There are 7 ways to get from Istanbul to Central Athens by bus, plane, train, 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.
Bus to Istanbul, fly
best- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Athens International Airport (ATH)IST - ATH
5h 34m€52–183Bus, train
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki stationArda-Tur
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to AthensIc
15h 38m€40–80Drive 1,056.9 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Central Athens1,056.9 km
11h 38m€188–272Metro to Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, fly
- Take the train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Athens International Airport (ATH)SAW - ATH
5h 30mBus to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos, fly
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station
- Fly from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos (AXD) to Athens International Airport (ATH)AXD - ATH
8h 31m€98–189Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Athens
16h€80–120Bus via Komotini
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Komotini
- Take the bus from Komotini to Athens, Leoforou Kifisou - KTEL
18h 29m€90–106
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 €40 - €80 and takes 15h 38m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Central Athens is to bus and fly which takes 5h 34m and costs €50 - €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 Central Athens is 630 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 €40 - €80.
It takes approximately 5h 34m 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 38m to drive from Istanbul to Central Athens.
There are 12327+ 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
- €35–170
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 25m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
- Estimated price
- €35–170
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 7m
- 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
- €35–170
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport via Izmir
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 35m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €60–110
- Website
- ch.com
Flights from Istanbul to Athens International Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €55–160
- 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
- €27–170
- 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
- +90 850 252 88 00
- info@metro.istanbul
- Website
- metro.istanbul
Train from Ayrılık Çeşmesi to Sabiha Gokcen Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 50 min
- Frequency
- Every 10 minutes
- Schedules at
- metro.istanbul
- Phone
- 0850 888 33 34
- info@hava.ist
- Website
- hava.ist
Bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €2–5
- Website
- https://hava.ist/?lang=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
- €19–30
- 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
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
Getting around the Cyclades
Read the travel guide


























