Can I fly direct from Bucharest to Istanbul?

Yes, direct flights from Bucharest to Istanbul are typically available. Historically, approximately 53.7% of all flights on this route were direct. For travelers who prefer not to have a layover, direct options are a common occurrence. When connecting flights were taken, the median number of stopovers was 1.

How many hours is the flight from Bucharest to Istanbul?

A direct flight from Bucharest to Istanbul typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, covering a distance of 425 kilometers. For flights with one stop, the median duration historically extended to approximately 8 hours and 40 minutes. Travelers should consider these durations when planning their journey, with direct options offering a significantly shorter travel time.

How often do Bucharest to Istanbul flight prices drop?

Historically, flight prices for the Bucharest to Istanbul route have shown frequent drops. This indicates that travelers may often find opportunities to secure more favorable fares. The route has consistently exhibited price fluctuations, suggesting that monitoring prices can be beneficial for those seeking deals. This pattern has been observed across the trailing 30 days.

Flights From Bucharest

To Istanbul

Cheap Flights from Bucharest to Istanbul

Browse current best options from Bucharest. Become a member to unlock all deals and get alerts when new deals appear.

Deals from

Bucharest

RatePunk searches hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on flights to Istanbul

Prices updated 5 days ago

402 airlines compared

80%+ AI score for best value

Fares are subject to change and may not be available for all dates. (Data last updated Jul 12, 2026.)

Today’s best flight deals from Bucharest to Istanbul

Explore current cheapest deals departing from Bucharest to Istanbul

Round trip

Sort by: Cheapest

September 13 - September 17

Cheapest

OTP - Istanbul

$173

$100

Round trip

August 12 - August 27

Earliest

OTP - Istanbul

$163

$101

Round trip

October 3 - October 5

Best

OTP - Istanbul

$193

$101

Round trip

October 22 - October 24

Best

OTP - Istanbul

$195

$101

Round trip

October 5 - October 19

OTP - Istanbul

$170

$101

Round trip

November 26 - November 30

OTP - Istanbul

$164

$101

Round trip

November 14 - November 18

OTP - Istanbul

$161

$101

Round trip

November 18 - November 19

OTP - Istanbul

$161

$102

Round trip

September 15 - September 17

OTP - Istanbul

$173

$103

Round trip

September 28 - September 30

OTP - Istanbul

$173

$103

Round trip

Unlock all 500+ flight deals to Istanbul and get alerts when great deals appear

Bucharest to Istanbul: Overview

Insights for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul

A typical journey from Bucharest to Istanbul takes about 2h 45m, including itineraries with connections. This journey covers a distance of 425 kilometers, classifying it as a short-haul flight.

Right now, if you are looking for cheap flights from Bucharest to Istanbul, fares are above the typical level. Prices for this route typically range from $100–$314, with a median of $135. Currently, about 7% of recent fares are classified as a good price.

When is the cheapest time to fly from Bucharest to Istanbul? The most affordable months to fly are December and February, both with a median fare of $80. January also offers competitive pricing, with a median fare of $94.

For flights from Bucharest to Istanbul, a meaningful share are non-stop, while the rest connect once. When itineraries do include connections, the typical number of stopovers is 1. New deals for this route appear almost daily, so setting up a price alert can be beneficial.

How much is a round trip from Bucharest to Istanbul

Regular price: $130 - $362

Prices for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul are currently below the regular range.

The regular price range for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul is typically between 130 USD and 362 USD. The current lowest deal is 101 USD with Tarom, for travel from Aug 12-Aug 27.

now $101

Low $130

High $362

The cheapest time to fly from Bucharest to Istanbul

The cheapest month to fly from Bucharest to Istanbul is February, with a median price of $80. The most expensive month is June, with a median price of $203. Prices are generally lower from January to December.

February

Cheapest

Flights from $80

June

Most Expensive

Flights from $203

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Direct flights from Bucharest to Istanbul

Pegasus Airlines

Tarom

Last-minute flights going from Bucharest to Istanbul

Thu, Jul 16

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$205

$101

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$163

$101

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$205

$119

One-way

Wed, Aug 12

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$207

$119

One-way

Sat, Aug 22

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$192

$101

One-way

Wed, Sep 2

⌛ Last-Minute

OTP - Istanbul

Bucharest (OTP) - Istanbul (IST)

Tarom

$157

$107

One-way

Biggest price drops on these dates for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul

1 night

Dec 3 - Dec 4

$346 → $129

63%

2 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 5

$342 → $130

62%

3 nights

Dec 3 - Dec 6

$338 → $130

62%

7 nights

Dec 6 - Dec 13

$339 → $192

43%

Popular Airports to fly from Bucharest to Istanbul

Bucharest - Istanbul route insights

💸 Price insights

Recent fares are above the typical level

Recent fares for Bucharest to Istanbul are above the typical level, with a median price of $135.

