There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul to Athens by train, plane, bus, car ferry, 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.
Metro to Istanbul, fly
best- Take the train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepetrain
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane IST - ATH
5h 27m€61–171Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Athensbus
15h€80–120Bus, car ferry, ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogar to Ayvalikbus
- Take the car ferry from Port of Ayvalik to Mytilenecarferry
- Take the ferry from Mytilene to Port of Piraeusferry Hsw
23h 36m€102–211Drive 1,056.3 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Athenscar 1,056.3 km
11h 41m€191–276Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airporttrain
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane SAW - ATH
5h 47m€151–661Bus to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos, fly
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Stationbus
- Fly from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos (AXD) to Athens International Airport (ATH)plane AXD - ATH
8h 42m€91–229Bus, train
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki stationbus Arda-Tur
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
15h 39m€88–139
Istanbul (IST) to Athens International Airport (ATH) flights
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Athens is to bus which costs €80 - €120 and takes 15h.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Athens is to Metro and fly which takes 5h 27m and costs €60 - €180.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Istanbul and arriving at Athens. Services depart once a week, and operate Thursday. The journey takes approximately 15h.
The distance between Istanbul and Athens is 628 km. The road distance is 1056.3 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Athens without a car is to bus which takes 15h and costs €80 - €120.
It takes approximately 5h 27m to get from Istanbul to Athens, including transfers.
Istanbul to Athens bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Athens bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, arrive at Athens station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Athens is 1056 km. It takes approximately 11h 41m to drive from Istanbul to Athens.
There are 13076+ hotels available in Athens.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Athens, Greece?
Crazy Holidays operates a bus from Istanbul to Athens once a week. Tickets cost €80–120 and the journey takes 15h.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–380
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €55–160
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Santorini
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Thursday and Saturday
- Estimated price
- €55–160
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 45m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €100–400
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 5m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–210
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–380
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 15m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €100–380
- Website
- ch.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–380
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–150
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 10m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €45–120
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 30m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €27–180
- Phone
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Vezneciler to Gayrettepe
- Ave. Duration
- 16 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- €1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Estimated price
- €1
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 9m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €30–50
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +30 2310241545
- crazy.holidays.tours@gmail.com
- Website
- crazyholidays.gr
Bus from Istanbul to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 15h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €80–120
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €45–60
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul Otogar to Ayvalik
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 16m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- €22–35
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €27–45
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €55–90
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +90 266 331 49 49
- info@ugurjale.com
- Website
- ugurjalelines.com
Car ferry from Port of Ayvalik to Mytilene
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €29–30
- Schedules at
- ugurjalelines.com
Ferry from Mytilene to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- 5 times a week
- Estimated price
- €50–75
- Website
- https://www.hellenicseaways.gr/en-gb
- Airplane Type Seats
- €50–75
Ferry from Mytilene to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 30m
- Frequency
- 3 times a week
- Estimated price
- €65–150
- Website
- https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/
Want to know more about travelling around Greece
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.
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