Wondering how to get from Istanbul to Ankara? This transportation guide shows you all 4 transport options to travel between Türkiye’s two most important cities!
Planning a trip to Türkiye’s capital and want to see the monumental Anıtkabir? Or perhaps you’ve always dreamed of strolling through the impressive collection of artifacts at the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations? Maybe even a hike up to Ankara Castle? Whatever the reason, you’ll need to choose the best option to get there!
The distance between Istanbul and Ankara is about 450 kilometers (280 miles) — quite a long journey! — which is why choosing the right travel option is important.
Whether you’re looking for speed, comfort, or a budget-friendly option, this guide covers all of the ways to travel between the two cities, including via plane, bus, car, and even the high-speed train from Istanbul to Ankara.
Istanbul to Ankara by Plane
If you only have a few days when visiting Türkiye and want to visit both cities, the fastest way to travel from Istanbul to Ankara is by airplane.
In fact, it’s one of the shortest routes in Türkiye: the flight time from Istanbul to Ankara takes only 1 hour — or sometimes even less, depending on the weather and flight conditions. 🙂
Both Istanbul airports, Istanbul Airport (IST) and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW), offer direct flights to Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB).
Since both cities are very important, there are more than 20 direct flights between Istanbul and Ankara every day! There are flights departing practically every hour, so you have total flexibility and convenience. 🙂
There are three airlines that serve this route: Turkish Airlines (the national airline of Türkiye), Pegasus Airlines (the largest budget airline in Türkiye), and AJet (formerly AnadoluJet).
More than half of the daily flights are served by Turkish Airlines, which has its headquarters at Istanbul Airport (IST).
Meanwhile, Pegasus Airlines and AJet offer flights from Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) — this is a better choice if you’re located on the Asian side of Istanbul, since there’s direct transportation from Kadıköy to SAW airport.
If you’re undecided between Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet, this post talks in-depth about domestic airlines in Turkey →
The average price of an airline ticket from Istanbul to Ankara is about 500 to 900 TL ($15 to $27 USD), although this can also depend on when you buy the ticket (i.e. last-minute or in advance), what season it is, and what time of the day.
You can check flights from Istanbul to Ankara here:
After buying a ticket, it’s time to figure out how to travel to and from the airport!
If you’re flying out of Istanbul Airport (IST)
You can either take the HavaIST bus (which has departures from Taksim, Kadıköy, and Aksaray), the newly-opened metro, or a private transfer. If you’re traveling with a large group/family or prefer convenience, we recommend either booking a private airport transfer (we love this one because it’s per group instead of per person!) or scheduling a taxi ahead of time.
If you’re flying out of Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW)
We’ve written multiple transport blog posts about traveling to/from our favorite airport! 😉
Choose which of the following locations is closest to you and it’ll show you all the transportation options:
🧿 How to travel from Taksim to SAW Airport
🧿 How to travel from Istanbul’s Old Town (Sultanahmet) to SAW Airport
🧿 How to travel from Kadıköy to SAW Airport
After arriving at Ankara Esenboğa Airport (ESB)
Ankara Esenboğa Airport is located about 30 kilometers (19 mi) from Ankara city center. There are multiple options to travel between Ankara Airport to the center, including the 442 bus (about a 1 hour trip), car/taxi, or a private transfer. This private transfer is highly-rated and well-priced!
Istanbul to Ankara by High-Speed Train
If you love a good train journey — especially sitting down with a cup of çay and seeing the Turkish countryside glide past your window — then we definitely recommend taking the train from Istanbul to Ankara!
This is technically the most direct option, since all you have to do is go to the train station, sit down, and enjoy the ride. 🙂
Even better, there’s a high speed train from Istanbul to Ankara! The high speed train was introduced in 2014 and is one of the most popular ways to travel between Istanbul and Ankara.
The route is officially called the “İstanbul – Ankara Yüksek Hızlı Tren,” which literally translates to İstanbul – Ankara High Speed Train. You might also see it abbreviated to YHT (Yüksek Hızlı Tren). The YHT trains have a maximum speed of 250 km/h (160 mph) and cut the travel time to only 4.5 hours (instead of the previous 11 hours).
The Istanbul-Ankara high-speed train departs from three stations in Istanbul: Söğütlüçeşme, Bostancı, and Pendik. All three are located on the Asian side. If you’re planning on traveling to Ankara by train, we recommend choosing Söğütlüçeşme as your departure station, since it’s the closest to the tourist center.
Meanwhile, the speed trains arrive at Ankara Garı (Ankara Train Station). The train station is located practically in the city center — you can reach Kizilay via the metro (10 to 15 mins) or by walking (35 minutes).
There are about 10 to 15 daily departures from Istanbul to Ankara (depending on the season). The earliest speed train from Istanbul (Söğütlüçeşme station) to Ankara is at 6:00 am, and the last speed train is at 19:35 (7:35pm). The absolute latest departure is at 23:22, but it’s the slow train (mentioned below)
NOTE: There is also the “regular” slow train from Istanbul to Ankara, which takes about 7.5 to 8 hours and departs once a day. This train departs from Istanbul (Söğütlüçeşme station) at 23:22 and arrives at Ankara around 7:00 in the morning. This is a good option if you’re on a budget, since it’s 100 TL cheaper than the high-speed train and you don’t need to reserve a hotel for the night!
