There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul to Central Athens by train, plane, bus, 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 16mBus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki stationbus Arda-Tur
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to Athenstrain Ic
15h 38m€65–93Drive 1,056.9 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Central Athenscar 1,056.9 km
11h 42m€188–271Metro 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 31mBus 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 31m€98–199Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Athensbus
16h€80–120Bus via Komotini
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Komotinibus
- Take the bus from Komotini to Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTELbus
18h 29m€89–105
Istanbul to Central Athens by bus and train
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Central Athens is to bus and train which costs €60 - €95 and takes 15h 38m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Central Athens is to bus and fly which takes 8h 31m and costs €95 - €200.
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 Central Athens is 627 km. The road distance is 1056.9 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Central Athens without a car is to bus and train which takes 15h 38m and costs €60 - €95.
It takes approximately 5h 16m to get from Istanbul to Central Athens, including transfers.
Istanbul to Central Athens bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Central Athens bus services, operated by Crazy Holidays, arrive at Athens station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Central Athens is 1057 km. It takes approximately 11h 42m to drive from Istanbul to Central Athens.
There are 12346+ hotels available in Central Athens.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Central 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
- €40–140
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- €40–140
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 11m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–140
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport via Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 3h
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- €35–140
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 28m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–140
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €60–120
- Website
- ch.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 32m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–130
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €40–110
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €35–110
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €26–180
- 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
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 8m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–35
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- Phone
- +359 700 20 544
- Website
- ardatur.bg
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki station
- Ave. Duration
- 9h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €40–60
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
Bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 30m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €22–30
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +30 2310241545
- crazy.holidays.tours@gmail.com
- Website
- crazyholidays.gr
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
Bus from Istanbul to Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €80–120
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Komotini
- Ave. Duration
- 7h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €18–29
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- metroturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Komotini
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 30m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €12–15
- Website
- https://www.metroturizm.com.tr/en
- Standard
- €12–15
- Phone
- +30 25310 22912
- info@ktelrodopis.gr
- Website
- ktelrodopis.gr
Bus from Komotini to Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €75
- Schedules at
- ktelrodopis.gr
- Book at
- ktelrodopis.e-ticketing.gr
Want to know more about travelling around Greece
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