Budapest to Istanbul (BUD–IST) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
No flights match your filters.
No scheduled airline flights on this route — it's flown by charter / private operators (). No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
Most recently operated nonstop flights — the month shown is when each was last scheduled. Most destinations remain reachable with a connection.
No discontinued nonstop flights on record for this route.
BUD–IST is served by 4 airlines with nonstop service. Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air and Qatar Airways lead the route. The flight covers 631 miles in approximately 2h 10m. Beyond nonstop, 1-stop connecting options are also available.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TK Turkish Airlines Also: 6E, GF, RJ, SQ, TG | 25 | 32B, 33X, 77X | 1h44-2h15 | – | Star Alliance | 6E, GF, RJ, SQ, TG |
| W6 Wizz Air | 9 | 32Q | 2h15-2h25 | – | – | – |
| QR Qatar Airways | 1 | 77X | 2h | – | Oneworld | – |
| EY Etihad Airways | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Istanbul from Budapest
| Metric | BUD→IST | DEB→IST |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from BUD | – | 110 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 4 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 105 | 2 |
| Flight time | 2h 10m | 2h 10m |
Travel Essentials
BUD: CEST · IST: +03
When it's 6:00 PM in Budapest, it's 7:00 PM in Istanbul.
Hungarian passport holders enter Turkey visa-free for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. No fee, no advance application. A valid passport or Hungarian national ID card is accepted for entry. Passport or ID must be valid for at least 5 months beyond the entry date (150 days).
No supporting documents are required at the border. Immigration processing is quick at Istanbul, Ankara, and Antalya airports. For stays beyond 90 days, apply for a residence permit (ikamet) through the e-ikamet system (e-ikamet.goc.gov.tr) before the visa-free period expires. The short-term residence permit costs roughly TRY 1,500 to TRY 3,000 (about $45 to $90) depending on duration. Overstaying triggers entry bans of varying lengths.
Direct flights from Budapest to Istanbul run about 2 hours on Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, and Pegasus. Budapest to Antalya is about 2 hours 30 minutes seasonally. Turkey uses the Turkish lira (TRY), trading at roughly 33 TRY per $1 with ongoing volatility. Euros and US dollars are easily exchanged at airport kiosks and city exchange offices. No vaccination requirements. Istanbul's Istanbulkart (transit card) costs TRY 70 and covers metro, bus, tram, and ferries at discounted fares.
M11 Metro to Gayrettepe takes about 35 minutes (₺60–70 with Istanbulkart) with connections to M2 (Taksim) and M7. Runs from 5am to midnight. The metro bypasses O-7 motorway traffic, which is frequently heavy into the city.Havaist buses serve major destinations including Taksim, Kadıköy (European and Asian sides), and Sabiha Gökçen Airport (₺50–80). Taxis from arrivals are metered; insist on the meter. Journey to Sultanahmet or Taksim costs ₺400–700 depending on traffic. Rental cars available. Hotel shuttles common for business hotels near the city.
The new airport sits 35km from central Istanbul on the European side, slightly inland and exposed to Black Sea weather systems. Winters (December–March) are cold (0–8°C) with fog, rain, and occasional snow. Snow on the exposed plateau is more likely than in the city. Ice on taxiways causes delays.
Summers are warm (25–32°C) with dry, reliable weather. Spring and fall bring heavy rain and strong northerly winds (Poyraz) that can affect smaller aircraft. Fog is the primary low-season disruption risk. The airport's elevated position makes it slightly windier than the Atatürk site it replaced.
BUD–IST Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from BUD to IST
Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport (BUD) and İstanbul Airport (IST) are connected by nonstop service from Turkish Airlines, Wizz Air, Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways. With 105 weekly departures, this is a heavily served route.
BUD to IST Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from BUD to IST is about 2 hours 10 minutes gate to gate. The route covers a distance of 631 miles (1,016 km). There are approximately 105 weekly flights outbound and 104 return, totaling 209 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
1-stop connecting options are also available, commonly via Sofia, Vienna and Kraków John Paul II. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include Debrecen (DEB).