How to get from Edinburgh to Istanbul
A real 5-leg route: train, bus. Door to door 64h 53m, from €470.
We compared the ways to travel from Edinburgh to Istanbul. The most useful door-to-door route takes 64h 53m by train, bus, 4 transfers. The two cities are about 2860 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 €78, on Fri, Aug 21.
This fare comes from a search on August 24, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
Edinburgh 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.
- 1Edinburgh → LondontrainLNER·4h 32m
- 2London → Amsterdamtrain
NS Int·4h 46m - 3Amsterdam → Budapestbus
FlixBus·21h 40m - 4Budapest → Sofiabus
ArdaTur·12h 56m - 5Sofia → IstanbulbusArdaTur·9h
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
2 ways from Edinburgh to Istanbul: flight, bus
How the trip from Edinburgh to Istanbul works
Start with a LNER train from Edinburgh to London, about 4h 32m. Transfer in London and continue by NS Int train on to Amsterdam (4h 46m). Transfer in Amsterdam and continue by FlixBus bus on to Budapest (21h 40m). Transfer in Budapest and continue by ArdaTur bus on to Sofia (12h 56m). Transfer in Sofia and continue by ArdaTur bus on to Istanbul (9h). In total it's roughly €470 over 64h 53m, 4 transfers.
Along the way to Istanbul
DepartureEdinburgh
Change hereLondon
Change hereAmsterdamWho runs Edinburgh to Istanbul
NS IntLondon-AmsterdamBook →FlixBusAmsterdam-BudapestBook →ArdaTurBudapest-Sofia, Sofia-IstanbulBook →
Turkish AirlinesSee live options and dates →On this route you travel with LNER, NS Int, FlixBus, ArdaTur; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
Edinburgh to Istanbul: common questions
How long does it take to get from Edinburgh to Istanbul?+−
The most useful route takes about 64h 53m by train, bus, 4 transfers.
How far is Istanbul from Edinburgh?+−
About 2860 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Edinburgh to Istanbul cost?+−
The best price in our latest search was €470. The exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Edinburgh to Istanbul?+−
On this route you travel with LNER, NS Int, FlixBus, ArdaTur.
Can you get from Edinburgh to Istanbul without flying?+−
Yes. A ground route by train, bus takes about 64h 53m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Edinburgh 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 Edinburgh to Istanbul
- how to get from Edinburgh to Istanbul
- Edinburgh to Istanbul travel time
- Edinburgh to Istanbul distance
- cheapest way from Edinburgh to Istanbul
- Edinburgh to Istanbul by bus