How to get from Istanbul to Zakuta
- Fastest
- 7h 50m
- by plane, door to door
- Cheapest
- ₺885
- by bus
- Distance
- 738 km
- as the crow flies
- Departures
- 2
- from 08:00, Fri 6 Nov
4 ways to travel
738 km apart. Times are the timetables for Fri 6 Nov, planned from 08:00; every price says whether it is live, the operator's fare or our estimate. We add nothing to any fare.
best7h 30m quicker than the bus for ₺680 more; for most people the time is worth more.
- Drivebest9h 39m₺1,560–2,080EstimatedVisa likely needed for Bulgaria865 km · fuel only
- Buscheapest17h 10m₺885–1,985EstimatedLikely no visa needed for Serbianext 2 from 08:00 · FlixBus
- Flyfastest7h 50m₺5,740–9,820EstimatedLikely no visa needed for SerbiaSAW → BEG · non-stop · typical times
- Taxi9h 39m₺10,400–15,550EstimatedVisa likely needed for Bulgariaone-way cab
Data: Timetables via Transitous · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors, routed by OSRM · Typical flight routes from OpenFlights (ODbL), a 2014 snapshot · Places from GeoNames, CC BY 4.0 · Places © OpenStreetMap contributors · All credits and licences
Before you go
Borders, permits, official travel advice and disaster alerts for the places on this route, as their sources publish them. Entry rules are shown for a passport from Turkey; the planner lets you pick yours.
- Visa likely needed for Bulgaria · Turkey passport (assumed)Check rules
- Likely no visa needed for Serbia · Turkey passport (assumed)Check rules
Travel advice: UK FCDO (Open Government Licence v3.0), US State Department. Visa rules: Passport Index data (MIT, 17 Feb 2026); always check the official entry rules.
Departures today
Local times: each departure in Istanbul time, each arrival in Zakuta time.
- 20:36 → 11:46+117h 10m · 1 changeFlixBus N1920₺885–1,985
- 21:36 → 08:45+237h 9m · 4 changesFlixBus N1998₺1,525–3,840
The next departures from 08:00, not the whole day. Timetable data via Transitous and the operators' own GTFS feeds. Live delays arrive when an operator publishes a real-time feed.
Questions people ask
How long does it take to get from Istanbul to Zakuta?
The fastest way is by plane: about 7h 50m door to door, including the ride to the airport and check-in. The straight-line distance is 738 km.
What is the cheapest way from Istanbul to Zakuta?
The bus is the cheapest, from ₺885. That figure is an estimate from the operator's fare bands, not a live quote.
How much is the bus from Istanbul to Zakuta?
Buses take about 17h 10m and cost ₺885–1,985 depending on operator and seat type. This page lists the next 2 from 08:00; the planner has the rest of the day.
How long is the flight from Istanbul to Zakuta?
About 1h 47m in the air (SAW → BEG); about 7h 50m door to door once you add the ride to the airport, check-in and the cab at the other end. Typical fares run ₺5,740–9,820; live prices are on Flights70.
How far is Zakuta from Istanbul by road?
About 865 km, roughly 9h 39m of driving in normal traffic. Fuel alone costs around ₺1,560–2,080; tolls and parking are extra.
Who runs it
- FlixBus
- Kavim Jedinstvo Vranje
- Srbija Voz
Read from today's timetables. Operators don't pay to be listed here.