from Budapest
to Istanbul
E-Bike: 5h 32 / day
Bike: 7h 20 / day
Budapest to Istanbul by bike: 16 stages, around 1,660 km, seven countries. This is not a quick city-to-city ride. It is a full crossing of south-eastern Europe: out of Budapest into the Hungarian plain, past the Tisza, Banat and the Danube, through Serbia’s Morava corridor to Niš, then across North Macedonia into Bulgaria. From Kyustendil and Plovdiv, the route reaches the Rhodope foothills, Edirne and the long final approach into Istanbul.Expect flat days, long transfers, border towns, thermal towns, monasteries, Ottoman bridges, open farmland and the first serious climbs of the trip. It is not a polished cycle path from start to finish. It is a real overland route: quiet in places, demanding in others, and full of stops worth knowing before you ride.Create a free account to see the full route, all stages, highlights and planning details.
Start with Day 1 and move through the bike tour stage by stage.
This tour includes detailed day-by-day descriptions, accommodation recommendations, points of interest, difficulty ratings, and expert tips for completing this amazing cycling adventure...
1,662 km
Hard
—
16 days
77 km330 m
96 km295 m
71 km211 m
49 km176 m
122 km360 m
117 km390 m
118 km795 m
140 km1,114 m
109 km1,108 m
82 km1,387 m
This tour includes a ferry crossing. Plan ahead and book in time.
Travel to start
You have several good options for arrival: Budapest, Nagyvárad tér by train or Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport by flight or Budapest-Népliget Bus Station by coach. Choose the one that fits your origin and bike setup best.
Airport
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport, 11 km · about 40 min by public transport
Travel from finish
You have several good options for leaving the tour: Sirkeci railway station by train or Istanbul Atatürk Airport by flight or İDO Yenikapı Terminalı by coach or İDO Yenikapı Terminalı by ferry. Choose the one that works best for your next destination and bike setup.
Airport
Istanbul Atatürk Airport, 12 km · no public transport connection found
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