- Must visit
Archaeological Museum of Thessaloniki
The city’s leading archaeology museum, presenting Macedonian gold, sculpture, and finds that explain Thessaloniki’s ancient history.
Cheapest price on Sep 17
€45
Average ticket price on Sep 17
€49
Fastest journey on Sep 17
8 h 30 m
Average journey duration on Sep 17
8 h 48 m
Buses on Sep 17
6
Distance
507 km
The best way to find a cheap bus ticket from Istanbul to Thessaloniki is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid traveling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Istanbul to Thessaloniki will cost around €49 if you buy it on the day, but the cheapest tickets can be found for only €45.
On Thu, Sep 17, we found 6 buses from Istanbul to Thessaloniki, including 5 direct services.
On Thu, Sep 17 the direct buses cover the 507 km distance in an average of 8 h 48 m but if you time it right, some buses will get you there in just 8 h 30 m .
On Thu, Sep 17 the slowest buses will take 9 h and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
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7410750Omio recommends booking the bus as it is the most popular option from Istanbul to Thessaloniki among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price, take the bus, with an average ticket price of €45 For those with little time, consider booking a flight, which has an average total journey time of 4h 44m. If you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint, the bus is your best option, with estimated CO2 emissions of 0.5 - 1.3kg. Average ticket prices depend on the travel mode: a bus costs an average of €45, while a flight costs an average of €321.
Distance: 315 miles (507 km)
Most popular Bus | Flight |
|---|---|
€45 Average price Cheapest | €321 Average price |
10h 6m Average total duration 9h 36m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 4h 44m Average total duration Fastest 2h 44m Onboard + 2h 0m Additional time* |
0.5 - 1.3kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 1.5 - 3.0kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular bus company | ![]() Most popular airline |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
This is compared to other travel options from Istanbul to Thessaloniki:
A bus is €276 less than a flight for this route with tickets for a flight from Istanbul to Thessaloniki costing on average €321.
Other travel options to Thessaloniki take longer:
Bus takes on average 9h 36m.
| Operator | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Duration | Departure days | Cheapest price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 09:00AM | Arrival Time 06:45PM | Duration 9h45 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price €52 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 11:00AM | Arrival Time 04:50AM | Duration 17h50 | Departure days Thu, Fri | Cheapest price €66 |
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 12:00PM | Arrival Time 08:45PM | Duration 8h45 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €45 |
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 04:30PM | Arrival Time 01:30AM | Duration 9h00 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €45 |
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 06:30PM | Arrival Time 03:15AM | Duration 8h45 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price €45 |
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 07:00PM | Arrival Time 04:45AM | Duration 9h45 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price €47 |
Operator FlixBus | Departure Time 08:00PM | Arrival Time 10:25AM | Duration 14h25 | Departure days Wed | Cheapest price €52 |
Operator ArdaTur | Departure Time 09:30PM | Arrival Time 06:00AM | Duration 8h30 | Departure days Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun | Cheapest price €45 |
The table below shows live departures for Istanbul to Thessaloniki buses for today, Wednesday, September 16. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated bus journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Transfers | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 7:00 PM Istanbul | 9h45 | 4:45 AM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
![]() | 8:00 PM Istanbul | 14h25 | 10:25 AM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
| Thursday, September 17 | |||||
FlixBus · FlixBus | 11:00 AM Istanbul, Buyuk Otogar (Esenler) | 17h50 | 4:50 AM Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ) | 1 transfer | |
7050523 | 12:00 PM Istanbul | 8h45 | 8:45 PM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
7050523 | 12:00 PM Istanbul | 9h00 | 9:00 PM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
7410750 | 4:30 PM Istanbul | 9h00 | 1:30 AM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 9:30 PM Istanbul | 8h45 | 6:15 AM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
0 | 9:30 PM Istanbul | 8h30 | 6:00 AM Thessaloniki | 0 transfersDirect | |
This is the last bus of the day. | |||||
Find all the dates and times for this journey
Compare bus and flight prices over the next three weeks. See the best deals at a glance, find the lowest fares, and choose the option that fits your budget.
