There are 6 ways to get from Istanbul to Athens by train, plane, 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.
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 18mBus
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul to Athensbus
16h€80–120Bus, ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogar to Ayvalikbus
- Take the ferry from Port of Ayvalik to Mytileneferry
- Take the ferry from Mytilene to Port of Piraeusferry Hsw
23h 31m€83–133Drive 1,056.4 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Athenscar 1,056.4 km
11h 42m€191–275Metro 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 32mBus 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 33m€98–189
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 16h.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Athens is to bus and fly which takes 8h 33m and costs €95 - €190.
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 16h.
The distance between Istanbul and Athens is 628 km. The road distance is 1056.4 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Athens without a car is to bus which takes 16h and costs €80 - €120.
It takes approximately 5h 18m 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.
Athens is 1h behind Istanbul. It is currently 5:44 PM in Istanbul and 4:44 PM in Athens.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Athens is 1056 km. It takes approximately 11h 42m to drive from Istanbul to 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 16h.
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–170
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €35–170
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–140
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–170
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €65–110
- Website
- ch.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–170
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–150
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–90
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €28–180
- 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
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- +30 2310241545
- crazy.holidays.tours@gmail.com
- Website
- crazyholidays.gr
Bus from Istanbul to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- 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
- €13–19
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- €13–16
- Phone
- +90 2327121808
- cesme@turyol.com
- Website
- turyolonline.com
Ferry from Port of Ayvalik to Mytilene
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €30–40
- Website
- https://www.turyolonline.com/en
Ferry from Mytilene to Port of Piraeus
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- 6 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
- 15h 40m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- €40–55
- Website
- https://www.bluestarferries.com/en-gb/
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