How to get from Budapest to Istanbul
- 1062 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 2h 15m
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
22h 31m
1 transfer
Bus
€120
Cheapest
28h 50m
2 transfers
Bus
€79
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 3 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Budapest to Istanbul. The most useful door-to-door route takes 28h 50m by bus, 2 transfers. The two cities are about 1062 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on October 2, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
1062 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €39Checked Oct 1 | 2h 15mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Bus | €70Omio catalogue, Oct 3 | 28h 50m2 transfers | See Bus details |
- Flight€39Checked Oct 12h 15m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Bus€70Omio catalogue, Oct 328h 50m · 2 transfersSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Budapest to Istanbul: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Budapest → Bucharest Airport Henri Coandabus
FlixBus·14h 40m - 2Bucharest Airport Henri Coanda → BucharestbusCity transit·10m
- 3Bucharest → Istanbulbus12Go·13h
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
The observed fares belong to earlier dates.
Search my dateWhich date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
All transport observations
Flight calendar
Flight prices by day, Budapest to Istanbul
The lowest fare we saw for each day over the next three months. Tap a day to search it live.
October 2026
€40November 2026
€39Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
- Bus· 25h 55m€70Book
Omio last refreshed these on Sat, Oct 3
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusBudapest-Bucharest Airport Henri CoandaBook →City transitBucharest Airport Henri Coanda-BucharestBook →12GoBucharest-IstanbulBook →
ArdaTurBudapest-Sofia, Sofia-IstanbulBook →
Wizz AirBudapest Ferenc Liszt-Istanbul AirportSee live options and dates →On this route you travel with FlixBus, City transit, 12Go, ArdaTur, Wizz Air; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Budapest to Istanbul works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Budapest to Bucharest Airport Henri Coanda, about 14h 40m. Transfer in Bucharest Airport Henri Coanda and continue by City transit bus on to Bucharest (10 min). Transfer in Bucharest and continue by 12Go bus on to Istanbul (13h). In total it's roughly €79 over 28h 50m, 2 transfers.
Budapest to Istanbul: common questions
How long does it take to get from Budapest to Istanbul?
The most useful route takes about 28h 50m by bus, 2 transfers.
Is there a bus from Budapest to Istanbul?
Our route search found a bus option, but we hold no verified timetable for this route yet. Check the operator's own timetable for departure times.
How far is Istanbul from Budapest?
About 1062 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Budapest to Istanbul cost?
On the upcoming dates we checked, the cheapest fare ranged from €50 to €120. Run a live search for your own date to see today's price.
Which operators run Budapest to Istanbul?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, City transit, 12Go, ArdaTur, Wizz Air.
Can you get from Budapest to Istanbul without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 25h 55m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Budapest to Istanbul?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Other ways people search Budapest to Istanbul
- how to get from Budapest to Istanbul
- Budapest to Istanbul travel time
- Budapest to Istanbul distance
- cheapest way from Budapest to Istanbul
- Budapest to Istanbul by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus, City transit, 12Go
Route calculated: 3 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 2 Oct 2026