How to get from Istanbul to Bucharest
- 455 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: flight, 1h 20m
- 6 bus departures a day with Kamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusay
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
10h 10m
direct
Bus
€40
Cheapest
13h
direct
Bus
€21
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 8 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Istanbul to Bucharest. The most useful door-to-door route takes 13h by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 455 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.
455 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €39Checked Oct 1 | 1h 20mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €55Checked Oct 2 | 20h 20m1 transfer | See Train details |
| Bus | €14Omio catalogue, Oct 8 | 10h 10mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€39Checked Oct 11h 20m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€55Checked Oct 220h 20m · 1 transferSee Train details
- Bus€14Omio catalogue, Oct 810h 10m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Istanbul to Bucharest: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Istanbul → Bucharestbus12Go·13h
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which 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.
Departures from Istanbul to Bucharest
Kamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusay runs 6 scheduled departures a day, the first at 13:00 and the last at 22:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusaybus | 6 | 13:00 | 22:00 |
| TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.train | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 |
| FlixBusbus | 1 | — | — |
All departuresKamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusay
- 13:00
- 17:00
- 18:30
- 18:50
- 19:00
- 22:00
All departuresTCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.
- 20:00
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure 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· 10h€14Book
Omio last refreshed these on Thu, Oct 8
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusİstanbul Esenler Otogarı-BucharestBook →
Pegasus AirlinesSabiha Gökçen Airport-Bucharest Henri CoandăSee live options and dates →
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.Istanbul-RuseBook →On this route you travel with 12Go, FlixBus, Pegasus Airlines, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Istanbul to Bucharest works
Start with a 12Go bus from Istanbul to Bucharest, about 13h. In total it's roughly €21 over 13h, direct, no transfers.
Istanbul to Bucharest: common questions
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Bucharest?
The most useful route takes about 13h by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first bus from Istanbul to Bucharest?
The first bus with Kamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusay leaves at 13:00 and the last at 22:00, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Istanbul to Bucharest?
6 a day with Kamil Koc by FlixBus, Lilian Express, Kidik Ulusay, between 13:00 and 22:00.
When is the first train from Istanbul to Bucharest?
The first train with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. leaves at 20:00 and the last at 20:00, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Istanbul to Bucharest?
1 a day with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş., between 20:00 and 20:00.
How far is Bucharest from Istanbul?
About 455 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Istanbul to Bucharest cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €21. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Istanbul to Bucharest?
On this route you travel with 12Go, FlixBus, Pegasus Airlines, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş..
Can you get from Istanbul to Bucharest without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 10h.
What is the cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Bucharest?
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 Istanbul to Bucharest
- how to get from Istanbul to Bucharest
- Istanbul to Bucharest travel time
- Istanbul to Bucharest distance
- cheapest way from Istanbul to Bucharest
- Istanbul to Bucharest 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: 12Go
Route calculated: 8 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 2 Oct 2026