Turkey Itinerary from Sweden: 7 and 10-Day Plans, Flights and Entry

From Sweden, a Turkey itinerary of 7 days covers Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus, and 10 days lets you add a slower pace or the Antalya coast. Swedish passport holders need no visa for stays of up to 90 days in 180, and a non-stop flight from Stockholm Arlanda to Istanbul takes about 3 hours 40 minutes. Our 7-day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus tour starts from $1,286 per person with the domestic flights, and our 10-day version starts from $1,410 per person.

If you know Turkey from a beach week on the Riviera, this is a different trip: a round of the country's cities, valleys and ancient sites, with a licensed guide, hotels and the flights between regions arranged. Below are the entry rules and the Swedish government's travel advice, the flight options from Arlanda, two day-by-day plans, what the trip costs and which months suit a Swedish holiday calendar.

Entry rules for Swedish passports

The Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists Swedish ordinary and official passport holders as exempt from visa "for their travels up to 90 days within 180 days starting from the first entry date". You do not need an e-Visa, and any website selling one for a Swedish passport is not an official service.

• Bring your passport, not only your ID card. Turkey accepts national ID cards from a short list of European countries, and the ministry's entry for Sweden refers to passport holders. Travel on your passport.
• Validity. Turkish law requires your passport to be valid for at least 60 days beyond the end of your stay. The ministry also advises six months' validity on arrival, which is the simplest rule to follow.
• Other nationalities. If anyone in your group travels on a non-Swedish passport, check that passport's own entry on the ministry's list.

What UD says about Turkey

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (UD) does not advise against travel to Turkey as a whole. Its advice, decided on 28 March 2022 and valid until further notice, is against all travel within 10 km of the Syrian and Iraqi borders, and against non-essential travel to the border provinces of Hatay, Kilis, Şırnak and Hakkari. None of the routes on this page go near those areas. Check UD's page before you leave, and check your travel insurance terms too, because cover can depend on that advice.

Flights from Sweden and the time difference

Turkish Airlines flies non-stop from Stockholm Arlanda to Istanbul Airport on the European side. Pegasus and AJet fly non-stop from Arlanda to Sabiha Gökçen on the Asian side. Scheduled flight times are around 3 hours 35 to 50 minutes. From other Swedish airports, check current schedules; routes and seasonal flights change from year to year.

Which Istanbul airport you land at matters for the first evening. Istanbul Airport is on the European side, like the old city and most hotels; Sabiha Gökçen means crossing the Bosphorus to reach the old city. A private Istanbul airport transfer is the easiest way in with luggage.

Time difference. Turkey stays on UTC+3 all year. Istanbul is two hours ahead of Sweden in Swedish winter time and one hour ahead in summer time. Early flights home feel earlier than they look, so check the time on your boarding pass, not your phone's home clock.

The 7-day plan: four regions in one week

A week is enough for the four classic regions if you fly between them. It is a full schedule.

1. Day 1: Istanbul. Arrive from Arlanda, transfer to the hotel, evening walk in Sultanahmet.
2. Day 2: Istanbul. The old city with a licensed guide: Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, the Hippodrome, the Basilica Cistern and the Grand Bazaar.
3. Day 3: Cappadocia. Morning flight to Kayseri or Nevşehir, afternoon at the Göreme Open-Air Museum and a valley walk.
4. Day 4: Cappadocia. Optional sunrise balloon flight, then the valleys, an underground city and the pottery town of Avanos.
5. Day 5: Pamukkale. Travel west to the travertine terraces and the ruins of Hierapolis.
6. Day 6: Ephesus. The ancient city and the Terrace Houses, then the House of the Virgin Mary or the village of Şirince.
7. Day 7: Home. Flight from Izmir to Istanbul and connection to Stockholm.

The trade-off is Istanbul: one full day is not much. If you can, add a night at the start or the end. Our 7-day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus tour from $1,286 per person follows this pattern with domestic flights, and our 7-day Turkey tour package from $1,510 per person is another version. Our page comparing 7-day Turkey tour packages goes through the options in detail.

