Home
About us
Destinations & Country Guides
Travel Guides
Recipes
Featured
Photos As Art
Abstract Prints
Locations
Travel Gear
Travel Resources
Favorites
Photo Framer
Explore Photos
Contact
Transit & logisticsBy Clever Tourists · Published
The YHT high-speed train is the best way from Istanbul to Ankara for most people: about 4 hours station to station, and ₺990 (roughly $24) one way in economy after TCDD's August 2026 fare rise. Flying is about an hour in the air but, with two airport transfers, rarely faster door to door. Buses take around 5.5 to 6.5 hours and are the fallback when trains sell out. We spent 15 days in Istanbul in October 2023, then 4 days in Ankara (27 to 31 October) before going on to Göreme in Cappadocia, so this is the natural first leg of an inland Turkey route.
Last checked 27 October 2026. Fares are approximate; dollar figures convert at our committed exchange-rate snapshot.
| Option | Time | One-way price |
|---|---|---|
| Train YHT high-speed TCDD Taşımacılık | 4h–4h 30m | 990 TRY (≈ $19.9) |
| Bus Metro Turizm, Kamil Koç | 5h 30m–6h 30m | — |
| Flight Turkish Airlines, AJet, Pegasus | 1h | — |
Planning more legs? Use the route finder.
TCDD Taşımacılık runs the YHT (Yüksek Hızlı Tren) between Istanbul and Ankara. Turkey's transport minister put the current fastest journey at about 4 hours 7 minutes, and many services take longer with extra stops, so plan on 4 to 4.5 hours. The ministry says new tunnel works aim to cut about 30 minutes from mid-2027; until then, assume around 4 hours.
Fares: Turkish press reported that the economy one-way fare Istanbul to Ankara rose from ₺930 to ₺990 (≈ $18.7–19.9) in August 2026. Business class costs more. Fares are fixed by TCDD rather than dynamically priced, but cheaper seats can still sell out, and the fare rises again whenever TCDD updates its tariff, often more than once a year.
There are many departures a day spread from early morning to evening, and TCDD adds extra trains at holiday peaks. Seats are reserved; you cannot board without a ticket for that train.
Most YHTs start or stop at Söğütlüçeşme in Kadıköy on the Asian side. It connects to the Marmaray commuter line and is the end of the Metrobüs, so from Sultanahmet you can take the T1 tram to Sirkeci and the Marmaray under the Bosphorus.
Pendik, further east on the Asian side, is the other main YHT stop and is handy only if you are near Sabiha Gökçen airport. Some trains also run through to Bakırköy and Halkalı on the European side, which suits the European suburbs but not all services do this, so check the timetable for your train.
From the old city or Beyoğlu, allow about 45 minutes to an hour to reach Söğütlüçeşme with luggage. Our where to stay in Istanbul guide compares neighbourhoods if you want to be near the Marmaray.
YHTs stop at Eryaman in the western suburbs and end at the Ankara YHT station (Ankara Gar), about 3 km northwest of Kızılay. Get off at the main station, not Eryaman, unless you are staying out west.
From Ankara Gar you can connect to the Ankaray light metro at Maltepe, the M4 metro and the Başkentray suburban line, or take a taxi to Kızılay or Ulus. Our Ankara guide covers what to see, including the Anıtkabir and the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations.
Tickets go on sale 30 days before departure. You can buy them on the official TCDD Taşımacılık e-ticket website or the TCDD mobile app (foreign passport holders can register with a passport number), at station ticket offices, or through agencies. Make sure you are on the official TCDD site; resellers and lookalike sites add fees.
Book as soon as your dates are set at weekends and around the Kurban and Ramazan bayram holidays, when trains sell out days ahead. Midweek outside holidays, a day or two ahead is usually enough. Keep your passport handy; staff can check ID against the ticket.
Big Turkish coach companies, including Metro Turizm and Kamil Koç, run frequently from Istanbul's Esenler bus station (European side) to AŞTİ, Ankara's main bus station. Allow about 5.5 to 6.5 hours, more in traffic leaving Istanbul.
The bus is mainly useful when trains are full or you are leaving from an area far from the YHT stations. Book on the company apps or Turkish booking sites such as obilet.
Turkish Airlines flies from Istanbul Airport (IST) and AJet and Pegasus from Sabiha Gökçen (SAW) to Ankara Esenboğa (ESB), about an hour in the air. Esenboğa is roughly 28 km north of the centre, and Istanbul Airport is far from the old city (see our Istanbul airport guide).
Add check-in and two transfers and flying usually takes as long as the train. It makes sense only if you are connecting from an international arrival at IST or SAW.
Ankara is a good stop on the way to Cappadocia. There is no railway to Göreme; buses from AŞTİ to Nevşehir or Göreme take roughly 4 to 5 hours. We went on from Ankara to Göreme for 5 days, then Pamukkale and Selçuk; see our 33-day Turkey route, Istanbul to Cappadocia, how many days in Cappadocia and do I need a visa for Turkey.
About 4 hours on the fastest YHT services and up to about 4.5 hours on trains with more stops.
₺990 (≈ $19.9) one way in economy after TCDD's August 2026 fare rise, with business class costing more.
Mostly Söğütlüçeşme in Kadıköy on the Asian side, with stops at Pendik; some trains run through to Bakırköy and Halkalı on the European side.
Tickets go on sale 30 days before departure on the official TCDD Taşımacılık site, app and station offices.
Get our new Turkey guides and practical tips by email: where to stay, what to eat, what things cost and the rules that catch travelers out.
Free. No spam, only new guides and tips.
Search verified local fleets with low security deposits and exact model delivery on Localrent.
See the best deals on Turkey hotels right now on Booking.com.