You can book a ticket in either Economy or Business class. The Business class is slightly more expensive but offers better seating (spacious seating), a small meal, and a drink.
You can book tickets on the official Turkish Railways website (be sure to use a translator) →
Istanbul to Ankara by Car
As mentioned in the intro, the distance to Ankara from Istanbul is about 450 kilometers (280 miles), which takes about 5 to 6 hours (depending on traffic). While driving offers the freedom to explore at your own pace, we don’t recommend this option unless you’re planning a multi-city itinerary or a short stopover in Ankara before continuing your travels (i.e. visiting the Black Sea or Cappadocia after Ankara).
Likewise, the drive is somewhat uneventful, as you’ll mostly see the flat plains and steppes that are ubiquitous to the Ankara region.
On the positive side, Türkiye’s road infrastructure is fantastic. Having rented cars in Türkiye nearly a dozen times, we can attest that the roads are well-maintained, there are plenty of gas stations and rest stops, and everything is clearly marked.
If you do plan to drive from Istanbul to Ankara, consider renting a car at Sabiha Gökçen Airport (SAW) or from a location far outside the city center, as traffic congestion in Istanbul can be quite brutal. Likewise, be aware that returning the car to a different location than where you rented it might incur an extra drop-off fee.
Click here to check rental car prices and availability →
Istanbul to Ankara by Bus
Last but certainly not least, you can travel from Istanbul to Ankara by bus!
There are more than 50 daily departures (yes, really 😲) that have direct routes between the two cities.
Buses depart from 3 main bus stations in Istanbul, including Esenler and Alibeyköy (both on the European side), and Dudullu (Asian side). The only downside to this option is that you’ll need to figure out a way to get to the bus station, since all three are kinda far out (i.e. not near the tourist center).
All buses arrive at Ankara Bus Station, which is slightly easier to navigate — it’s only a 15-minute taxi ride or 12-minute metro to the city center.
The bus trip from Istanbul to Ankara takes anywhere from 5 to 7.5+ hours and depends on the number of stops, what time the bus departs (i.e. if it’ll be stuck in traffic), and from which bus stop it departs from.
Have More Time? Do This Instead!
If you have a few extra days in your itinerary, we recommend doing a multi-day trip from Istanbul to Ankara. You’ll get to see two of Türkiye’s most underrated (but awesome!) cities, enjoy a slower place, and break up your trip into manageable chunks.
This is how the trip looks like:
Istanbul → (bus or ferry to) Bursa → (bus or fast train to) Eskişehir → (fast train to) Ankara
From Istanbul, take a bus or ferry to Bursa, which was the birthplace of the Ottoman Empire and famous for its green parks and gardens, orante mosques, and the grand Mount. Uludağ. Speaking of Uludağ, you can take a cable car and enjoy the scenery during spring/summer, or even go skiing on the mountain during winter (it’s featured in our Winter Bucket List post!).
After a day or two, hop on a bus or fast train to Eskişehir, a vibrant university town known for its youthful energy, cozy riverfront, and interesting museums. Some of our favorite things to do in Eskişehir include taking a gondola ride along the river (during the season), visiting the super cool Odunpazarı Modern Museum (they also have an amazing modern hotel!), and seeing the traditional Ottoman-style houses in the Odunpazarı district.
Both Bursa and Eskişehir are compact cities, making them perfect for a short stay of one or two days before continuing your journey to Ankara.
Q&A | Questions & Answers
What is the best way to travel from Istanbul to Ankara?
The best way to travel from Istanbul to Ankara is either by airplane (the fastest way) or high-speed train (a fun journey).
How much is the train from Istanbul to Ankara?
The cost of a train ticket from Istanbul to Ankara varies depending on the class and time of booking. On average, prices range from 450 to 600 TL, with higher prices for first-class tickets and lower prices if booked in advance.
Is Ankara worth visiting?
It depends. 🙂 If it’s your first time visiting Türkiye, we recommend exploring other iconic destinations first, such as Istanbul, Cappadocia, Izmir, Antalya, etc.
If you’ve already traveled around Turkey and want something new (or are interested in Türkiye’s modern history, politics, or a less touristy city), Ankara can be a worthwhile stop. The city is home to significant landmarks like Anıtkabir (the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk) and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations, which offers a fantastic overview of the country’s history.
Is it better to visit Istanbul or Ankara?
Istanbul. 🙂
Can you do Istanbul to Ankara on a day trip?
While it’s technically possible to travel from Istanbul to Ankara and back in a single day, it’s definitely not recommended — you’ll be super tired at the end! The high-speed train journey alone takes about 4 to 5 hours each way (10 hours total), which leaves little time to explore Ankara.
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