How to get from Istanbul to Thessaloniki
On Routavio you can compare the ways from Istanbul to Thessaloniki by price and travel time.
- 510 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: bus, 9h 30m
- 4 bus departures a day with ArdaTur
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
9h 30m
direct
Bus
€45
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 13 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Istanbul to Thessaloniki. The most useful door-to-door route takes 9h 30m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 510 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This fare comes from a search on September 18, 2026 and has not been refreshed since. Run a live search for today's price.
510 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | €55Checked Oct 8 | 1h 30mFlight only | See Flight details |
| Train | €83Older observation | 21h 05m1 transfer | See Train details |
| Bus | €45Older observation | 9h 30mdirect | See Bus details |
- Flight€55Checked Oct 81h 30m · Flight onlySee Flight details
- Train€83Older observation21h 05m · 1 transferSee Train details
- Bus€45Older observation9h 30m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Istanbul to Thessaloniki: cheapest or fastest?
Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Istanbul → Thessalonikibus
ArdaTur·9h 30m
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 Thessaloniki
ArdaTur runs 4 scheduled departures a day, the first at 08:00 and the last at 21:30.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| ArdaTurbus | 4 | 08:00 | 21:30 |
All departures
- 08:00
- 12:00
- 16:30
- 21:30
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. The first row books at 12Go. The other links here open at our partner Omio.
- Bus· 8h 30m€45Book
Omio last refreshed these on Wed, Oct 14
Cheapest fare by day, Istanbul to Thessaloniki
The lowest fare Omio listed for each day, connections included. Pick a day to see its trips and book.
Bus
- Fri, Oct 16€45Cheapest
- Sat, Oct 17€45Cheapest
- Sun, Oct 18€45Cheapest
- Mon, Oct 19€45Cheapest
- Tue, Oct 20€45Cheapest
- Wed, Oct 21€45Cheapest
- Thu, Oct 22€45Cheapest
- Fri, Oct 23€45Cheapest
- Sat, Oct 24€45Cheapest
- Sun, Oct 25€45Cheapest
- Mon, Oct 26€45Cheapest
- Tue, Oct 27€45Cheapest
- Wed, Oct 28€52
- Thu, Oct 29€45Cheapest
Fares checked on Tue, Oct 13.
Operators seen on these journeys
ArdaTurIstanbul-Thessaloniki, Plovdiv-ThessalonikiSee live options and dates →
Turkish AirlinesIstanbul Airport-Sofia AirportSee live options and dates →
FlixBusSofia-Blagoevgrad, Blagoevgrad-ThessalonikiSee live options and dates →
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.Istanbul-PlovdivBook →On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Turkish Airlines, FlixBus, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş.; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Istanbul to Thessaloniki works
Start with a ArdaTur bus from Istanbul to Thessaloniki, about 9h 30m. In total it's roughly €45 over 9h 30m, direct, no transfers.
Istanbul to Thessaloniki: common questions
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Thessaloniki?
The most useful route takes about 9h 30m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first bus from Istanbul to Thessaloniki?
The first bus with ArdaTur leaves at 08:00 and the last at 21:30, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Istanbul to Thessaloniki?
4 a day with ArdaTur, between 08:00 and 21:30.
How far is Thessaloniki from Istanbul?
About 510 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Istanbul to Thessaloniki cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €45. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Istanbul to Thessaloniki?
On this route you travel with ArdaTur, Turkish Airlines, FlixBus, TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş..
Can you get from Istanbul to Thessaloniki without flying?
Yes. A ground route by bus takes about 8h 30m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Istanbul to Thessaloniki?
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 Thessaloniki
- how to get from Istanbul to Thessaloniki
- Istanbul to Thessaloniki travel time
- Istanbul to Thessaloniki distance
- cheapest way from Istanbul to Thessaloniki
- Istanbul to Thessaloniki 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: ArdaTur
Route calculated: 13 Oct 2026
Prices checked: 18 Sep 2026