There are 7 ways to get from Athens to Istanbul by plane, train, bus, 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.
Fly to Istanbul, Metro
best- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Istanbul (IST)plane ATH - IST
- Take the train from Gayrettepe to Veznecilertrain
5h 11m₺3,891–10,591Train, bus
- Take the train from Athens to Thessalonikitrain Ic
- Take the bus from Thessaloniki Monastiriou Bus Stop to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus Arda-Tur
14h 38m₺6,843–7,633Ferry, bus
- Take the ferry from Port of Piraeus to Mytileneferry Hsw
- Take the ferry from Mytilene to Port of Ayvalikferry
- Take the bus from Ayvalik to Istanbul Otogarbus
23h 47m₺5,753–13,457Drive 1,056.3 km
- Drive from Athens to Istanbulcar 1,056.3 km
11h 51m₺10,767–15,552Fly to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, Metro
- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW)plane ATH - SAW
- Take the train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesitrain
5h 23m₺7,594–16,614Fly to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos, bus
- Fly from Athens International Airport (ATH) to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos (AXD)plane ATH - AXD
- Take the bus from Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogaribus
7h 2m₺6,007–12,057Bus
- Take the bus from Athens to Istanbulbus
15h₺4,500–6,500
Athens International Airport (ATH) to Istanbul (IST) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Athens to Istanbul is to bus which costs 4.500 ₺ - 6.500 ₺ and takes 15h.
The fastest way to get from Athens to Istanbul is to fly and Metro which takes 5h 11m and costs 3.800 ₺ - 11.000 ₺.
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 627 km. The road distance is 1056.3 km.
The best way to get from Athens to Istanbul without a car is to train and bus which takes 14h 38m and costs 6.500 ₺ - 8.000 ₺.
It takes approximately 5h 11m to get from Athens to Istanbul, including transfers.
Athens to Istanbul bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, depart from Athens station.
Athens to Istanbul bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, arrive at Istanbul station.
Yes, the driving distance between Athens to Istanbul is 1056 km. It takes approximately 11h 51m to drive from Athens to Istanbul.
There are 4435+ hotels available in Istanbul.
What companies run services between Athens, Greece and Istanbul, Turkey?
Crazy Holidays operates a bus from Athens to Istanbul once a week. Tickets cost ₺4,500–6,500 and the journey takes 15h.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Athens International Airport to Istanbul
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 34m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺3,300–16,000
Flights from Athens International Airport to Istanbul via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- ₺3,300–10,000
Flights from Athens International Airport to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- ₺2,200–8,500
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Gayrettepe to Vezneciler
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Ayrılık Çeşmesi
- Ave. Duration
- 49 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- ₺42
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Thessaloniki Monastiriou Bus Stop to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 20m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺4,979
- Website
- Arda Tur
Bus from Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station to Istanbul Esenler Otogari
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,710
- Website
- Arda Tur
- Phone
- +30 210 89 19 800
- hellenicseaways@hellenicseaways.gr
- Website
- Hellenic Seaways
Ferry from Port of Piraeus to Mytilene
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- ₺2,900–4,000
- Website
- Hellenic Seaways
- Airplane Type Seats
- ₺2,900–4,000
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