How To Get To Bodrum From Istanbul (& From Istanbul To Bodrum)

This detailed transportation guide tells you how to get from Bodrum to Istanbul and how to travel from Istanbul to Bodrum.

Most people are surprised at the sheer size of Turkey. It’s not a small country! There are vast differences between major towns and cities, so it’s important to know how to get from A to B well ahead of time.

Istanbul is the country’s largest city, although not the capital. That means many international connections head into Istanbul; from there, domestic flights take passengers to their chosen designation.

If you’re in Istanbul, you’re sure to want to explore a little. It’s a stunning city and packed with things to see and do. Istanbul has more history than most other countries can boast, let alone other cities!

But there are some stunning locations on the south coast, too, including Bodrum. Bodrum is a beautiful seaside town that has a famous castle, and it’s also a pretty sophisticated spot. Many celebrities have been seen in Bodrum over the last few years, probably due to its fame as a gastronomical place.

So, what do you do if you’re in Istanbul and want to get to Bodrum and then back again?

Let’s explore.

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Bodrum From Istanbul (And Back Again) By Air

Without a doubt, the fastest way to travel between these two locations is by air. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus Airlines are the two main airlines that serve this route, and there are direct flights several times per day.

If you fly from Istanbul’s main airport, you’ll probably fly with Turkish Airlines, and the journey will take 1 hour and 5 minutes. If you fly from Sabiha Gokcen, the journey will take 1 hour and 20 minutes to Milas-Bodrum Airport.

Once you arrive at the airport, it’s a 31km journey into Bodrum center. You can take a taxi, which will be the more expensive option, and the journey will take just over half an hour. Or, you can use the Havas shuttle bus, which runs according to the flights that land at the airport on any given day. The journey is just over half an hour, and you pay the driver on the day.

 

When flying back to Istanbul, you reverse the information. There are direct flights from Bodrum to both of Istanbul’s airports on a daily basis. To get from the airport (either) to where you’re staying in Istanbul, you can take a taxi (more expensive) or use the Havas service there. The time depends upon traffic, but from Taksim to Sabiha Gokcen, the average journey time is 1 hour 30 minutes. You can expect an average journey of around 1 hour and 15 minutes to Istanbul Airport.

Bodrum From Istanbul (And Back Again) By Bus

Türkiye’s long-distance bus network is very reliable and well-run. Buses are comfortable and have wifi, entertainment, and refreshments on board. The main operators are Pamukkale, Kamil Koc, and Metro.

There are daily services between Istanbul and Bodrum with all three operators. You can catch the bus at three locations in Istanbul – Esenler (main bus station), Alibeykoy on the European side, or Anadolu on the Asian side.

The journey will take 11 hours 15 minutes, and there will be a few stops along the way, although for no more than 15 minutes or so at a time.

To return back to Istanbul by bus, reverse the information.

Bodrum From Istanbul (And Back Again) By Car

The fastest way to travel between the two destinations is by car. You can easily hire a car at one of Istanbul’s major car hire offices. The distance by car is around 7 hours, depending upon traffic getting out of Istanbul, and you’ll travel along the O-5 main road down to Bodrum, at about 695km.

Simply reverse the advice for traveling back from Bodrum to Istanbul.