istanbul Airport (IST), while Pegasus and AJet fly to Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side. Flight portals put the flight time at about three hours. From Geneva, Turkish Airlines flies daily to Istanbul Airport and Pegasus to Sabiha Gökçen; allow a little over three hours.

From Basel-Mulhouse, the portal direktflug.de (checked on 25.10.2026) lists Turkish Airlines to IST and Pegasus and AJet to SAW, each about three hours. Useful for a round trip: SunExpress at times also flies from Basel to Kayseri, the airport for Cappadocia. That lets you start a trip in Cappadocia and finish in Istanbul without flying back and forth.

We found no SWISS non-stop flight to Istanbul for 2026, but SWISS does sell codeshare flights operated by SunExpress, for example Zurich–Izmir, which is handy for Ephesus. To Antalya, SunExpress, Edelweiss and Pegasus fly from Zurich. Schedules change with the season: check your connection directly with the airline and then send us the flight number.

If you land at Sabiha Gökçen, tell us when you book. The transfer from there to the Old City usually takes longer than from IST, and we start the first tour day later to match.

Can Swiss citizens enter Turkey with an ID card?

Yes, Swiss citizens may enter with their ID card. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs includes Switzerland on its list of countries whose citizens can enter Turkey with a national ID, and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) says the same on its Turkey page (published 1 February 2026). Tourists get visa-free stays of up to 90 days.

According to the same list, Turkey even accepts a Swiss passport that expired no more than five years ago. We still recommend a valid document: airlines check at check-in by their own rules, and you will need your ID again for domestic flights and hotels in Turkey. Children travel with their own ID card or passport.

If you travel on a different passport, for example as a dual citizen, check the rules on evisa.gov.tr. According to the EDA, the binding information comes from the Turkish mission in Switzerland.

Sample route: Istanbul and Cappadocia in 6 days

This is how the Premium Istanbul and Cappadocia package (from $1,800) can look for guests from Zurich or Geneva. The order depends on your flight times and the domestic flights.

The balloon flight starts at around five in the morning and costs extra, with us from $199 (about CHF 164) in a standard basket. It only takes off in calm wind, so we never put it on the last morning; otherwise there is no backup date.

For the flight home we plan an afternoon departure from Istanbul with three to four hours' buffer after landing from Cappadocia. If you stay a day longer, add one of our private Istanbul tours, such as the Asian side or the Princes' Islands.

Longer Turkey tours: Ephesus, Pamukkale and Antalya

With eight or ten days, a city break turns into a proper tour. The private 8-day Turkey tour (from $2,250) runs from Istanbul to Cappadocia, then to Ephesus and the travertine terraces of Pamukkale; all entrance tickets and domestic flights are included, while the balloon and the hammam are optional.

If you want to swim, take Istanbul and Antalya in 8 days (from $1,980) with the old town, the waterfalls and a boat trip. If you want antiquity without Cappadocia, choose Istanbul and Ephesus (from $1,880) with Kusadasi on the Aegean. The 10-day Grand Turkey tour (from $2,800) follows the same route as the 8-day one, with more time.

Not for everyone: the 8-day tour has two early domestic flights and long road days on the Aegean side. If you travel with small children or limited mobility, we stretch the programme. All the variants are on our multi-city Turkey tour packages page.

A guide in German, French or Italian

For guests from German-speaking Switzerland we assign a German-speaking guide, for the Romandie a French-speaking one, for Ticino an Italian-speaking one. None of them speaks Swiss German, but their standard German is very good. More on our page about a German-speaking guide in Istanbul.

For mixed groups we agree beforehand which language leads. On request two guides accompany the group, or we split it into two language groups for the Old City. Spanish, Russian, Arabic and other languages are possible too.

If you expect more from the hotel than a mid-range house offers, our luxury Istanbul and Cappadocia package has five-star hotels on the Bosphorus and cave hotels with terraces. Swiss guests used to a high standard at home often prefer it.

When to go: Swiss sports holidays, spring and autumn holidays 2027

The autumn holidays (Herbstferien) suit Turkey very well. In the city of Zurich they fall, under the city's rule, in calendar weeks 41 and 42, so from 11 to 22 October 2027; the city of Bern is off from 25 September to 17 October, and Basel-Stadt, according to the holiday calendar, from 2 to 16 October. Istanbul is mild then, and the sea at Antalya is still warm enough to swim.

The sports holidays (Sportferien; city of Zurich: 15 to 26 February 2027; Basel-Stadt: 6 to 20 February) bring cool, often wet weather to Istanbul, but emptier museums. Cappadocia may be under snow, and the balloons drift over white valleys when the wind allows. It is no rival to a ski week, but it works for a city break.

The spring holidays in the city of Zurich (26 April to 7 May 2027, including Ascension Day on 6 May) fall in the most pleasant season for Istanbul. In July and August the city is hot and crowded; then Antalya or the Aegean is the better choice. Every canton has its own dates, so check your holiday plan before you enquire.

Time difference, francs and costs on the ground

Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year and does not change its clocks. During Swiss summer time, Istanbul is one hour ahead, and in winter two hours. In 2027 summer time ends on 31 October, so during the autumn holidays the difference is still one hour.

Many exchange offices (döviz) also change Swiss francs, but euros are more common everywhere. Credit cards work in hotels, restaurants and most shops; for tips, ferries and small stalls you need some cash in lira.

In the Grand Bazaar, prices for lamps, carpets and jewellery are open to bargaining. Tell your guide beforehand if you do not want to visit any shops; the programme follows you, not the traders.

Why book with us instead of a catalogue tour?

Many catalogue tours from Switzerland are group trips with fixed departure dates and a full coach. With us you travel privately: only your family or your group, with your own vehicle and your own guide, on the dates you choose. We agree the schedule with you beforehand, not with a catalogue.

Our office is in Istanbul. If your flight from Geneva is delayed, our team sees it and sends the driver later; if the balloon flight is cancelled because of wind, we move it to the next morning when the programme allows. Single days can be added with our Istanbul tours.

Send us your travel dates, the number of travellers and your departure airport through the contact form, or message us on WhatsApp. We reply in German, French or English with a programme and the current price from our Turkey tour packages.

Frequently Asked Questions