Bus route
Cheap bus tickets from Ankara to İstanbul.
The fastest, cheapest way to get from Ankara to İstanbul by bus. Direct routes from ₺550, journey time around 6h. Compare every Turkish operator without leaving the page.
Duration
6h
Distance
450 km
Fare from
₺550
Operators
8
Going by plane instead?
We also track this corridor as a flight — usually faster but pricier once you add airport transfers.
How to book Ankara to İstanbul buses cheap
The Ankara–İstanbul corridor runs roughly 6h over 450 km of motorway. Coaches depart frequently — most run multiple times a day with a mix of daytime and overnight options.
Fares start around ₺550 when you book 30–60 days out. Same-week fares can run 40–60% higher, especially around national holidays and weekends.
FrogSky compares fares across every major operator (Pamukkale, Metro Turizm, Kamil Koç, and the regional carriers) so you can sort by departure time, duration, or price without flipping between websites.
Booking tips
- Departures from Ankara are cheapest mid-week (Tuesday–Thursday). Friday evening seats sell out first.
- Overnight buses save you a hotel night and arrive fresh in the morning. Book the upper deck, window seat, away from the rear bathroom.
- Confirm which terminal your bus departs from — İstanbul may have multiple otogars depending on the operator.
- Set a FrogSky price alert if you're flexible — fares drop in mid-week pockets you'd otherwise miss.