There are 8 ways to get from Istanbul to Ruse by bus, night train, car, plane, train, or shuttle
Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2Rio's travel planner.
Bus, night train
best- Take the bus from Istanbul to Haskovobus
- Take the nighttrain from Dimitrovgrad to Rusenighttrain Bosphor Express
8h 19m$21–32Night train
cheapest- Take the nighttrain from Halkali to Rusenighttrain Bosphor Express
9h 25m$10–32Drive 558.5 km
- Drive from Istanbul to Rusecar 558.5 km
6h 55m$90–130Fly Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni, train
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane IST - OTP
- Take the train from Bucuresti Nord to Rusetrain
8h 35m$71–272Bus via Dunav most
- Take the bus from Istanbul to Vama Rusebus
10h 3m$30–72Bus
- Take the bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Ruse Tsar Osvoboditelbus Citylines 56 / ...
13h 45m$30–45Fly Istanbul Airport to Varna Airport, shuttle
- Fly from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Varna Airport (VAR)plane IST - VAR
- Take a shuttle bus from Varna Airport to Ruse
8h 2m$217–602Fly Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Bucharest Otopeni, train
- Fly from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) to Bucharest Otopeni (OTP)plane SAW - OTP
- Take the train from Bucuresti Nord to Rusetrain
8h 50m$111–282
Istanbul to Ruse by bus
Comparing Your Travel Options
The cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Ruse is to night train which costs $10 - $35 and takes 9h 25m.
The fastest way to get from Istanbul to Ruse is to drive which takes 6h 55m and costs $90 - $130.
Yes, there is a direct bus departing from Istanbul Büyük Otogari and arriving at Ruse Tsar Osvoboditel. Services depart three times a day, and operate every day. The journey takes approximately 13h 45m.
No, there is no direct train from Istanbul to Ruse. However, there are services departing from Yenikapi and arriving at Ruse via Halkali. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 9h 25m.
The distance between Istanbul and Ruse is 625 km. The road distance is 558.5 km.
The best way to get from Istanbul to Ruse without a car is to bus and night train which takes 8h 19m and costs $20 - $35.
It takes approximately 8h 19m to get from Istanbul to Ruse, including transfers.
Istanbul to Ruse bus services, operated by Chisinau Bus Station, depart from Istanbul station.
Istanbul to Ruse train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), depart from Halkali station.
Istanbul to Ruse bus services, operated by Chisinau Bus Station, arrive at Vama Ruse station.
What companies run services between Istanbul, Turkey and Ruse, Bulgaria?
Bulgarian Railways (BDZh) operates a vehicle from Halkali to Ruse twice a week. Tickets cost $9–30 and the journey takes 7h 53m. Alternatively, Chisinau Bus Station operates a bus from Istanbul to Vama Ruse once a week. Tickets cost $28–75 and the journey takes 8h 52m.
- Website
- turkishairlines.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 26m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Varna Airport
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 2m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $110–330
- Website
- tarom.ro
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 27m
- When
- Every day
- Estimated price
- $55–240
- Website
- animawings.com
Flights from Istanbul Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday and Friday
- Estimated price
- $95–170
- Website
- flypgs.com
Flights from Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport to Bucharest Otopeni
- Ave. Duration
- 1h 20m
- When
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday
- Estimated price
- $35–240
- Phone
- +359 2 931 11 11
- bdz_passengers@bdz.bg
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
Night train from Dimitrovgrad to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 25m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $4–7
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- $4–6
- 1st Class
- $5–7
Night train from Halkali to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 7h 53m
- Frequency
- Twice a week
- Estimated price
- $9–30
- Website
- Bulgarian Railways (BDZh)
- 2nd Class
- $9–13
- 1st Class
- $9–13
- Phone
- 0219521
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
Train from Bucuresti Nord to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
Train from Bucuresti Nord to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 2h 33m
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $13–15
- Website
- Romanian Railways (CFR)
- Phone
- +90 212 658 18 51
- info@alparturizm.com.tr
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
Bus from Istanbul to Haskovo
- Ave. Duration
- 4h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $15–22
- Website
- Alpar Turizm
- Phone
- +373 22 542-185
- autogara@mtc.md
- Website
- autogara.md
Bus from Istanbul to Vama Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 8h 52m
- Frequency
- Once a week
- Estimated price
- $28–75
- Schedules at
- autogara.md
- Phone
- +359 0885700870
- support@citylines.eu
- Website
- Citylines
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Ruse Tsar Osvoboditel
- Ave. Duration
- 13h 45m
- Frequency
- Twice daily
- Estimated price
- $35–55
- Website
- Citylines
- Phone
- 0850 222 34 55
- Website
- MetroTurizm
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Ruse Tsar Osvoboditel
- Ave. Duration
- 12h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $29–46
- Website
- MetroTurizm
- Standard
- $29–45
- Phone
- +90 212 658 00 61
- info@huntur.com.tr
- Website
- Huntur
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Ruse Tsar Osvoboditel
- Ave. Duration
- 12h 50m
- Frequency
- 6 times a week
- Estimated price
- $25–45
- Website
- Huntur
- Phone
- +359 82 82 81 51
- info@avtogararuse.org
- Website
- avtogararuse.org
Bus from Istanbul Büyük Otogari to Ruse Tsar Osvoboditel
- Ave. Duration
- 15h
- Frequency
- Once daily
- Estimated price
- $30–45
- Schedules at
- avtogararuse.org
- Phone
- +359 89 345 5533
- info@atlastaxi.eu
- Website
- Atlas Taxi
Shuttle from Varna Airport to Ruse
- Ave. Duration
- 3h 30m
- Frequency
- On demand
- Estimated price
- $85–250
- Website
- Atlas Taxi
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Booking & Getting There
Ruse is 1h behind Istanbul. It is currently 3:38 PM in Istanbul and 2:38 PM in Ruse.
Istanbul to Ruse train services, operated by Bulgarian Railways (BDZh), arrive at Ruse station.
Yes, the driving distance between Istanbul to Ruse is 558 km. It takes approximately 6h 55m to drive from Istanbul to Ruse.
Book your Istanbul to Ruse bus tickets online with Omio.
There are 237+ hotels available in Ruse.

