Buses from Istanbul to Thessaloniki run on average 5 times per day, taking around 9h 36m. Cheap bus tickets for this journey start at €35 if you book in advance.
There are 4 buses per day. The earliest bus runs at 00:15, the last at 23:00. The fastest bus covers the 315 miles (507 km) distance in 8h 30m.
Distance 315 miles (507 km) |
Average bus duration 9h 36m |
Cheapest ticket price €35 |
Buses per day 5 |
Direct buses 4 |
Fastest bus 8h 30m |
First bus 12:15 AM |
Last bus 11:00 PM |
Cheapest Month Oct |
Cheapest Day Sat |
High Season Jul - Sep |
Low Season Jan - Mar |
Busiest Day Fri |
Least Busy Day Sat |
Best time to book 49 days |
Discover the best of Thessaloniki — top attractions, local food, transport tips, budget advice, and currency essentials. Plan your perfect Thessaloniki trip today.
The city’s leading archaeology museum, presenting Macedonian gold, sculpture, and finds that explain Thessaloniki’s ancient history.
Major museum of Byzantine art with icons, mosaics, and everyday objects that illuminate a millennium of regional culture.
Housed in the White Tower, this museum traces Thessaloniki’s urban story through multimedia displays inside the landmark itself.
Signature waterfront promenade stretching along the sea, ideal for walking, cycling, sunset views, and seeing modern Thessaloniki at leisure.
The city’s central square and social heart, opening to the sea and lined with landmark architecture and major public events.
Historic upper town with traditional houses, winding lanes, and some of the best panoramic views in Thessaloniki.
Bougatsa is a flaky phyllo pastry filled with custard, cheese, or minced meat. Thessaloniki is especially famous for its breakfast bougatsa tradition.
Koulouri Thessalonikis is a sesame-crusted bread ring sold by street vendors. It is a classic local breakfast snack closely tied to the city's daily food culture.
Trigona Panoramatos are crisp syrupy phyllo triangles filled with rich custard cream. They originated in the Thessaloniki area and are a beloved local dessert.
Refined modern Greek restaurant known for creative plates, quality seafood, and a polished but relaxed setting in central Thessaloniki.
Historic pastry shop famed for classic bougatsa. A must for breakfast or dessert and one of the city's best-known traditional sweet stops.
Long-standing ladadika taverna serving meze, grilled dishes, and local wine in a lively traditional atmosphere popular with locals and visitors.
Moderate for Greece: rooms, meals, and buses are reasonable, with lower dining and transit costs than many Western European city breaks.
Service is usually included. Round up or leave 5-10% at restaurants for good service; round up taxi fares; small change is fine at cafes.
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Istanbul to Thessaloniki by bus. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest bus, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Thessaloniki, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

Most Istanbul to Thessaloniki buses use the Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler) to Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη) station pair, with some services arriving at Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ). Use this guide to compare Istanbul and Thessaloniki bus stations on this route, check city-centre transport, alongside checking practicalities like bus station facilities and services.
Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler) is 5 km from Istanbul city centre. Public transport options include:
Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, Dining, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Food options include: Cafeteria Terminal (in the station), Kebab Express (0.2 km), Simit Sarayı (0.3 km).
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located near the main entrance and throughout the station.
Ticket office support is available at Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler).
Available at Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Istanbul, Büyük Otogari (Esenler): Elevators, ramps.
Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ) is 1 km from Thessaloniki city centre. Public transport options include:
Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ) has practical services for this route, including Wifi, Parking, ATM, Taxis, Accessibility, WC, and Ticket Office.
Free Wi-Fi. ATMs are located inside the station.
Ticket office support is available at Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ).
Available at Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ): Parking, Taxis, WC.
Accessibility facilities are available at Thessaloniki, Monastiriou - KTEL (Θεσσαλονίκη, Μοναστηρίου - ΚΤΕΛ): Elevators, ramps.
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