📅 Best time to fly

Fly in December or February for the best prices

Historically, December and February offer the lowest median prices at $80 for this route.

⏱️ Flight duration

Direct flights take 2h 45m

The median flight duration for this short-haul route is 2 hours and 45 minutes.

✈️ Airlines & availability

Direct flights are available from 2 airlines

Tarom and Pegasus Airlines offer direct flights, with deals appearing frequently.

🏆 Airline highlight

Tarom offers a deal for $101

A recent deal from Tarom was found for $101, departing August 12 and returning August 27.

🎯 Booking tip

Good prices are available 7% of the time

Historically, good prices below $100 are available 7% of the time for this route.

Bucharest main airports to depart from

Henri Coandă International (OTP)

Cheapest

Henri Coandă International Airport is a good option for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul.

📍 ~15 km from Bucharest city center (reachable by car or bus)

💸 Flights from ~$104

Baneasa International Airport (BBU)

Baneasa International Airport is another choice for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul.

📍 ~8 km from Bucharest city center (reachable by car or bus)

💸 Flights from ~$173

Istanbul main airports to arrive at

Sabiha Gökçen International (SAW)

Cheapest

Sabiha Gökçen International Airport is a good option for flights to Istanbul from Bucharest.

📍 ~32 km from Istanbul (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$104

Istanbul Airport (IST)

Istanbul Airport is a convenient arrival choice for your trip from Bucharest to Istanbul.

📍 ~35 km from Istanbul (reachable by car)

💸 Flights from ~$105

Airports nearby Istanbul used as alternative

Esenboğa International (ESB)

Esenboğa International is a major international hub, useful for its high flight frequency and network redundancy.

📍 ~350 km from Istanbul (requires domestic flight or high-speed train).

💸 Flights from ~$137

Adnan Menderes (ADB)

Adnan Menderes is Turkey's third largest airport, offering extensive European connections and high reliability.

📍 ~300 km from Istanbul (requires a separate domestic flight).

💸 Flights from ~$168

Tekirdağ Çorlu (TEQ)

Tekirdağ Çorlu is geographically the closest alternative, accessible by road from Istanbul's European side.

📍 ~100 km from Istanbul (reachable by car).

💸 Flights from ~$260

Yenişehir (YEI)

Yenişehir offers proximity to the southern Marmara region and Istanbul's Asian side, accessible via bridge or ferry.

📍 ~130 km from Istanbul (reachable by car or ferry).

💸 Flights from ~$333

Burgas (BOJ)

Cheapest

Burgas is the closest international airport outside Turkey, useful for travelers with appropriate travel documents for Bulgaria.

📍 ~200 km from Istanbul (requires crossing an international land border).

💸 Flights from ~$131

Business & First Class Flight Deals to Istanbul

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$638

$636

Save $2

From OTP

Elite

Jul 24

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$636

From OTP

Elite

Jul 21

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$641

$636

Save $5

From OTP

Elite

Dec 02

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$730

From OTP

Elite

Dec 02

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$730

From OTP

Elite

Dec 02

Istanbul, Turkey

42% AI deal score

$730

From OTP

Elite

Jun 22

Istanbul, Turkey

41% AI deal score

$884

Frequently Asked Questions About Flights to Istanbul

Historically, the best prices for flights from Bucharest to Istanbul are found when booking 28-59 days in advance. During this period, the average price was around $121. Booking 7-13 days out saw an average price of $156, while waiting until 0-6 days before departure typically resulted in a higher average price of $380. Planning ahead by at least four weeks can lead to more favorable fares.

Across the trailing quarter, a good price for a flight from Bucharest to Istanbul was considered to be $100 or less. The median price for this route was $135. Prices historically ranged, with 75% of fares being $314 or less. Travelers aiming for a budget-friendly trip should target prices around the $100 mark.

Historically, December and February have been the cheapest months to fly from Bucharest to Istanbul, both with a median price of $80. January also offered relatively low prices, with a median of $94. These months tend to be more affordable compared to the annual median price of $135 for this route. Travelers looking for the best value should consider these periods.

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