How to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul
- 372 km as the crow flies
- 5 bus departures a day with ArdaTur
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
Route details last verified on 25 September 2026.
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Plovdiv to Istanbul: bus. The two cities are about 372 km apart in a straight line. The operators below come from a real route search, last verified on 25 September 2026. Run a live search for current times and fares.
We do not know when this fare was last checked. Run a live search for today's price.
372 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €50Reading date not recorded | 11h 58mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €23Omio catalogue, Oct 10 | 5h 45mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€50Reading date not recorded11h 58m · directSee Train details
- Bus€23Omio catalogue, Oct 105h 45m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Plovdiv to Istanbul: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Plovdiv Bus Station South → İstanbul Esenler Otogarıbus
FlixBus·5h 45m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Departures from Plovdiv to Istanbul
ArdaTur runs 5 scheduled departures a day, the first at 02:15 and the last at 21:00.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArdaTurbus | 5 | 02:15 | 21:00 |
| TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.train | 1 | 21:58 | 21:58 |
| FlixBusbus | 1 | — | — |
All departuresArdaTur
- 02:15
- 10:35
- 12:35
- 15:30
- 21:00
All departuresTCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.
- 21:58
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· 5h 45m€23Book
Omio last refreshed these on Sat, Oct 10
Operators seen on these journeys
FlixBusPlovdiv Bus Station South-İstanbul Esenler OtogarıBook →
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.Plovdiv-IstanbulBook →On this route you travel with FlixBus, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Plovdiv to Istanbul works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Plovdiv Bus Station South to İstanbul Esenler, about 5h 45m. In total it's roughly €24 over 5h 45m, direct, no transfers.
Plovdiv to Istanbul: common questions
When is the first bus from Plovdiv to Istanbul?
The first bus with ArdaTur leaves at 02:15 and the last at 21:00, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Plovdiv to Istanbul?
5 a day with ArdaTur, between 02:15 and 21:00.
When is the first train from Plovdiv to Istanbul?
The first train with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. leaves at 21:58 and the last at 21:58, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Plovdiv to Istanbul?
1 a day with TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş., between 21:58 and 21:58.
How far is Istanbul from Plovdiv?
About 372 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
Which operators run Plovdiv to Istanbul?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş..
What is the cheapest way to get from Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv to Istanbul
- how to get from Plovdiv to Istanbul
- Plovdiv to Istanbul travel time
- Plovdiv to Istanbul distance
- cheapest way from Plovdiv to Istanbul
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
Route calculated: 25 Sep 2026