There are 5 ways to get from Athens to Istanbul by plane, train, bus, ferry, car ferry or car
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Recommended option
Fly to Istanbul • 4h 41m
Cheapest option
Bus • 15h
3 alternative options
Fly to Sabiha Gokcen, train • 5h 25m
Ferry, car ferry, bus • 23h 40m
Drive • 11h 35m
Athens to Istanbul by bus
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Athens to Istanbul is to bus which costs €80 - €110 and takes 15h.
The fastest way to get from Athens to Istanbul is to fly which takes 4h 41m and costs €120 - €360.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Athens and arriving at Istanbul. Services depart once a week, and operate Friday. The journey takes approximately 15h.
The distance between Athens and Istanbul is 626 km. The road distance is 1086.1 km.
The best way to get from Athens to Istanbul without a car is to bus which takes 15h and costs €80 - €110.
It takes approximately 4h 41m to get from Athens to Istanbul, including transfers.
Athens to Istanbul bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, depart from Athens station.
The best way to get from Athens to Istanbul is to fly which takes 4h 41m and costs €120 - €360. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs €80 - €110 and takes 15h.
Athens to Istanbul bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, arrive at Istanbul station.
Yes, the driving distance between Athens to Istanbul is 1086 km. It takes approximately 11h 35m to drive from Athens to Istanbul.
- Distance: 625.9 km
- Duration: 4h 41m
What companies run services between Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Turkey?
Aegean Airlines and Turkish Airlines fly from Athens to Istanbul Esenler Otogar every 4 hours. Alternatively, Crazy Holidays operates a bus from Athens to Istanbul once a week. Tickets cost 2.800 ₺ - 3.800 ₺ and the journey takes 15h.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Athens to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- 3.900 ₺ - 15.000 ₺
Flights from Athens to Istanbul via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- When
- Monday to Saturday
- Estimated price
- 4.600 ₺ - 17.000 ₺
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Athens to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 35m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- 3.900 ₺ - 15.000 ₺
Flights from Athens to Istanbul via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 55m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday
- Estimated price
- 4.600 ₺ - 17.000 ₺
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Athens to Sabiha Gokcen
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- 3.400 ₺ - 15.000 ₺
- Phone
- +90 444 8 233
- Website
- tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
Train from Ayrilikcesme to Yenikapi
- Ave. Duration
- 14 min
- Frequency
- Every 15 minutes
- Estimated price
- 55 ₺ - 80 ₺
- Schedules at
- tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Book at
- tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr
- Phone
- +30 2310241545
- crazy.holidays.tours@gmail.com
- Website
- crazyholidays.gr
Bus from Athens to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 15h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- 2.800 ₺ - 3.800 ₺
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- iletisim@metroturizm.com.tr
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Ayvalik to Istanbul Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 50m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- 460 ₺ - 650 ₺
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Phone
- +30 210 89 19 800
- hellenicseaways@hellenicseaways.gr
- Website
- hellenicseaways.gr
Ferry from Piraeus to Mytilene
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 15m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- 1.500 ₺ - 4.200 ₺
- Website
- https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb
- Business
- 2.100 ₺ - 3.000 ₺
- 4 Bed Inside Cabin
- 1.900 ₺ - 2.700 ₺
- Economy
- 1.500 ₺ - 2.200 ₺
- 2 Bed Lux Cabin
- 3.000 ₺ - 4.200 ₺
- Phone
- +302108919800
- bluestarferries@bluestarferries.com
- Website
- bluestarferries.com
Ferry from Piraeus to Mytilene
- Ave. Duration
- 16h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- 1.500 ₺ - 3.700 ₺
- Website
- https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/
- Business
- 2.700 ₺ - 3.000 ₺
- 2 Bed Inside Cabin
- 2.500 ₺ - 3.000 ₺
- Economy
- 1.500 ₺ - 2.200 ₺
- 4 Bed Outside Cabin
- 2.300 ₺ - 2.800 ₺
- 2 Bed Lux Cabin
- 3.000 ₺ - 3.700 ₺
- Phone
- 0545 783 50 61
- info@jalemtur.com
- Website
- jalemtur.com
Car ferry from Mytilene to Ayvalık
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- 869 ₺
- Schedules at
- jalemtur.com
Want to know more about travelling around Turkey
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