There are 7 ways to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) by plane, bus, night train, train, rideshare, car, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Fly from Bucharest Otopeni
best- Fly from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane OTP - IST
3h 41m₺2,942–13,242Night train, Metro
cheapest- Take the nighttrain from Bucharest to Halkalinighttrain Bosphor Express
- Take the train from Halkali to Istanbul Airporttrain M11
9h 54m₺589–1,519Bus
- Take the bus from București, Autogara Militari to İstanbul Esenler bus stationbus N1998
12h 57m₺3,297–5,008Airport Transfer
- Take the rideshare from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST)609.9 km
8h 3mDrive 609.9 km
- Drive from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST)car 609.9 km
8h 3m₺5,761–8,321Bus, shuttle to Varna Airport, fly
- Take the bus from Bucharest Horoscop Hotel to Ruse Central Bus Stationbus
- Take a shuttle bus from Ruse to Varna Airport
- Fly from Varna Airport (VAR) to Istanbul Airport (IST)plane VAR - IST
8h 45m₺11,255–31,654Bus via Shumen
- Take the bus from Bucharest Horoscop Hotel to Shumenbus Pegasus 37 / ...
- Take the bus from Shumen to Instabulbus
16h 8m₺2,291–3,758
Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Istanbul Airport (IST) flights
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to night train and Metro which costs 550 ₺ - 1.600 ₺ and takes 9h 54m.
The fastest way to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to fly which takes 3h 41m and costs 2.900 ₺ - 14.000 ₺.
No, there is no direct bus from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST). However, there are services departing from București, Autogara Militari and arriving at Istanbul Airport Bus via Istanbul Otogari. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 12h 57m.
No, there is no direct train from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST). However, there are services departing from Bucharest and arriving at Istanbul Airport via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 54m.
The distance between Bucharest and Istanbul Airport (IST) is 447 km. The road distance is 609.9 km.
The best way to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) without a car is to bus which takes 12h 57m and costs 3.300 ₺ - 5.000 ₺.
It takes approximately 3h 41m to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST), including transfers.
Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) bus services, operated by FlixBus, depart from București, Autogara Militari station.
Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Bucharest station.
The best way to get from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) is to fly which takes 3h 41m and costs 2.900 ₺ - 14.000 ₺. Alternatively, you can bus, which costs 3.300 ₺ - 5.000 ₺ and takes 12h 57m.
What companies run services between Bucharest, Romania and Istanbul Airport (IST), Turkey?
Tarom, Anima Wings, and Turkish Airlines fly from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Istanbul Airport (IST) every 4 hours. Alternatively, FlixBus operates a bus from București, Autogara Militari to İstanbul Esenler bus station once daily. Tickets cost ₺3,100–4,700 and the journey takes 11h 10m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 39m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,800–12,000
Flights from Varna Airport to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺5,500–17,000
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,800–12,000
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Bucharest Otopeni to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- ₺4,700–8,500
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- [email protected]
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Night train from Bucharest to Halkali
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 8m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- ₺500–1,477
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- ₺500–750
- 1st Class
- ₺550–750
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- [email protected]
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Halkali to Istanbul Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 36 min
- Frequency
- Every 20 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- istairport.com
#/media/File:M5_K%C4%B1s%C4%B1kl%C4%B1_Metro_%C4%B0stasyonu.jpg "Uskudar-Cekmekoy Metro train")
- Phone
- +49 30 300 137 300
- [email protected]
- Website
- Flixbus
Bus from București, Autogara Militari to İstanbul Esenler bus station
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 10m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- ₺3,100–4,700
- Website
- Flixbus
- Phone
- +359 (0) 877 34 47 47
- [email protected]
- Website
- Pegasus
Bus from Bucharest Horoscop Hotel to Ruse Central Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 40m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- ₺350–700
- Website
- Pegasus
Bus from Bucharest Horoscop Hotel to Shumen
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺850–1,600
- Website
- Pegasus
- Phone
- +359 89 345 5533
- [email protected]
- Website
- Atlas Taxi
Shuttle from Ruse to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- ₺4,400–13,000
- Website
- Atlas Taxi
- Phone
- +359 82 82 81 51
- [email protected]
- Website
- avtogararuse.org
Bus from Shumen to Instabul
- Ave. Duration
- 10h 6m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- ₺1,300–1,800
- Schedules at
- avtogararuse.org
- Website
- https://www.mozio.com
Rideshare from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST)
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 3m
- Frequency
- On demand
Want to know more about travelling around Türkiye
Rome2Rio's Travel Guide series provide vital information for the global traveller. Filled with useful and timely travel information, the guides answer all the hard questions - such as 'How do I buy a ticket?', 'Should I book online before I travel? ', 'How much should I expect to pay?', 'Do the trains and buses have Wifi?' - to help you get the most out of your next trip.
Related travel guides
Want to know more about Flixbus?
Read the travel guide
Booking & Getting There
Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) bus services, operated by FlixBus, arrive at İstanbul Esenler bus station.
Istanbul Airport (IST) is 1h ahead of Bucharest. It is currently 8:34 AM in Bucharest and 9:34 AM in Istanbul Airport (IST).
Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Halkali station.
Yes, the driving distance between Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST) is 610 km. It takes approximately 8h 3m to drive from Bucharest to Istanbul Airport (IST).
There are 4200+ hotels available in Istanbul Airport (IST).
Check out Blablacar's carpooling service for rideshare options between Bucharest and Istanbul Airport (IST). A great option if you don't have a driver's licence or want to avoid public transport.