How to get from Budapest to Istanbul
A real 2-leg route: bus. Door to door 22h 31m, from €122.
We compared the ways to travel from Budapest to Istanbul. The most useful door-to-door route takes 22h 31m by bus, 1 transfer. The two cities are about 1062 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
The lowest we recorded in the last 14 days was €33, on Fri, Aug 21.
This fare comes from a search on August 25, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
Budapest to Istanbul: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Budapest → Sofiabus
ArdaTur·12h 56m - 2Sofia → IstanbulbusArdaTur·9h
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
3 ways from Budapest to Istanbul: flight, train, bus
How the trip from Budapest to Istanbul works
Start with a ArdaTur bus from Budapest to Sofia, about 12h 56m. Transfer in Sofia and continue by ArdaTur bus on to Istanbul (9h). In total it's roughly €122 over 22h 31m, 1 transfer.
Along the way to Istanbul
DepartureBudapest
Change hereSofiaWhat Omio sells on this route
Omio's own lowest fares, one per mode. These are starting prices for the route in general, not for a date you picked, and they are refreshed once a day.
- Bus· 25h 55mfrom €72Omio
Omio last refreshed these on Wed, Aug 26
Who runs Budapest to Istanbul
On this route you travel with ArdaTur; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
Budapest to Istanbul: common questions
How long does it take to get from Budapest to Istanbul?+−
The most useful route takes about 22h 31m by bus, 1 transfer.
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?+−
The best price in our latest search was €122. The exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Budapest to Istanbul?+−
On this route you travel with ArdaTur.
Can you get from Budapest to Istanbul without flying?+−
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 22h 31m.
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.
Where to next
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