There are 8 ways to get from Istanbul to Rethymno by bus, plane, shuttle, car ferry, train, or busferry
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 to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”, Private transfer
best- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER)IST - HER
- Take a shuttle bus from Heraklion Airport to Aquila Porto Rethymno, Rethymno Town
6h 10m€148–384Bus, bus and ferry #2
cheapest- Take the bus from Istanbul to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
- Take the busferry from Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station to Chania
- Take the bus from Chania to Rethymno
29h 55m€71–111Bus, car ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki station
- Take the bus from Thessaloniki Monastiriou to Pireaus
- Take the car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Thira Santorini Port
- Take the car ferry from Thira Santorini Port to Rethymno
26h 27m€200–350Bus to Istanbul, fly to Chania International Airport, Private transfer
- Take the bus from Istanbul Otogari to Istanbul Airport Bus
- Fly from Istanbul (IST) to Chania International Airport (CHQ)IST - CHQ
- Take a shuttle bus from Chania Airport to Rethymno
7h 40m€158–354Bus to Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos, fly to Chania International Airport, Private transfer
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Alexandroupoli Evros Bus Station
- Fly from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos (AXD) to Chania International Airport (CHQ)AXD - CHQ
- Take a shuttle bus from Chania Airport to Rethymno
11h 17m€144–420Bus, train, bus and ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki station
- Take the train from Thessaloniki to LianokladiIc
- Take the busferry from Lamía to Chania
- Take the bus from Chania to Rethymno
27h 44m€94–131Bus, bus and ferry via Lamía
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Lamia
- Take the busferry from Lamía to Chania
- Take the bus from Chania to Rethymno
27h 46m€113–154Bus, bus and ferry
- Take the bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Thessaloniki station
- Take the busferry from Thessaloniki to Heraklion
- Take the bus from Heraklion Central Station to Rethymno
28h 34m€110–154
Istanbul to Rethymno by bus, foot, and car ferry
Questions & Answers
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Rethymno is to bus and bus and ferry which costs €70 - €120 and takes 29h 55m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Rethymno is to bus and fly and Private transfer which takes 6h 10m and costs €140 - €390.
No, there is no direct bus from Istanbul to Rethymno. However, there are services departing from Istanbul Esenler Otogari and arriving at Rethymno via Thessaloniki and Heraklion Central Station. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 28h 34m.
The distance between Istanbul and Rethymno is 853 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Rethymno without a car is to bus and car ferry which takes 26h 27m and costs €200 - €350.
It takes approximately 6h 10m to get from Istanbul to Rethymno, including transfers.
Istanbul to Rethymno bus services, operated by Arda Tur, depart from Istanbul Esenler Otogari station.
Istanbul to Rethymno bus services, operated by Arda Tur, arrive at Thessaloniki station.
Rethymno is 1h behind Istanbul. It is currently 3:16 AM in Istanbul and 2:16 AM in Rethymno.
There are 2564+ hotels available in Rethymno.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Rethymno, Greece?
There is no direct connection from Istanbul to Rethymno. However, you can take the bus to Istanbul Airport Bus, walk to Istanbul (IST) airport, fly to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” (HER), walk to Heraklion Airport, then take the shuttle to Aquila Porto Rethymno, Rethymno Town. Alternatively, you can take a bus from Istanbul Esenler Otogari to Rethymno via Thessaloniki station, Thessaloniki Monastiriou, Pireaus, Port of Piraeus, and Thira Santorini Port in around 26h 27m.
Transport is disrupted due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Read more
- Website
- en.aegeanair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 25m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €70–190
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 31m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–340
Flights from Istanbul to Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis” via Thessaloniki
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €70–190
Flights from Istanbul to Chania International Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 20m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €70–290
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Chania International Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 18m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- €60–220
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Chania International Airport via Heraklion International Airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”, Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday
- Estimated price
- €70–250
- Website
- skyexpress.gr
Flights from Alexandroupoli Airport Dimokritos to Chania International Airport via Athens
- Ave. Duration
- 4h 35m
- When
- Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- €55–210
- Website
- airserbia.com
Flights from Istanbul to Chania International Airport via Belgrade
- Ave. Duration
- 5h 5m
- When
- Monday and Thursday
- Estimated price
- €100–300
- Website
- ryanair.com
Flights from Istanbul to Chania International Airport via Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 25m
- When
- Saturday
- Estimated price
- €140–210
- Phone
- 14511
- Website
- hellenictrain.gr
Train from Thessaloniki to Lianokladi
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 56m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- €12–18
- Website
- https://www.hellenictrain.gr/en
- 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
- +30 693-724-9486
- info@cretetaxitransfers.gr
- Website
- cretetaxitransfers.gr
Shuttle from Heraklion Airport to Aquila Porto Rethymno, Rethymno Town
- Ave. Duration
- 1h
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- €70–165
- Book at
- Crete Taxi Transfers
- Car (4 passengers)
- €70–110
- Mini Van (8 passengers)
- €130–150
- Mini Bus (10 passengers)
- €150–165
Shuttle from Chania Airport to Rethymno
- Ave. Duration
- 45 min
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- €55–140
- Book at
- Crete Taxi Transfers
- Car (4 passengers)
- €55–85
- Mini Van (8 passengers)
- €115–130
- Mini Bus (10 passengers)
- €130–140
- 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 40m
- Frequency
- 4 times a day
- Estimated price
- €25
- Website
- https://ardatur.bg/en/
- Phone
- +30 2310 500111
- ktel2310@gmail.com
- Website
- ktelthes.gr
Bus from Thessaloniki Monastiriou to Pireaus
- Ave. Duration
- 6h 30m
- Frequency
- 5 times a day
- Estimated price
- €42
- Schedules at
- ktelthes.gr
- Book at
- ktelthes.e-ticketing.gr
- 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 Lamia
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 30m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €75–110
- Website
- https://www.crazyholidays.gr/root.en.aspx
- Phone
- +302821093306
- info@e-ktel.gr
- Website
- e-ktel.com
Busferry from Lamía to Chania
- Ave. Duration
- 11h 16m
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €28–40
- Website
- https://www.e-ktel.com/en/
Bus from Chania to Rethymno
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 13m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €5–7
- Website
- https://www.e-ktel.com/en/
Busferry from Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station to Chania
- Ave. Duration
- 17h
- Frequency
- 4 times a week
- Estimated price
- €40–60
- Website
- https://www.e-ktel.com/en/
- Phone
- +30 2810 24 50 20
- info@ktelherlas.gr
- Website
- ktelherlas.gr
Busferry from Thessaloniki to Heraklion
- Ave. Duration
- 16h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €60–85
- Schedules at
- ktelherlas.gr
Bus from Heraklion Central Station to Rethymno
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 15m
- Frequency
- Hourly
- Estimated price
- €7–11
- Schedules at
- ktelherlas.gr
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- alparturizm.com.tr
Bus from Istanbul to Thessaloniki Macedonia KTEL Bus Station
- Ave. Duration
- 10h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- €26–45
- Website
- https://www.alparturizm.com.tr/en/
- Phone
- +30 210 4121001
- info@seajets.gr
- Website
- seajets.com
Car ferry from Port of Piraeus to Thira Santorini Port
- Ave. Duration
- 5h
- Frequency
- 3 times a day
- Estimated price
- €55–90
- Website
- https://www.seajets.com/
Car ferry from Thira Santorini Port to Rethymno
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 20m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- €60–160
- Website
- https://www.seajets.com/
- Deck Fare Economy
- €60–90
- Deck Fare Economy & Car less than 4.25m
- €110–160
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