The 10-day plan: the same country, room to breathe

Ten days is the length we recommend from Sweden. The flight is short enough that you lose little time at either end, and the three extra days go where they matter most.

1. Days 1-3: Istanbul. Arrival, then one day in the old city and one on the Bosphorus and the Asian side: a cruise, the Spice Bazaar, Kadıköy market and the Moda seafront.
2. Day 4: Cappadocia. Fly to Kayseri or Nevşehir, afternoon at Göreme.
3. Days 5-6: Cappadocia. Two full days, which means two chances at a balloon morning. One day on the northern valleys, one on the southern side with Derinkuyu underground city and the Ihlara Valley.
4. Day 7: Pamukkale. Travertines and Hierapolis.
5. Days 8-9: Ephesus and the Aegean. Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, Şirince, and a free afternoon by the sea near Kuşadası.
6. Day 10: Home. Fly from Izmir to Istanbul and on to Stockholm.

Our 10-day Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale and Ephesus tour starts from $1,410 per person with the domestic flights. If you would rather finish on the Mediterranean, our 10-day tour with Antalya starts from $1,402 per person. For a private version with your own guide and vehicle every day, our private 10-day Best of Turkey tour starts from $3,865 per person. For more ideas on the same length, see our 10-day Turkey itinerary and the Turkey 9 nights 10 days package comparison.

What the trip costs

Our package prices are in US dollars and are per person. The international flight from Sweden is not included, and fares depend heavily on the season and how early you book.

Check what each package includes before comparing prices: domestic flights, entrance fees and meals differ between group, budget and private tours. The balloon is always separate because it depends on the weather. A private airport transfer and a day with a private Istanbul guide are two useful add-ons, especially on a 7-day plan. Our Turkey trip cost guide covers daily spending on food, tips and transport.

When to go from Sweden

The best months for a touring trip are April to early June and September to October, when the interior is mild and the coast is warm. The table uses long-term averages from the Turkish State Meteorological Service.

How this fits the Swedish calendar:

• Påsk. Easter 2027 is early, on 28 March, so the påsklov trip falls in a cool, sometimes wet Istanbul and cold Cappadocia nights. Our Easter 2027 in Turkey page covers that week.
• Summer. July and August are hot inland and on the Aegean. A touring trip works, but start sightseeing early and keep afternoons free.
• Höstlov. Late October and early November is a good touring week: Istanbul and Cappadocia are cool and clear, the Aegean is still pleasant, and the summer crowds are gone.
• Winter. Cappadocia is cold, with average lows below freezing from December to February, and balloon cancellations are more frequent. See our guide to Turkey in winter.

Practical points for Swedish travellers

• Money. Turkey uses the Turkish lira. Cards are widely accepted in hotels, restaurants and shops in the places on these routes, but carry some cash for small purchases, tips and village stalls.
• Mobile phones. Turkey is not in the EU, so EU roaming rules do not apply. Check your Swedish operator's rates for Turkey before you leave, or buy a travel eSIM or a Turkish SIM card on arrival.
• Language. Most Swedish travellers tour comfortably with an English-speaking guide. A Swedish-speaking guide can be arranged on request, subject to availability.
• Mosque visits. Women need a headscarf and everyone should cover shoulders and knees. Bring a light scarf in your day bag.
• Pace. The 7-day plan has several early starts. If anyone in your group dislikes early mornings, choose the 10-day version or a two-region trip.

For more country-wide planning, see our Turkey destination guide and our overview of Turkey safety.

Tours that cover this

• Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour: 7 Days — from $1,286 per person.
• Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale & Ephesus Tour: 10 Days — from $1,410 per person.
• Istanbul, Cappadocia, Ephesus & Antalya Tour: 10 Days — from $1,402 per person.
• Private Best of Turkey Tour: 10 Days — from $3,865 per person.

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