East along the whole of Greek Thrace and into Turkey in one car. The Egnatia motorway past Kavala, Xanthi and Alexandroupolis to the Evros border at Kipoi, then the D-110 through Tekirdağ and the O-3 into Istanbul — from your Thessaloniki address to your hotel, the cruise terminal or either Istanbul airport.
Thessaloniki to Istanbul by private car is about 595 km — roughly 7h 5m of driving before the border, breaks and the traffic of Istanbul itself. Priced on request per vehicle, door to door, with a stop to break the journey in Kavala or Alexandroupolis available on request.
We collect you from your hotel or address in Thessaloniki, from the port, from the main bus station or from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG). The car joins the A2 Egnatia Odos heading east.
A harbour town just below the motorway, east of Thessaloniki. A good first break after leaving Thessaloniki.
The Egnatia continues past Xanthi and Komotini to Alexandroupolis, the last Greek city before the border and a natural lunch stop.
At the Evros river you leave the EU and the Schengen area. Every passenger goes through full passport and customs control on both sides, and the time it takes varies.
In Turkey the D-110 runs past Keşan to Tekirdağ, a city the road passes straight through — an easy place for a last stop before Istanbul.
From Kınalı the O-3 motorway takes you into the city. Istanbul traffic can add a lot of time to this final stretch, and we allow for it when planning the day. Drop-off at your hotel in Sultanahmet, Karaköy, Taksim, Şişli or elsewhere, at the Galataport cruise terminal, or at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).
Per vehicle, not per person. Every quote includes tolls, fuel, the cross-border route, assistance with loading and unloading luggage, and child seats available on request.
Picked up and dropped off at your exact address
Cross-border route handled. Passengers remain responsible for their own passports, visas and other travel documents.
Short photo stops may be included where operationally possible
Professional, local, English-speaking driver
Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) lies south-east of the city. We can meet you in arrivals and head east for Istanbul without going into the centre — mention the airport pickup and your flight number in your request. Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting.
From Istanbul we also drive north-west to Sofia and Plovdiv in Bulgaria, and to Edirne.
Going the other way? Istanbul to Thessaloniki starts from your Istanbul hotel, cruise terminal or airport.
Istanbul → Thessaloniki →By road Thessaloniki to Istanbul is about 595 km. The A2 Egnatia Odos covers more than half of it, running east past Kavala, Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupolis to the border at Kipoi / İpsala on the Evros. In Turkey the D-110 continues past Keşan and through Tekirdağ, and from Kınalı the O-3 motorway brings you into Istanbul. Roughly 7h 5m of driving on free-flowing roads; the border, the towns on the D-110 and Istanbul traffic make it a full day.
Coach connections operate between Thessaloniki and Istanbul; check the current timetable before travelling. A private transfer leaves from your door in Thessaloniki, carries your luggage through the border with you, stops where you want and takes you to your hotel, the cruise terminal or your departure airport in Istanbul.
Greece is in the EU and the Schengen area; Turkey is in neither, so Kipoi / İpsala is an external border of the EU. Every passenger goes through full passport and customs control on both sides and needs a valid passport. Turkey’s visa and entry requirements depend on nationality — check them before travelling. Waiting time at the border varies, so allow some flexibility.
The drive time is a free-flow figure, and Istanbul traffic can add a lot of time to the last part of the journey. We plan the pickup in Thessaloniki with that in mind. Drop-off at hotels and addresses on either side of the Bosphorus, at the Galataport cruise terminal in Karaköy, at the Grand Istanbul Bus Terminal, or at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Sabiha Gökçen (SAW).
Pickup from hotels and addresses across Thessaloniki, with 15 minutes of free waiting, from the port or the main bus station, or from Thessaloniki Airport (SKG) with 60 minutes. Child seats are free on request.
Everything specific to this route.
About 595 km and roughly 7h 5m of driving without traffic. With the border, breaks and Istanbul traffic on the way in, plan on a full day.
At Kipoi on the Greek side and İpsala on the Turkish side, where the road crosses the Evros river.
Every passenger needs a valid passport and goes through full passport and customs control on both sides of this external EU border. Visa and entry requirements for Turkey depend on nationality, so check them before travelling.
Coach connections operate between the two cities; check the current timetable before travelling. A private transfer takes you door to door, including to an Istanbul airport.
Yes. Both lie just off the Egnatia motorway, and Tekirdağ is on the road in Turkey. Add the time you want to spend there and mention the stop in your request.
Yes. Istanbul Airport (IST) is on the European side, Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) on the Asian side, and the Galataport cruise terminal is in Karaköy. Tell us your flight or sailing time and we plan the departure from Thessaloniki.
This route is priced on request. We quote per vehicle, not per passenger, for your date, group and any stops, and you receive the quote in writing before anything is confirmed.
Request this transfer with your date, pickup address, where in Istanbul you are going (or your onward flight), group size and any stop. We reply during our working hours with a written quote per vehicle.
More from Thessaloniki: See all Thessaloniki private transfers →